In Queensland, Australia, learner drivers under 25 must record their practice in a logbook and have it approved before they can sit the practical driving test. A feature of particular interest to instructors and families is “triple time”, which credits lessons with an accredited driver trainer at three times their actual length, up to a limit. This article summarises three Queensland Government pages: “Learner logbook”, “Learner logbook app: information for supervisors” and “Steps from a learner to a provisional licence”. It concerns Queensland only. New South Wales has a different system, described in the site’s article on the NSW learner log book. Rules can change, so the Queensland Government pages should be checked before relying on this summary. It is general information.
Who must complete a logbook and how many hours
The Queensland Government says learner drivers under 25 must record at least 100 hours of supervised driving on Australian roads, and at least 10 of those hours must be night hours, between sunset and sunrise. Learners aged 25 or over are not required to complete a logbook. The government says the 25-and-over group may complete it voluntarily. The Steps page adds that the logbook requirement applies to drivers under 25 only.
What each entry must contain
The logbook can be kept on the Queensland Learner Logbook app, on paper from a transport and motoring service centre, or using a combination. Each trip entry must include the date, start and finish times, total driving minutes, whether it was day or night, locations, the vehicle registration, odometer readings, the supervisor’s name and contact details, and whether the supervisor is an accredited driver trainer. Each trip must be signed or approved by the supervisor. On the app, supervisors review trip details sent by email, approve or reject them using links and give reasons when rejecting so the learner can resubmit corrections. The page does not state a minimum length for a trip.
How triple time works
The supervisors page says every hour of driving with an accredited driver trainer counts as three hours in the logbook, up to a maximum of 10 actual hours, or 30 logbook hours. The learner logbook page says that if a trip with a driver trainer takes place at night, it can be counted either as triple time or as night hours, not both. Its example is a trip from 7pm to 8pm, which can count as three hours of daytime driving or as one hour of night driving. Because the 10 night hours are a separate requirement, a learner has to decide how to use each night lesson. The supervisors page also says that driver trainers need students to identify them correctly, together with their driving school name, for triple time to be credited.
For families comparing lesson packages, the practical effect is limited by the cap: no more than 10 hours of lessons can earn the multiple. The additional hours still need to come from supervised practice with a parent or other supervisor. The site’s guide to comparing real lesson costs covers how to weigh package prices.
Submitting the logbook
Learners must submit the logbook at least 12 business days before the driving test and cannot take the test until it has been approved. The Steps page says submission can be through the Queensland Learner Logbook app or by Australia Post, and that processing takes at least 12 business days. The logbook exemption is available only in limited circumstances, and the page says approved exemption holders must hold their learner licence for at least two years.
Where the logbook fits in the wider process
According to the Steps page, a driver must be 17 or older to obtain a P1 licence and must have held a learner licence for at least one year within the last five years before applying. A hazard perception test, mandatory from 1 July 2021, comes before the practical test and can be taken after holding a learner licence for at least six months. The practical test is run through the Q-SAFE programme and can be booked online, by phone or at transport centres. Those who pass before age 25 receive a P1 licence with red plates, and those who pass at 25 or older receive a P2 with green plates.
Tips for learners and supervisors
- Record each trip promptly, while the odometer readings and times are fresh.
- Decide early how many of the 10 night hours will come from family practice, and whether any night lessons are better counted as triple time.
- Check that the instructor is an accredited driver trainer and knows how to be recorded in the app.
- Submit early enough to allow for the 12 business days, so a test booking is not lost.
Common questions
Do lessons with any instructor earn triple time?
The Queensland pages say triple time applies to driving with an accredited driver trainer, up to a maximum of 10 actual hours.
Do I need a logbook if I am 25?
Not required, according to the Queensland Government, which treats it as optional for learners aged 25 or over.
Can driving overseas count?
The learner logbook page refers to supervised driving on Australian roads; the pages read do not describe any allowance for other driving.
The bottom line
Queensland learners under 25 need 100 supervised hours, including 10 at night, recorded in an approved logbook and submitted at least 12 business days before the test. Accredited driver trainer lessons earn triple credit up to 10 actual hours, but night lessons must be counted as either triple time or night hours. Getting the logbook right early avoids delays to the test.
Sources
- Queensland Government, “Learner logbook” (qld.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Learner logbook app: information for supervisors” (qld.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Steps from a learner to a provisional licence” (qld.gov.au)