To begin the process of obtaining a license to drive motorcycles and/or scooters in Australia, a person must be at least 16 years old, which varies according to the state. In New South Wales, for example, the aspiring driver must be at least 16 years and 9 months old. In Victoria, you must be 18 years old.
Although the whole process also depends on the state the person lives in, basically they will have to go through stages before obtaining an unrestricted license. These are training sessions and tests designed specifically to help new drivers obtain the basic skills they need before taking to the road.
Below is an explanation of the process that takes place in the state of New South Wales:
First step: Learner Rider License
The first course lasts two days and can be booked online, by phone or at any registration center for a fee.
The student will undergo 3.5 hours of lessons each day. The motorcycle, helmet and gloves are provided by the center.
This course also acts as a test. During the class, the person is already being assessed and can only apply for an apprentice pilot's license if they pass all the competencies.
Once the person has passed, they will receive a pre-learner Certificate of Competence. This certificate allows them to take the theoretical knowledge test to obtain their first license. The certificate is valid for three months.
To obtain the Learner Rider License, the individual must:
- Pass the vision test
- Pass the theory test
- Pay the license fee.
Please note: If you fail the theory test, you will have to pay the fee again every time you take the test.
The theory test is based on road manual and motorcyclist handbook.
The learner pilot license is valid for 12 months.
What happens next?
The learner pilot must hold the first license for a minimum of three months before attempting to advance to the next stages. The next step is to attend a pre-provisional training course. The person can schedule this course at any time after obtaining the first license.
The pre-provisional training is a one-day course lasting six hours. After successfully completing the course, the person can go on to take the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (MOST), which is another skills test. If they pass both, the rider will receive a Certificate of Competence, which will upgrade their license to P1.
The pilot can upgrade the license to the P2 license after a minimum period of 12 months on the P1 license. And after holding the P2 license for a minimum of 24 months, the pilot will finally have a full license.
Each stage of the license has a series of restrictions. With the Learner Rider License, for example, the rider can only drive an automatic motorcycle, cannot carry a rider and cannot ride above 90 km/h.
What about the Brazilian wallet?
The Brazilian motorcycle license, like the car license, is accepted in most Australian states and territories (with the exception of the Northern Territory), as long as it is valid and accompanied by an English translation. The rider/driver can only drive vehicles that their Brazilian license authorizes them to drive.
If the person already has the document in Brazil, when they apply for the Australian license, they won't necessarily start from the first stage. What will determine which type of license they get is how long they have held the license in Brazil. For example, in the state of New South Wales, if you have more than three years' experience as a driver in Brazil, you can get a full license in Australia, just by passing the test.
Other states
As mentioned above, each state has its own rules for obtaining a motorcycle license, but in general the procedure is done in stages in all regions. Here are the links to the other states: Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia e Northern Territory.
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