The Victorian Test is designed to assess the safe driving skills of learner drivers applying for probationary licence. It is also used to assess other licence applicants who are required to take a practical driving test.
The Drive Test was developed by Vic Roads with the assistance of several Australian and international experts in novice driver safety. The test assesses the skills required to drive safely in day to day driving tasks, taking the following into account.
Licence applicants are expected to have a high level of driving skills. The Victorian Graduated Licensing System (GLS) requires licence applicants under 21 years to hold a learner permit for at least 12 months and to accrue at least 120 hours of supervised driving experience.
During the test, the applicant is directed to drive around a fixed assessment route and asked to perform specific driving tasks (such as turns or lane changes) at various locations.
The Licence Testing Officer uses a set of specific assessments items to record how well the applicant performs each task.
The Driving Test is divided into two stages:
Stage One Involves some relatively simple, low-risk driving tasks in a less-challenging traffic environment.
Stage Two Assesses safe driving skills in day to day driving tasks in busier traffic situations. Driving Test takes 30 minutes after which scores are added and safe drivers will get their probationary licences and unsuccessful applicants are allowed to reapply, improve and try again.
What tests must I pass to get my licence?
- A computer-based hazard perception test requiring you to identify road hazards displayed on videos of actual driving conditions.
- An eyesight check.
- A practical driving assessment which lasts for approximately 25 minutes.
If you have a disability you should tell Vic Roads before your assessment.
What do you need to bring?
- Overseas applicants
- Overseas applicants must also provide proof of their overseas licence. The overseas licence must be accompanied by an English translation, for example an International Driver Permit. If not, an English translation by a qualified translator is required and bank statement under your name. Overseas applicants also need a confirmation letter from their country or embassy.
- Who is allowed in the car during my test?
- A Vic Roads licence testing officer will conduct your assessment. A qualified Apples driving instructor with a Driver Instructor Authority number may sit in the front passenger seat during your assessment.
The Practical Driving Assessment
Your testing officer will give you simple, clear instructions such as:
At the next street, turn right or left
If unsure of an instruction, you may ask for it to be repeated.
Your driving performance will be marked YES, NO or N/A (Not Applicable).
- YES when you do something correctly.
- NO when you do not do something correctly.
- N/A if road or traffic conditions mean you cannot perform the expected behavior.
You will be assessed throughout your drive using the 'performance checks' listed in the following section. You must get a YES for at least 85% of the performance checks on your assessment to get your licence.
If you do something illegal and/or unsafe, the assessment will be discontinued.
Pre-Drive Check before the driving test
You must know where these controls are and how to use them:
You must be able to start the engine.
Driving In Traffic
During the drive your testing officer will check that you do the following:
- Mirrors
- You must check either the internal mirror or external driver's mirror:
- Indicators
- You must signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians before turning and for at least 5 seconds if merging into traffic or changing lanes. For roundabouts, you must keep signaling whilst driving in the roundabout. You must cancel for signal immediately after turning or diverging.
- Lane Change
- Before merging into traffic or changing lanes, you must do a head check (by turning your head and looking through the appropriate side window to check for other road users in your blind spots). You must maintain reasonable progress and accept a safe gap in the traffic.
- Approach
- If slowing down or stopping, you must brake smoothly using brakes only, or brakes and gears.
- Position Stop
- You must stop the car within 2 meters of the stop line at a stop sign. You must not stop with the front wheels on or in front of the stop line. If there is no stop line, you must stop as close as practical to, but before the stop sign or intersection.
- Judgment
- At intersections you must slow down, look in the correct direction and react correctly to other vehicles and pedestrians.
- Turns
- When turning, you must drive in the correct lane or position on the road, and follow all the road markings and traffic lane arrows.
- Progress
- You must travel at a speed suitable for the conditions, but not above the speed limit.
- Position on Road
- The vehicle must travel entirely within the lane markings of the correct lane or in the correct line of traffic.
- Car Control
- You must control the vehicle correctly using steering, gears and clutch (if fitted), brakes, accelerator and handbrake.
- Safety Margin
- You must keep an acceptable safety margin (traveling distance) on the roads when following other vehicles.
- Low Speed Maneuvering
- This checks that you can control the car at low speed, including reverse. You should not turn the steering wheel while the car is stationary (dry steering). You will be asked to do one of the low speed maneuvers during your driving assessment:
Low Speed Maneuvering
This checks that you can control the car at low speed, including reverse.
You should not turn the steering wheel while the car is stationary (dry steering).
You will be asked to do one of the these low speed maneuvers during your driving assessment:
- reverse parallel parking
- angle parking
- three points U turns
The low speed maneuver must be completed within two minutes, allowing for traffic conditions.
1. Reverse Parallel Parking
You will be asked to pull up next to a legally parked vehicle and reverse into the space behind that vehicle.
You must:
- look in the direction of travel before and during reversing
- position your car parallel to the curb (within 300mm) and be between 1 and 2 meters from the car in front
- not reverse back further than 7 meters from the vehicle in front
- use no more than 4 and no less than 2 movements to enter the space and no more than 4 to leave it
- signal and do a head check before leaving and reversing the space
- Two minutes to complete
2. Angle Parking
You will be asked to drive into and reverse out of an angled parking bay.
You must:Put on your left signal before entering the parking bay
- do not stop on the other side of the street
- place your car centrally (taking into account any vehicles parked in the adjacent bays) and entirely within the parking bay
- finish with the wheels parallel from the marked lines on the side of the bay and 500mm from the front of the bay
- look in the direction of travel before and during reversing
- in a 45 degree angle park, complete the maneuver in one forward and one reverse (out ware) movement
- in a 90 degree right angle park, you can make one correction when moving into the bay
- look over your shoulder when reversing out of the parking bay
- reverse out of the parking bay in one movement
3. Three Point Turn
You will be asked to make a three point turn (turn your car around) on a road which is not as wide as your car's turning circle. You should complete this maneuver in three movements.
You must:Put on your left signal before stopping at the curb
- Position your car parallel to and within 300mm of the curb before starting the turn
- put on your right signal before leaving the curb
- look in both directions before commencing the turn
- proceed across the road to the opposite curb
- look in both directions along the road before reversing
- look in the direction of travel before and during reversing
- after reversing, look in both directions before moving off
- Two minutes to complete
What are immediate failures?
You will be failed immediately if you do anything deemed illegal or unsafe. For example:
Not stopping at a:
- Red traffic control signal
- Stop sign or stop line
- School crossing with the flags or signs displayed when any pedestrian is on the crossing
Position after stopping:
If you stop at a location that placed another road user in a dangerous situation.
Colliding with:
- Another vehicle
- A pedestrian
- An object such as rubbish bin or pole placed on or near the road
Dangerous actions such as:
- Requiring emergency braking or swerving by another driver, or dodging by a pedestrian to prevent collision
- Requiring the instructor or testing officer to come to your aid in controlling the car
- Driving any wheel over the curb or onto the footpath
- Committing any driving fault which causes immediate danger to any person or property
- Lack of control to the point where the testing officer believes continuing the assessment would be dangerous
- Improper action causing collision of other vehicles in the immediate vicinity
Speed Limits
Driving over the speed limit for more than 5 consecutive seconds from when speeding is verified.
Slow Driving
Driving too slowly without reason continuously for more than 10km/h under the speed limit. On completion of the test, you will be given a copy of your results. The "Improvement needed" section will identify your strengths and your weaknesses. This feedback will provide you with the opportunity to further improve your driving skills by concentrating your efforts on those weaker areas.
