While public transport, cycling and walking can serve the needs of many, it often comes with restrictions that having a driver’s licence overcomes. Additionally, some jobs require you to have a driving licence, but what is the actual cost of getting one in NSW?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prices quoted are effective July 2025. They are the official prices, but you might find subsidised or cheaper options if you search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Restrictions for each licence type are available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be at least 16 years old or older to get a learner licence. To get one you need to attend an NSW registry or service centre with proof of identity and pass a Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) – you can practice the questions for free on this website. There are 45 questions in the test and you must get at least 41 correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DKT price: $57 for unlimited attempts (online<\/a> or in-person<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Learner licence fee: $31<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also need to study the Road User’s Handbook which you can download from RMS’s website. It’s available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese, and you can also take the DKT in these languages. You can get the handbook in Japanese, too, but not take the test in Japanese. They are available to purchase for $16<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be on your learner licence for at least 12 months, but no more than 5 years. You must keep a logbook with at least 120 hours of driving practice, including 20 hours of night driving. Both you and your supervisor must complete the declaration of completion at the end of the logbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s strongly recommended that you get lessons with a qualified driving instructor (registered in NSW). Aim to have 20-40 hours of instruction (more if you still don’t feel confident). Prices range from around $70-90 for a single hour or pay for blocks of lessons. The price will depend on the location, the types of vehicles available, the types of lessons available, local competition and whether you want to use your car or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on where you live and where you practice driving, let’s assume you drive 60 kilometres for every hour you practice. If your car’s fuel economy is 10 litres per 100km, then you will use 6 litres of fuel every hour (on average). The amount of fuel you use will depend on your car, your style of driving and where you drive (hilly areas will use more fuel, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lessons: 20-40 hours at $70-90 = $1400-3600<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuel: 120 hours at 60km using 6 litres per hour is 720 litres, which is around 175c today for Unleaded 91 (according to Fuel Check<\/a>): $1260<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bear in mind that for every one hour of paid driving tuition you can mark down three hours in your log book, up to a maximum of 10 hours’ tuition, or 30 hours in your log book unless they are conducted at night, in which case it’s two hours for every one hour recorded. We haven’t included that in the calculation and we haven’t included any of the costs of running your car and keeping it roadworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The right driving instructor for you will suit your learning style, be located in a convenient place, have a vehicle that you like to drive with the type of gearbox you want to learn with, and you have a rapport with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our extended guide to choosing the right driving instructor here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The driving instructor will help you remove any bad habits that you have learned by watching your relatives or friends drive. Remember that examiners are trained to spot these kinds of poor driving skills, so the earlier you learn the correct way to drive, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then you take a driving test to get your P1 licence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The driving test is an on-road test that assesses your driving skills, awareness of other road users, decision-making and your attitude towards other road users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to be at least 17 years old and have satisfied the conditions of your learner licence, plus passed the driving test. Then you can take the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) which costs $57<\/strong>\u00a0per attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Provisional (P1) licence fee: $72<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving test: $70<\/strong>\u00a0each attempt<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to have held a P1 licence for at least 12 months and have passed the HPT then you can take the driving test which costs $70<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Provisional (P2) licence fee: $112<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to have held a P2 licence for at least 24 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Full unrestricted driver licence (car) per year: $72<\/strong>, or you can buy it up to 10 years for $422<\/strong> which is much cheaper per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Licences: Learner ($31) + P1 ($72) + P2 ($112) + Full ($72-$422)= $287-637<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tests: DKT ($57) + P1 ($70) + HPT ($57) + P2 Driving test \u00a0($70) = $254<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuel: around $1300, depending on circumstances<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Total without lessons: $1800-2200<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving lessons: 20-40 hours at $70-90\/hr = $1400-3600<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Total including lessons: $3200-5800<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn’t include any of the costs of owning your car, or if you have to take time off work to practice for or take your test. With the total bill stretching into the thousands before you’ve even bought a car, learners with a thin or patchy credit file sometimes turn to\u00a0personal loans for bad credit<\/a>\u00a0to spread lessons, test fees, and licence costs into smaller repayments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While public transport, cycling and walking can serve the needs of many, it often comes with restrictions that having a driver’s licence overcomes. Additionally, some jobs require you to have a driving licence, but what is the actual cost of…<\/span><\/p>\nLearner licence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Driving lessons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choosing a driving instructor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Provisional P1 licence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Provisional P2 licence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Full licence.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Recapping the costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Compulsory costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Optional (but recommended) costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n