Hours before the test
In New South Wales, Australia, learner drivers under 25 must record their supervised driving before they can sit the driving test. This article summarises the NSW Government page “Using your Learner Driver Log Book”. It concerns New South Wales only. The page says a learner who has held a learner licence in another Australian state or territory can have interstate log book hours recognised, but other states set their own learner requirements, which are outside the scope of this article. It is general information, not legal advice, and fees are those shown on the NSW page when checked.
How many hours (New South Wales)
The NSW Government says a learner under 25 must complete 120 hours of supervised driving with a supervisor or a licensed driving instructor. The 120 hours must include at least 20 hours of night driving, meaning between sunset and sunrise. The requirement must be met before taking the driving test, unless the learner is exempt. A learner aged 25 or over does not have to log hours, though the page says they should still do plenty of supervised driving and may use a log book or app without submitting it to Service NSW.
Paper log book or app (New South Wales)
The paper log book is issued with the learner licence and must be brought to the Driving Test. The page warns that a lost paper log book means a lost driving record and that a replacement at a service centre costs $18. The alternative is the Roundtrip app, which is the only official app accepted by Transport for NSW from 29 June 2024. Hours logged in Licence Ready cannot be submitted after that date and can be transferred either to Roundtrip or to a paper log book. The L2P app stopped being accepted on 29 February 2024, and hours in it can be transferred to a paper log book at a Service NSW centre.
Bonus hours with an instructor (New South Wales)
When a learner has a structured lesson with a licensed NSW driving instructor, the page says the learner can record triple the time in the log book. A one-hour lesson counts as three hours. A maximum of 10 hours with an instructor can be tripled, so the most bonus time is 20 hours. Some details matter:
- there is no limit on the number of lessons, only on the bonus hours;
- bonus hours from a night lesson count only towards daytime hours, not the 20 night hours;
- bonus hours apply only with instructors licensed in NSW, so an instructor licensed only interstate does not qualify; and
- each lesson must aim to develop the learner’s skills according to the principles in the log book.
Digital app users get the bonus calculated once the instructor and lesson details are entered. On paper, the learner and instructor both record the bonus hours.
The Safer Drivers Course (New South Wales)
The page says completing the NSW Safer Drivers Course earns an additional 20 hours of log book credit. The course is for learners under 25 and covers speed management, gap selection, hazard awareness, safe following distances and managing distraction. It is designed to be attended once, so the 20 hours are deducted only once.
Who does not need a log book (New South Wales)
The page lists exemptions. A log book is not required if the learner is 25 or over, previously held a NSW or interstate licence other than a learner licence, previously held an overseas licence other than a learner licence, holds an overseas licence other than a learner licence and was issued a learner licence after failing a driving test, or has been specifically exempted by Transport for NSW.
False entries (New South Wales)
Learners and supervisors can face heavy penalties for false entries. The page says the hours are rejected, a fine may be imposed for every false entry, and the learner can be barred from attempting the driving test for up to six weeks.
After a failed test (New South Wales)
A learner who fails the practical test does not need to log more hours, though the page says extra practice is worth considering. Another test can be booked straight away, but at least seven days must separate tests.
Why the hours matter
The NSW Government says learners with more supervised on-road practice lower their chances of being involved in crashes, and it points out that challenging situations such as night driving tend to arrive late in the learning process. It advises practising on different types of roads with different levels of traffic, at different times of day, and planning some night drives, and offers a weekly practice planner for supervisors and learners.
Related guides
Learners elsewhere can compare requirements through this site’s guide to learner permits and provisional licences. The article on choosing a good driving instructor explains what to check before booking lessons that can earn bonus time.
Common questions
Do bonus hours count as night hours? Not for night lessons. The page says bonus hours from a night lesson count only as daytime hours.
Can any instructor’s lessons be tripled? Only instructors licensed in NSW.
What if the paper log book is lost? The page says the driving record is lost and a replacement costs $18.
The bottom line
A NSW learner under 25 must log 120 supervised hours, including at least 20 at night, before the driving test. Lessons with a NSW-licensed instructor can be tripled up to 10 hours, giving 20 bonus hours, and the Safer Drivers Course adds a one-off 20 hours. Roundtrip is the only accepted app, false entries can bring fines and a test ban of up to six weeks, and learners aged 25 or over need not log hours.
Sources
- NSW Government, “Using your Learner Driver Log Book”