The SA learner’s test: at Service SA or online with myLs
You pass it in one of two ways: online, as the last step of the myLs course, or in person at a Service SA centre. Either one leads to your learner’s permit. The SA learner’s test asks about road rules and road safety from The Driver’s Handbook, and the two versions are marked differently.
Updated November 2026 · Written from the Driver’s Handbook (February 2026)
Key facts
At a glance
Who runs it
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport, through Service SA
Two versions
In person at a Service SA centre, or online at the end of the myLs course
Study book
The Driver’s Handbook, February 2026 edition
Online practice
The free practice test on My Licence
How it works
How the SA learner’s test works, in centre and online
Service SA test, Part A
Service SA test, Part B · 32 to pass
To pass you need all 8 on the give-way diagrams in Part A, and 32 of 42 on the multiple-choice questions in Part B.
At Service SA the test has two parts. Part A is eight give-way diagrams, where you decide which vehicle or pedestrian must give way, and Part B is 42 multiple-choice questions on road rules and safety.
You have to get every Part A diagram right before you can try Part B.
The myLs test has 30 questions, and you need 27 right to pass.
At a centre the test is on a computer screen or on paper. My Licence says it may take 30 minutes or more.
At Service SA you pay the $44 each time you sit the test. myLs charges it once, when you enrol.
Topics
What’s on the test
Eight topics from The Driver’s Handbook, which My Licence says explains every question. The key points come from the February 2026 edition, with its page numbers.
01
Road safety: alcohol, drugs and fatigue
The handbook opens with the biggest risks for drivers and how to cut them. The test asks about the limits that apply to you on your L’s.
Key points (3)
On a learner’s permit you must have no alcohol in your blood, and no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in your blood or saliva (page 114).
It’s an offence for your qualified supervising driver to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 or more (page 115).
Going without sleep for more than 17 hours affects your driving like a BAC of 0.05, and 24 hours like a BAC of 0.10 (page 30).
02
Speed limits and following distance
South Australia has default limits, lower limits in set places and a 100 km/h cap for learners and P platers.
Key points (4)
Unless a sign says otherwise, the limit is 50 km/h in a built-up area and 100 km/h outside one. On L’s or P’s you must never go over 100 km/h (page 48).
You must not exceed 25 km/h in a school zone when a child is there, passing a school bus stopped for children, or passing a stationary emergency vehicle with red or blue flashing lights (page 47).
A 40 km/h time-based school limit applies near some schools on roads of 50 km/h or more, on school days from 8 am to 9.30 am and from 2 pm to 4 pm (page 47).
Keep at least three seconds behind the vehicle in front. At 60 km/h that’s about eight or nine car lengths (page 17).
03
Giving way
Part A of the test at Service SA is eight give-way diagrams, and you need every one right. These rules decide who goes first.
Key points (4)
At a Stop or Give Way sign you give way to vehicles from any other direction. The handbook lists three exceptions, including a vehicle doing a U-turn (page 73).
On the road that ends at a T-intersection, you give way to all vehicles on the continuing road and to pedestrians crossing it (page 74).
Before you turn right, give way to oncoming vehicles, including ones turning left, unless they’re turning left from a slip lane (page 75).
At an intersection with no signs, lights or road markings that isn’t a T-intersection, give way to any vehicle on your right (page 77).
04
Signs, signals and traffic lights
Regulatory signs must be obeyed and warning signs tell you about the road ahead. You also signal what you plan to do and follow the lights.
Key points (4)
At a Give Way sign you slow down and stop only if you need to. At a Stop sign you stop at the line every time (pages 58 and 73).
Signal for at least five seconds before you pull out from the side of the road (page 60).
A flashing yellow light means you may go with caution, following the give way rules for intersections without signs (page 67).
You must not make a U-turn at an intersection with traffic lights unless a U-turn Permitted sign is there (page 67).
05
Keeping left, lanes and roundabouts
Keep left, choose your lane early and know who gives way when lanes end or merge.
Key points (4)
On a multi-lane road with a limit over 80 km/h, or with a Keep Left Unless Overtaking sign, keep out of the right lane unless you’re overtaking, turning right, avoiding an obstruction or the other lanes are congested (page 49).
In a roundabout, keep left of the centre island and give way to vehicles already on it (page 79).
On a multi-lane roundabout, use the left lane for the first exit on the left and the right lane to turn right or go all the way round, unless arrows show otherwise (page 79).
Where two lines of traffic merge into one with no lane lines, give way to a vehicle if any part of it is ahead of you. This is the zip merge (page 77).
06
Pedestrians, bicycle riders and crossings
Pedestrians and bicycle riders get extra protection at crossings and when you pass them.
Key points (4)
Give way to any pedestrian or bicycle rider on a pedestrian crossing (page 69).
When you overtake a bicycle rider, leave at least 1 metre, or 1.5 metres if you’re going faster than 60 km/h (page 54).
At a koala crossing a 25 km/h limit applies while its lights are flashing. Wombat crossings sit on a raised part of the road, and the handbook says a 40 km/h limit usually goes with them (page 69).
Give way to a police or emergency vehicle with a siren sounding or red or blue lights flashing, and give it a clear path (page 78).
07
Parking, stopping and night driving
Where you may stop and park, and how to use your lights at night.
Key points (4)
Unless a sign allows it, don’t stop within 20 metres of an intersection with traffic lights, or 10 metres of one without them (page 99).
Don’t stop within 1 metre of a fire hydrant, or within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a pedestrian crossing (pages 99 to 100).
In a No Parking area you may stop for up to two minutes to drop off or pick up passengers or goods, staying within 3 metres of the car (page 99).
Dip your headlights within 200 metres of an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle you’re following (page 86).
08
Your learner’s permit and the steps to a licence
The test also checks you know the Graduated Licensing Scheme: L’s first, then P1 and P2, then a full licence.
Key points (3)
On a learner’s permit, speeding by 10 km/h or more or building up four or more demerit points breaks a condition, and you lose the permit (page 114).
Your qualified supervising driver sits next to you and has held a full licence for the vehicle class for the past two years (page 115).
You need at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including 15 at night, before you can apply for your P’s (page 124).
Road signs
Road signs from The Driver’s Handbook
The handbook sorts road signs into regulatory signs, which you must obey, and warning signs, which tell you about the road ahead. All twelve appear in it.
Stop: stop, then give way
Give Way: slow down, stop if needed
Speed limit, in km/h
No Entry
No U-turn
Keep Left
Keep Left Unless Overtaking
Roundabout: give way to vehicles on it
Cross Road ahead (warning)
T-intersection ahead (warning)
End Divided Road (warning)
Pedestrians (warning)
Free practice test
20 practice questions on the Driver’s Handbook
These 20 questions are written from The Driver’s Handbook, and four of them use give-way diagrams like Part A of the Service SA test. We mark them like the myLs test, where 27 of 30 (90%) is a pass, so you need 18 of 20 here. This set doesn’t copy the Service SA rule that every give-way diagram must be right.
Question 1 of 20
There are no signs, traffic lights or road markings at this crossroads. Which car must give way?
20 practice questions we wrote from the Driver’s Handbook.
Test day
What to bring to the test at Service SA
Original evidence of identity: the handbook asks for at least three documents, one primary and two secondary or two primary and one secondary
A completed learner’s permit application (form MR205)
A medical certificate, if you have a medical condition that affects your driving
Payment for the test, and for your learner’s permit if you pass
Before you go
Study The Driver’s Handbook, starting with its road safety and road rules sections.
Try the official practice test on My Licence until you pass it a few times in a row.
Phone Service SA on 13 10 84 to book. Tests run from 9:30 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, at the centres that offer testing.
Check your documents: the handbook says photocopies and certified extracts aren’t accepted.
Service SA and My Licence offer these official study tools: the handbook, the myLs course and the practice test. The Driving Companion comes in once you have your L’s.
Option
Price
Free to use
Links
Official and free
The Driver’s HandbookOfficial handbookThe Government of South Australia’s book on road safety, road rules, licences and registration, February 2026 edition. Printed copies are sold at Service SA centres and some newsagents.
myLsOfficial online courseThe online course with the learner’s test built in. You enrol in person at a Service SA centre, then study and sit the test online.
At a Service SA centre there are 50: eight give-way diagrams, which must all be right, then 42 multiple-choice questions, where you need 32. The myLs test has 30, and you need 27.
Can I do the learner’s test online in SA?
Yes, through myLs. You enrol at a Service SA centre first, where your photo is taken and your mySAGOV account is set up. You can start the course at 15 years and 9 months, do its test online and apply for your permit online once you’re 16. The test at a Service SA centre is also from 16.
What happens if I fail?
At Service SA you book again and pay for each attempt after that. In myLs you can keep retrying the test for no extra cost until your 12-month enrolment ends.
Can I have a translator?
Yes, for the in-person test. Service SA says that if you need a translator, you can do the test at certain Service SA centres. Its page doesn’t list languages, so ask when you phone to book.
Can I sit the test outside Adelaide?
My Licence says you can sit it at Service SA customer service centres, except Regency Park, and at most remote country police stations. At a police station it’s a written test and you take the payment with you.
What do I do after I pass?
Apply for your learner’s permit. At a Service SA centre you can apply on the spot and get a temporary permit. After myLs you apply in your mySAGOV account. The card should arrive in the post within 3 weeks.
All 20 practice questions with answersA printable list of the practice test above
There are no signs, traffic lights or road markings at this crossroads. Which car must give way?
Car A At an intersection with no lights, signs or road markings that isn’t a T-intersection, you give way to any vehicle approaching from your right. Car B is on Car A’s right, so A gives way.
There’s no speed limit sign. What is the limit in a built-up area in South Australia?
50 km/h Unless a sign shows a different limit, the speed limit in a built-up area is 50 km/h. That’s the same for learners, P platers and full licence holders.
You reach this sign at an intersection that has a stop line. What must you do?
Stop at the line, then give way as required At a Stop sign you must stop at the stop line, or as near as practicable before the intersection if there’s no line. You then give way to vehicles coming from any other direction, apart from the exceptions the handbook lists.
You’re driving on your learner’s permit. What must your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) be?
Zero, or 0.00 A condition of the learner’s permit is that you must not drive with any concentration of alcohol in your blood. Breaking a condition means losing the permit and being disqualified.
Car B is on the road that ends at this T-intersection, and there are no signs or lights. Which car goes first?
Car A, on the continuing road At a T-intersection, the driver on the road that ends gives way to all vehicles on the continuing road. Car B is on the road that ends, so Car A goes first.
You’re overtaking a bicycle rider on a 50 km/h road. What is the least gap you must leave?
1 metre When you overtake a bicycle rider, you must leave at least 1 metre, or 1.5 metres if you’re travelling faster than 60 km/h. At 50 km/h the 1 metre minimum applies.
You come to this sign and there are no vehicles, pedestrians or bicycle riders anywhere near. Do you have to stop?
No, but slow down and be ready to stop If there’s no danger of colliding with a vehicle, pedestrian or bicycle rider, you don’t have to stop at a Give Way sign or line. You must slow down, though, and prepare to stop if that becomes necessary.
A school bus has stopped to pick up children. What is the most you may drive as you pass it?
25 km/h You must not go over 25 km/h when you pass a school bus that has stopped to set down or pick up children. This applies whichever direction you’re travelling.
Car B wants to turn right. Car A is coming the other way and going straight ahead. What must Car B do?
Wait for Car A, then turn right Before you turn right, you must give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction, including vehicles turning left. Car A is oncoming, so Car B waits for it.
Unless a sign allows it, how close to a fire hydrant may you stop your car?
No closer than 1 metre You must not stop or park within 1 metre of a fire hydrant, fire hydrant indicator or fire plug indicator, unless a sign allows it. The handbook’s other distances, such as 10 and 20 metres, apply to other places.
The traffic lights ahead are flashing yellow. What does that mean?
Go with care, using the give way rules A flashing yellow light or arrow means you may go with caution. You follow the give way rules for intersections that aren’t controlled by signs.
The handbook compares going 24 hours without sleep to which blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
0.10 The handbook says not sleeping for more than 17 hours affects your driving like a BAC of 0.05. Not sleeping for 24 hours has the same effect as a BAC of 0.10, double the legal limit.
Car A is about to enter this roundabout, and Car B is already on it. What must Car A do?
Give way to Car B, already on it You must give way to any vehicles already on the roundabout. Car B is on it, so Car A waits until it’s safe to enter.
You’re a learner, and a speed sign on a highway shows 110 km/h. What is the fastest you may drive?
100 km/h On a learner’s permit you must not drive over 100 km/h, even if the local speed limit is higher. The handbook calls 100 km/h the absolute maximum for learners.
You pass this sign on a road with two lanes going your way. When may you drive in the right lane?
To overtake, turn right or avoid an obstruction Where this sign applies, or on a multi-lane road with a limit over 80 km/h, you must not drive in the right lane except to overtake, to turn right while signalling, to avoid an obstruction or when the other lanes are congested. Otherwise, keep to the left lane.
On a multi-lane roundabout you want the first exit on the left. Which lane should you approach in, unless arrows show otherwise?
The left lane As a general rule, to take the first exit on the left you choose the left lane, unless lane arrows or signs show otherwise. You also signal left as you approach.
You’re turning left through a slip lane. Who must you give way to?
Pedestrians and riders on it, traffic from the right Turning left from a slip lane, you must give way to any pedestrian or bicycle rider on or entering it, and to any vehicle approaching from your right. That includes an oncoming vehicle that has turned right at the intersection.
What gap behind the vehicle in front does the handbook call the minimum reasonably safe following distance?
Three seconds The handbook says the acceptable minimum following distance is the distance your vehicle travels in three seconds. At 60 km/h that’s about eight or nine car lengths.
Who can be your qualified supervising driver on your learner’s permit?
A full licence holder for the past two years Your qualified supervising driver must have held an unconditional licence for the vehicle class for the preceding two years, not a learner’s permit, provisional or probationary licence. They also must not have been disqualified in that time.
You’re driving at night with high beam on. When must you dip your headlights for an oncoming vehicle?
Within 200 metres Always dip your lights within 200 metres of an oncoming vehicle, and when you’re within 200 metres of the rear of a vehicle you’re following. Dazzling other road users with your lights is an offence.
Sources: Service SA · My Licence · Government of South Australia and 3 more. Checked November 2026.
South Australia · Theory test