Motorbike learner licence
The first step you need to take before learning to ride a motorbike (class RE) is to obtain a learner licence for that class of vehicle. To be eligible to apply for a motorbike learner licence you must have held a provisional or open licence of another class for at least one year within the last five years.Make the most of your time as a learner, so that you become a safe and capable driver. Use the following links to find the information you need on this page:
- How to apply for a learner licence
- To apply for a motorbike (class RE) learner licence
- When learning to ride a motorbike
- The practical driving test
How to apply for a learner licence
Visit a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre, authorised Queensland Government Agency Program office or a licence-issuing police station.
To apply for a motorbike (class RE) learner licence
You must:- be at least 18 years
- have held a provisional or open licence of another class for at least one year in the last five years
- complete the Driver Licence Application/Renewal form (F3000)
- show suitable evidence of identity and Queensland residency documents
- pass an eyesight test, if required
- declare that you are medically fit to learn to drive the class of motor vehicle (Note: If you have a medical condition that might affect your ability to drive or ride safely, you will be required to give a medical certificate from your doctor stating that you are medically fit to drive or ride safely)
- pay the written road rules test fee and pass the test
- pay the required learner licence fee (Note: Payment is only required if renewing at the same time otherwise a label will be placed on the back of your licence).
Note: You can prepare for your road rules test by visiting the practice road rules test page.
When learning to ride a motorbike
You must:- clearly display an L-plate on the rear of the motorbike that you are learning to ride. Alternatively you may wear a vest clearly displaying a capital 'L'. If you are not correctly displaying an L-plate, both you and the person supervising you to ride the vehicle will be fined
- keep your learner licence with you at all times when you are learning to ride and show it to a police officer when asked to do so
- obey any conditions stated on your learner licence
- only learn to ride on a learner approved motorbike (LAM)
- have a zero (0.00 per cent) blood or breath alcohol limit if you are under 25 years and a blood or breath alcohol limit below 0.05 per cent if you are 25 years or over (drink driving applies to motorbikes also, and offences carry penalties of monetary fines and disqualification periods)
- not drive under the influence of drugs
- only be supervised by a person who holds, and has held, an open licence for the class of motorbike you are learning to ride, for at least one year
- you must not carry your supervisor as a pillion passenger on the motorbike. You may only carry a suitably licensed supervisor seated in the sidecar attached to the motorbike. If the motorbike does not have a sidecar, the supervisor may follow you at a safe distance on another motorbike or in another vehicle.
Note: Provisional licence holders must not supervise a learner licence holder to ride a motorbike. Only open licence holders are authorised to supervise a learner to ride.
The practical driving test
You may choose to obtain your motorbike licence through Q-Ride, a competency-based training and assessment program, or by passing the Department of Transport and Mains Roads Q-SAFE practical riding test.
Unless you undertake Q-Ride training, you must hold your learner licence for at least six months before you are eligible to take a practical driving test. The six month period may be made up of a single continuous period or a number of individual periods within two years before you apply to take the test. Otherwise you can complete the Q-Ride competency based training program to obtain a Q-Ride Certificate for the grant of a class RE provisional licence without needing to be tested by Queensland Transport. For more information, see motorbike licence (provisional or open) page.
Other information for learners is available in the learning to drive section of this website.
Downloads
Learner driver handbook (PDF**, 404KB) Motorcycle safety initiatives fact sheet (PDF**, 212KB)
Related information
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Last updated 20 October 2009
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