Licence & State Rules · Australian Capital Territory

Australian Capital Territory road rules to know

Most road rules are the same across Australia, but these are specific to Australian Capital Territory.

  • Minimum age for a learner car licence is 15 years 9 months; for a learner motorcycle licence 16 years 9 months. (source)
  • You must complete the 10-hour Pre-Learner Licence Course (modules: Drive to arrive, Prepare to drive, Drive time, Drive rules and tools) and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test through an approved provider or school. (source)
  • ACT Road Rules test pass is valid 2 years; learner licence valid 5 years; renewing needs a new Road Rules test. (source)
  • Learner period is at least 12 months (6 months if 25+ when the Ls were issued). (source)
  • Online Hazard Perception Test must be passed before the Ps; opens after 3 months on the Ls; 25 videos of about 15 seconds. (source)
  • 100 supervised hours incl. 10 night (under 25) or 50 incl. 5 night (25+). Accredited instructor hours count x3, capped at 10 hours of lessons. (source)
  • Provisional period is 3 years: P1 (red plates, 12 months) then P2 (green plates, 2 years); 25+ go straight to P2. (source)
  • P1 peer passenger rule: only one passenger aged 16-22 between 11pm and 5am (work, school, family exemptions). (source)
  • Learner and provisional drivers can reach only 4 demerit points in 3 years before a 3-month suspension (learner licences issued before 1 Jan 2020: 12 points). Demerits reset to zero when upgrading from learner to provisional. (source)
  • Learner and provisional drivers have a total mobile device ban, hands-free and speaker included; music/GPS only if no interaction at all. Full licence holders may use mounted or Bluetooth phones for calls and GPS. (source)
  • Zero alcohol for learners, provisionals, probationary/restricted, public vehicle drivers, heavy vehicle drivers over 15 t, driver trainers and anyone supervising a learner. Everyone else under 0.05. (source)
  • Drug driving: zero tolerance; offence to drive with certain drugs in your system regardless of impairment. (source)
  • Learner trailer limit is 750 kg GVM; L plates front and back (rear only for motorcycles). (source)
  • No learner speed cap: learners follow the posted limit (many states cap learners). (source)
  • Default speed limit is 50 km/h; major roads 60 km/h; school zones (open signs) and 18 town centres 40 km/h. Town-centre 40s apply 24/7; school-zone 40s only at the times on the sign. (source)
  • Slow to 40 km/h when passing a stationary or slow-moving police/emergency vehicle with lights on. (source)
  • Minimum overtaking gap for cyclists: 1 m at 60 km/h or less; 1.5 m above 60 km/h; you may cross centre lines/straddle lane lines when safe to do so. (source)
  • ACT bus lanes: buses, taxis, hire cars, demand responsive vehicles, motorcycles; others only up to 100 m to enter/leave the road. Bicycle lane: up to 50 m for entering/leaving, overtaking a right-turner or avoiding an obstruction. (source)
  • Transit lanes: T2 needs 2+ occupants, T3 needs 3+ occupants during signed hours; buses, taxis, motorcycles, hire cars always allowed. (source)
  • Slip lanes: ACT treats a slip lane like the terminating road of a T-intersection; give way to all traffic and pedestrians when exiting unless the slip lane has its own lane. (source)
  • Give way to a bus with a Give Way to Buses sign that is signalling to pull out (not applicable on multi-lane roads if you are not in the left-most lane). White B bus priority signal lets buses go early. (source)
  • Wombat crossings (raised), flashing amber crossings, school crossings and yellow/red Keep Left pedestrian refuge zones; no overtaking at any stopped vehicle at a crossing. (source)
  • Do not enter a level crossing if the vehicle or load might come close to tramway overhead wires. (source)
  • Shared zones (10-20 km/h): motorists and cyclists give way to pedestrians. (source)
  • Motorcycle lane filtering is allowed only for fully licensed riders, not above 30 km/h, not in 40 km/h zones, bike lanes, breakdown lanes, past heavy vehicles or buses. (source)
  • Report a crash with another vehicle to ACT Policing within 24 hours; report injured wildlife to Access Canberra on 13 22 81 (24 hours). (source)
  • There are no freeways in the ACT; arterial roads such as Tuggeranong Parkway follow freeway-style rules (no stopping, U-turns or reversing). (source)
  • Mobile device detection cameras operate in the ACT at all times; seatbelt cameras were added from 3 November 2025 (not yet in our materials). (source)