Learner drivers in one state are paying more than double to get their driver's licences than those in some others, recent data shows.
A study by Ezlicence revealed South Australia was the most expensive state to get a driver’s licence at about $1356, followed by Queensland at roughly $957 and then NSW with a total cost of about $940.
The cost of getting a full licence was the cheapest in Victoria at about $558.
However, it took Victorian drivers the longest to become fully-fledged drivers – a minimum of five years, double that of both Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Drivers in the other states and the ACT could get a full licence in as little as four years.
The study looked at the cost of learner’s tests and permits, hazard perception and driving tests, provisional licences and one year of a full licence.
It also took into account the cost of six professional driving lessons – which EzLicence Sales Manager Ross Rivalland said had a large impact upon the overall cost.
“When you look at the full picture, it becomes clear that the cost of getting a licence in Australia is driven far more by driving lessons than by government fees alone,” Rivalland said. “As more learners are responsible for covering these costs themselves, the financial pressure can add up quickly.”
Still, Rivalland warned against novice drivers forgoing professional lessons to help their hip pockets.
“While lessons are a significant part of the upfront investment, they remain one of the most valuable parts of the learning journey,” he said.
“They not only help build confidence behind the wheel, but can also reduce longer-term costs by improving the likelihood of passing first time and lowering the risk of accidents or costly retests.”
Below is a state-by-state breakdown of the time and cost to get your licence. Toggle across to see the various costs, as well as the total time.
The data showed that even without the high cost of lessons, SA residents still paid the most for their practical driving tests ($265) and their provisional licences ($185). WA had the most expensive learner's licence ($150.80), while the NT took the cake for the most expensive learner's test ($110). NSW learners paid the most for their hazard perception test ($57) and a year's full licence was the most expensive in QLD ($91.55).
Victoria had a number of steps to getting a full licence that set fledgling drivers back a big fat zero. VIC learners don't have to pay for their learner's test, learner's licence, hazard perception test or their provisional licence.
In the NT, learner's licences, hazard perception tests and provisional licences are free, while in Tasmania and the ACT, learner's tests and hazard perception tests cost zilch. WA learners don't have to pay for their practical driving test.
Would you rather spend more time or more money to get your licence? Let us know in the comments.
Jemimah Clegg is Drive's Consumer Editor, using her 'everyday driver' perspective to bring car, driving and road advice to all Australians – whether they are car enthusiasts or not. She has been a journalist and editor for more than a decade, working in property and lifestyle news, first for Domain and more recently for REA Group. Jemimah has a knack for data stories, and you'll often find her noodling with a spreadsheet or making a line graph. Her work has appeared in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times and many other publications.
