Pass the Practical Driving Assessment

In addition to completing the minimum supervised driving hours, you should refer to the Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers (Booklet) and Drive Safe handbook to prepare for your Practical Driving Assessment (PDA).

It is recommended that you choose to dress for comfort and practicality.

If you are undertaking a PDA for any motorcycle class (R-N, R-E or R), you must wear appropriate clothing, including fully enclosed footwear, an approved helmet, long trousers, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. It is also highly recommended that you wear gloves and eye protection.

The Ride Safe handbook is a useful resource if applying for a moped (R-N class) or LAMS approved motorcycle class.

If you fail your PDA you will need to pay for your next PDA and wait a minimum seven days before you rebook to sit another assessment.

Note: Due to the inherent dangers defective Takata airbags pose, a vehicle fitted with a defective Takata airbag, or a vehicle subject to a critical recall, is not able to be used for a practical driving assessment (PDA). Please see our Vehicle safety, standards and security page for more information about Takata airbags.

To sit your Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) you must:

• Be a minimum of 17 years of age.
• Have completed a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours, including at least five hours at night (between sunset and sunrise) if under 25.*
• Present your Log Book - if any supervised driving hours are recorded in the Learner Log Book, ensuring your declaration of completion has been signed by you and your supervising driver. You must bring your entire printed Log Book with you. **
• Present your learner's permit.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
• Present your primary and secondary identification; or one of the below documents if both a photograph and signature are present:
  • WA learner's permit card (preferred).
  • WA driver’s licence (if held).
  • WA extraordinary driver’s licence card. 
  • WA Photo Card.
  • Australian driver’s licence card (current or which has expired by no more than two years).
  • Australian passport (current or which has expired by no more than two years).
  • Current overseas passport.
• Provide a licensed roadworthy vehicle of the correct class for your assessment*** (refer to the vehicle requirements for practical assessments fact sheet below). Either a privately owned vehicle or a driving school vehicle may be suitable.
• Ensure the vehicle you are taking the assessment in has a centrally mounted hand brake accessible to the driving assessor.

Notes:

* Not applicable to moped R-N class licences.

** Not applicable if all of your hours have been completed in the Learn&Log app and you have signed the declaration in the app. If your Log Book does not have a declaration of supervised night time driving included in it, you will also need to present a completed Declaration of Supervised Night Time Driving (E49) form.

***At the commencement of your PDA, your driving assessor will conduct a brief vehicle suitability inspection to check that your vehicle meets minimum safety standards attributing to roadworthiness. If the vehicle is deemed unsuitable, your PDA will be cancelled, and you will need to pay for and book another PDA. Note, other factors may contribute to a vehicle being deemed unsuitable. 

You are entitled to one PDA as included in your licence application fee, but if you fail the assessment or do not give more than two full working days' notice to cancel or change the booking, you will need to pay for another PDA.

Driving assessors are subject to regular auditing and training. An auditor, trainer or trainee may sit in the rear of the vehicle observing and recording the assessor's role in the process.

Learner L plates must be removed for your scheduled assessment.