Northern Territory · Theory testHow do you get an NT licence?
The two novice stages work like this:
| Stage | Least time | To move on |
|---|---|---|
| Learner licence (L plates) | 6 months, unbroken | Pass the practical driving test |
| Provisional licence (P plates) | 1 or 2 years, by age | Finish the period, then apply for a full licence |
Learner licence conditions
On your learner licence you must:
- Have a zero blood alcohol concentration
- Not exceed 80 km/h
- Display L plates where they can be seen, at the front and rear of the car
- Have a fully licensed driver in the front passenger seat at all times
Your supervising driver must have a full Australian driver licence. They can be an adult relative, a friend or a driving instructor.
As a guide, the NT Government says learning can take about 20 hours or more for the car’s controls, then another 80 hours to become a low-risk driver. You can record your progress in the NT Learner Drivers’ Guide.
Keeping your six months unbroken
You must hold your learner licence continuously for at least six months before the practical test. If it’s suspended, disqualified, cancelled or expired, a practical test you take won’t be valid, and you need another six continuous months once it’s reactivated.
You can renew your learner licence from six weeks before it expires, by passing the theory test again and paying the learner licence fee. That keeps your six months unbroken. If you let it expire and reapply, you hold the reissued licence for six months before your practical test.
P plate rules in the NT
On your provisional licence you must:
- Have a zero blood alcohol concentration
- Not exceed 100 km/h
- Display P plates at the front and rear of the vehicle
If you’re under 25 you get a two-year provisional licence. At 25 or over, it’s one year.
Moving to a full licence
When your provisional period ends, you pay the full licence fee. You can get a free 10-year open C class licence instead if you:
- Held an NT provisional licence continuously for 12 months or more
- Have no traffic infringements or suspensions
- Apply in the last six weeks of your provisional licence, or no later than six months after it expires
Only a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) office can issue the free 10-year licence.
After your provisional period, the Z condition keeps you at zero blood or breath alcohol for a further 12 months, or until you turn 25 if that’s sooner. You can apply to have it removed once you’re 25 or older, or once you’ve held your open licence for at least 12 months.
NT licence fees
The NT Government listed these fees in November 2026, and it says fees and charges are subject to regulatory changes:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| P licence, under 25 (2 years) | $61 |
| P licence, 25 or over (1 year) | $40 |
| Open licence, 1 year | $40 |
| Open licence, 2 years | $61 |
| Open licence, 5 years | $122 |
| Open licence, 10 years | $210 |
| Replacing a lost or stolen licence | $26 |
The theory test and learner licence fees are on the guide. DriveSafe NT participants don’t pay the provisional licence fee.
Sources: NT Government and 2 more. Checked November 2026.
- NT Government: Get your driver licence ↗
- NT Government: Driver and rider licence fees ↗
- NT Government: Driver licences for remote residents ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.