- There are eight issuing agencies and no national licence; a scam site that sells “an Australian licence” is already wrong at this step.
- Seven of the eight addresses below we opened and read on 5 October 2026; the South Australian page loaded but did not display its text to us, so that row says so.
- Learner stage entry ages we confirmed: ACT 15 years 9 months; Tasmania and the Northern Territory 16.
The directory
Each address is the licensing section of the government site, not a booking portal, so it will stay valid longer than a deep link. Open yours, then follow its own steps.
| State or territory | Agency | Official address | What the page confirmed (5 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Transport for NSW (licences); Service NSW (counter and app) | nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/driving-nsw/driver-and-rider-licences | Pages for Driver Knowledge Test, Hazard Perception Test, proof of identity, licence fees, digital licence in the Service NSW app; contact details must be updated within 14 days of a move |
| Victoria | VicRoads | vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences | Convert an interstate or overseas licence, renew or replace, check demerit points, licence fees, Digital Driver Licence |
| Queensland | Queensland Government, transport and motoring | qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing | Learner, provisional (P1 or P2) and open licences; identity documents page; protecting your identity page; licence security features; Digital Licence app |
| Western Australia | Department of Transport (Transport WA) | transport.wa.gov.au/licensing | Licensing and identity services; a news item of 25 September 2026 on the Recognised Overseas Licences Scheme |
| South Australia | Service SA | sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/licences/learners-permit | The page loaded under the title “Learner’s permit” but its text did not display to us, so we confirm only the address; unverified beyond that |
| Tasmania | Service Tasmania | service.tas.gov.au (transport, driver and rider licences) | Knowledge test first; learner licence issued at 16; 12 months from passing the test to complete the application; eye test; identity documents |
| Australian Capital Territory | Access Canberra | accesscanberra.act.gov.au (driving, transport and parking) | Pre-learner course and ACT Road Rules test, age 15 years 9 months, identity and residency proof, eye test; learner licence valid 5 years |
| Northern Territory | Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) | nt.gov.au/driving | Age 16; MVR customer with identity and residency evidence; learner, then provisional, then open licence |
How the stages compare
The pages describe similar stages in different words. The ACT calls the first stage “Ls” and requires L plates front and back, a supervising driver with a full Australian licence and zero blood or breath alcohol. Queensland lists learner, provisional (P1 or P2) and open licences. The Northern Territory insists on the order: learner, then provisional, then open. Tasmania describes its learner licence as the one also used by non-novice drivers converting an overseas licence or returning after more than five years, and says those applicants must take a practical driving test.
Two practical points follow. First, the knowledge test is not the same everywhere: the ACT requires a pre-learner course, the NT lets you study the handbook or enrol in DriveSafe NT, which its page says carries more than $600 in subsidies in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs. Second, driving interstate on a learner licence follows the rules of the state you are in, which is the ACT page’s wording and a point scam sites never mention.
Which page to trust
If a site claims to offer “Australian driver licences” without naming a state, it is not an agency. If it asks for payment by transfer or gift card, it is not an agency. If its address does not end in .gov.au it is not an agency, with one wrinkle: some agencies use partner booking systems for tests, and the way to reach those is through the agency’s own page, never through an advert.
Where to go next
The steps from learner to open licence are in getting a driver licence step by step. Licences from another country are covered in overseas licences. If you want to know why nobody can sell you one, see can you buy a driver licence.
Reading an agency page
Three details recur on the pages and are worth reading closely. Eligibility comes first: the minimum age for the learner stage, and for a person with an existing licence whether a conversion route applies. Next comes identity: the NT and ACT both name identity and residency evidence, and NSW and Queensland have dedicated identity pages. Last is the hand-off point: the agency page tells you which test or booking system to use, which is the only safe way to reach a partner system.
Moving between states
NSW asks you to update your contact details within 14 days of a move. VicRoads has separate pages for converting an interstate licence and an overseas licence. Queensland has a section for overseas and interstate licences. The ACT page says learner drivers who drive interstate must follow the learner rules of the state or territory they are driving in. If you move permanently, treat the new agency as your starting point rather than assuming a licence transfers without a step.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues driver licences in Australia?
Each state and territory issues its own through a transport or services agency. There is no federal driver licence. The directory on this page lists the agency and official web address for all eight.
Is a licence from one state valid in another?
You can drive interstate, but learner drivers must follow the rules of the state or territory they are driving in, according to Access Canberra. For moving permanently, each agency has its own conversion page, such as VicRoads for interstate and overseas licences.
What is the official site for a Queensland driver licence?
qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/driver-licensing, which covers applying, renewing, replacing, fees, identity documents and the Digital Licence app.
How do I know a licence website is real?
It should belong to a state or territory agency and end in .gov.au. Sites that cover “all of Australia”, ask for transfers or messaging-app contact, or promise no tests are not agencies.
How old do I have to be to start?
In the ACT you can apply for a learner licence from 15 years and 9 months; in Tasmania and the Northern Territory from 16. Other states set their own ages on their licensing pages.