Changes to the hazard perception test
Availability of online test
The existing hazard perception test will be offline between Saturday 27 March 2021 and Sunday 28 March 2021 while we move to the new hazard perception test.
From Monday 29 March 2021, we are making changes to the hazard perception test to improve the road safety of some of our most at-risk groups. Good hazard perception can be the difference in avoiding a crash.
These changes include:
- all learner licence holders will be required to pass the test before upgrading their licence
- introducing a hazard perception test for motorcycle learner licence holders
- improving the quality of the test clips with new computer-generated images.
Find out how these changes will affect you or the licence you want to apply for:
Learner licence
From Monday 29 March 2021 all learner licence holders must pass the hazard perception test before upgrading their licence.
Once you have completed PrepL and have your learner licence, you will have to complete the following licence requirements to upgrade to unsupervised driving:
- Hazard perception test
- Learner logbook (for learner licence holders under 25 years)
- Practical driving test
Current learner licence holders
Before Thursday 1 July 2021, if you have your learner licence, you can choose to take the hazard perception test before or after your practical driving test.
From Thursday 1 July 2021, you will need to have passed the hazard perception test before you can take your practical driving test.
You will be eligible to take the hazard perception test after you've held your learner licence for 6 months. We'll send you an email to let you know when you can take the test.
P1 licence
Before Monday 29 March 2021, if you hold a P1 licence you are required to pass the hazard perception test before you can upgrade to a P2 or Open licence.
You need to hold your P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months before you will be eligible to take the hazard perception test. If you have an email address registered with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, we'll send you an email to let you know when you can take the hazard perception test.
Motorcycle learner licence
We are introducing a hazard perception test for motorcycle riders.
From Monday 29 March 2021, all motorcycle learner licence holders must pass the motorcycle hazard perception test before upgrading their licence.
Current motorcycle learner licence holders
Before Monday 29 March 2021 if you progress from a motorcycle learner licence to another class of motorcycle licence, you won't need to complete the motorcycle hazard perception test.
Before Thursday 1 July 2021 if you are a motorcycle learner and are eligible to take your Q-Ride RE Course or practical riding test, you can choose to take the hazard perception test before or after your RE course or practical riding test.
From Thursday 1 July 2021, you will need to pass the hazard perception test before you take the Q-Ride RE Course or RE practical riding test.
We recommend you get as much supervised practise in as possible, but you can take the hazard perception test at any time during your learner period. The Q-Ride RE Course or RE practical driving test can only be taken after you have held your learner licence for 3 months.
Changes are coming to the hazard perception test
The hazard perception test was originally introduced in 2008 and featured real life footage containing hazards. This test has been a useful road safety tool, but it is time to modernise it.
As part of a national project we've created brand new 3D computer generated situations showing hazards in each video.
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Hazard perception test scenario of car waiting to turn right
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Hazard perception test scenario of motorcycle driving on road
The following video is a hazard perception test scenario of motorcycle driving on road
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