How do I get my motorcycle licence the ACT?

Yes, regardless of the capacity, top-speed capability or transmission type of the registered two-wheeled vehicle, you will need a motorcycle licence to ride it on roads in the nation’s capital. The Australian Capital Territory uses a graduated licensing system that you’ll need to work through in order to obtain your unrestricted motorcycle licence.

To apply for an ACT motorcycle learner permit, you need to be at least 16 years and nine months old. While most ACT schools provide a pre-learners course as part of the Year 10 curriculum for basic knowledge, you’ll need to successfully complete a government-approved, one-day pre-learners riding course and pass a general road rules knowledge test.

If, however, you already hold a licence to drive a car, you won’t need to sit the knowledge test. Then it’s just a matter of presenting the certificates of competency within 30 days of receiving them at an Access Canberra Service Centre, passing an eyesight test, proving your identity and ACT residency and you’re away.

No. The pre-learner course is designed for people who have no motorcycle riding experience. However, if you would like to get a head start before taking the course at one of the ACT’s two accredited providers, they do offer additional training courses.

Yes. Once your learner’s permit has been issued, you can ride unaccompanied. Certain restrictions apply to learners: you must observe a maximum 80km/h speed limit, you must have a zero (0.0) blood alcohol concentration, you can’t carry a passenger and, as well as always displaying an L-plate, you must carry your learner’s permit each time you ride.

To apply for a provisional motorcycle licence, you must have held your learner permit for a minimum of three months. Be aware your learner’s permit will expire after 12 months, at which point you’ll need to go through the process again. Once you’re eligible, you need to head back to your course provider and take the pre-provisional course and pass a practical assessment, or Motorcycle Operators Skills Test (MOST). The assessment does not need to be completed at the same provider as the training course, and the ACT only has a single provisional step (other states have a ‘red’ P1 and ‘green’ P2 provisional licence steps.

It’s a good idea to leave at least a six-week buffer from the date you book the pre-provisional test and the end of your 12-month learner’s permit, to give you enough time to retake the assessment if you don’t pass the first time. Once you have been issued with your provisional licence, you’ll need to hold that for three years before graduating to your unrestricted motorcycle licence.

Given you need to be 16 years and nine months old before you can apply for your learner’s permit, hold that permit for a minimum of three months before applying for your Ps (which you’ll need to hold for three years), you will need to be at least 20 years old to obtain an unrestricted motorcycle licence in the Australian Capital Territory.

There’s no motorcycle-specific knowledge test to undertake, just the same Road Rules Knowledge Test that all pre-learner road users need to complete. When sitting this test, you will have to answer 35 questions drawn from 378 training questions. All questions must be answered correctly for Alcohol and Drugs, Intersections, Seat Belts and Vulnerable Road Users. Two questions are allowed to be answered incorrectly in each category of Car General and Driving General. In total, you are allowed a maximum of four incorrect answers.

While there isn’t an online practice test you can take on the Access Canberra website, the ACT Road Rules Handbook can be downloaded from the site and studied. And you could improve your general road rules knowledge by completing some online practice tests on other states’ and territories’ Service websites before sitting the test.

While a motorcycle, helmet and gloves will be provided by the course host, you must bring photo ID as well as turn up wearing suitable clothing. If you don’t have a leaner-approved and roadworthy motorcycle to complete the course on, one can be hired through the provider.

It’s important you wear clothing that covers all exposed skin. If you don’t have a riding jacket or dedicated riding pants, a sturdy long-sleeved shirt, thick pants and sturdy shoes or boots must be worn.

In terms of the courses, and at the time of writing, the pre-learners course will cost you in the region of $290, while the pre-provisional course and MOST will be around $255. The learner licence fee will cost you $26.40, your provisional licence fee is $134.30, while the unrestricted licence fee will cost you either $219 or $407.30 for a five- or 10-year licence. Visit Access Canberra for the most up-to-date licence fee information.

If you hold a car licence, the status of your motorcycle licence will be represented on the same physical licence card. The two licences are independent but are bound by the same demerit points. If you lose your car licence, you’ll also lose your motorcycle licence, and vice-versa.

Yes. All riders (and drivers) start with zero demerit points. If you commit a traffic offence, demerit points can be added to your driving record. The number of demerit points you get depends on the type of offence.

Yes. While there’s no such thing as a ‘moped licence’ in the Australian Capital Territory, meaning you’ll need to hold a licence to ride a motorcycle of any capacity regardless of its top-speed capability, if your assessment was completed on an automatic (CVT) motorcycle, the licence will be issued with an automatic condition and you’ll only be able to operate twist-and-go motorcycles. This condition can be removed after holding the licence for 12 months, or by completing another rider assessment on a manual motorcycle.