There are two types of 120 hours supervised driving exemptions:
1. Hardship
Your application will be considered if the nature of your essential activities, occupation, employment or family circumstances means that 120 hours of supervised driving would cause you or your family undue hardship.
Hardship exemption:
To support your application, you can provide:
- education: a letter from your educational institution or course coordinator verifying your student status, dates and times of attendance and identifying the hardship
- employment: a letter from your employer verifying your employment and identifying the hardship
- family circumstances: a letter from a relevant authority (medical practitioner, parish priest etc) describing the impact on the family.
2. Previous Experience
Your application will be considered if you have sufficient previous driving experience.
Previous driving experience exemption:
To support your application, you need to provide proof of previous driving experience (interstate and overseas experience will be considered).
Interstate and overseas learner drivers
If you're an interstate or overseas learner driver under the age of 21, you'll be required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours at night) before you can take the drive test. Go to Interstate and overseas learner permit holders to learn more.
Step 1: Eligibility for your exemption to be considered
You can only apply for this exemption if you:
- have a current and valid learner permit are under 21 years old at the time of applying for your probationary licence (if you’re 21 or older, this requirement doesn’t apply to you)
- have a good driving record
- can demonstrate undue hardship, or provide proof of previous driving experience.
Step 2: Prepare the correct forms and documents for your exemption
The form you use will depend on the category of exemption. Download and complete the relevant 120 hours of supervised driving exemption form:
You’ll need to provide us with electronic copies of supporting documents to demonstrate the reason for your exemption.
Step 3: Submit your application to us
When you’ve completed your exemption application form and have your supporting documents, you'll need to submit them to us for processing.
You can submit the paperwork by uploading your form and supporting documents online.
You’ll need to make a payment of $62.50 (VISA or MasterCard) plus a card payment fee (0.54%) when you submit your application.
When you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email from us. This email will include an application reference number and contact details
Step 4: Outcome of your exemption application
We’ll contact you within 15 business days of receiving your application. If you don't get a response after this time, please call 13 11 71 and provide us with your driver licence or learner permit number and the exemption application number.
We’ll notify you via email of the outcome of your application. Any exemption granted may result in us imposing conditions on your driver licence for a specified time.
Conditions may include:
- limiting the number of passengers you can carry
- limiting your travel routes and distances
- restricted driving times in the day
- restricted driving days of the week.
There are no reviews of rejected exemption applications.