If you have declared a medical condition to us and you drive without adhering to the requirements updated on your licence, such as the need to wear visual aids, then you will also be classed as an unlicensed driver.
If you are applying to obtain a Western Australian driver's licence, you must surrender your existing Australian driver's licence. This is to help ensure that drivers throughout Australia only ever hold one licence to drive, allowing consistency throughout different jurisdictions.
After applying for a Western Australian driver's licence, your previous driver's licence will become invalid. If you have another driver's licence from another Australian jurisdiction you will be required to surrender it.
A Learner’s permit is no longer required when learning to drive certain classes of vehicle or when wishing to remove restrictions A, B or E from your current licence. You will not need to visit a Licensing centre to obtain an actual permit. However, you must complete the application form for an additional class prior to booking or sitting the Practical Driving Assessment. This will require you to attend a Licensing Centre, pay the application fee and book the Practical Driving Assessment.
This change relates primarily to drivers who already hold an Australian driver's licence and are experienced in driving a class of vehicle and would like to learn how to drive the next class.
Each licence class has a specified minimum eyesight requirement. Depending on the class of vehicle you are learning to drive you may need to attend a Licensing centre to make sure you meet the minimum eyesight requirements.
L plates will still need to be displayed. Training in certain circumstances will still need to be undertaken, dependent on the particular class you are learning.
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You can download cut out and keep copies of L plates below:
You must also only drive with the appropriate supervisor/instructor in the vehicle for the class of vehicle you are learning to drive.
The table below details when you don't need a Learner's permit. If you hold an Australian licence to drive the class of vehicle in the left column, you don't need to obtain a Learner's permit to learn to drive the class of vehicle in the right column. For all other classes upgrades you will need to obtain a Learner's permit.
Do I have to display L plates if I do not require a learners permit?
Yes. Regardless of whether or not a learners permit is required, you will still be required to display L plates if you are learning to drive a vehicle on a road.
Do I have to have an instructor with me?
Yes. The current practice hasn't changed and you will still be required to drive with an instructor if you are learning to drive a vehicle on a road.
An instructor can be someone who has held a licence to drive the class of vehicle you are trying to learn for four or more years. View a list of authorised MC training providers in the your licence section.
The photograph and signature used on your driver’s licence is now valid for ten years. This means that you will only need to visit a photo point for a new photograph every ten years.
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