Learner Logbook Hours Calculator Australia
Free Australian learner-driver logbook hours calculator. Pick your state and age band to see the exact supervised-driving requirement to progress from L to P plates, total hours, the portion that must be at night, and the minimum learner-licence hold period. Handles the widespread over-25 (and Victoria's over-21) exemptions, the NSW/QLD 3-for-1 structured-lesson bonus, and the Northern Territory's competency-based pathway with no logged hours. Enter hours logged so far to see how many you have left.
Your learner details
Over-25 (and, in Victoria, over-21) learners are exempt from supervised hours in several states.
Optional, to see hours remaining.
- Total hours required
- 120 hours
- Night hours required
- 20 hours
What this state requires
For driving instructors
Own your bookings, keep the 25%
Online bookings, prepaid lesson credits and student tracking, flat monthly, no marketplace commission.
Learner logbook hours by state (2026)
Every Australian state and territory sets its own rule for how much supervised driving a learner must complete before progressing to a provisional (P) licence. The headline number ranges from 120 hours in NSW and Victoria down to 50 in WA, with the Northern Territory requiring no logged hours at all (its pathway is competency-based). A set portion of the total must be logged at night in every state that requires hours.
| State | Total hours (under 25) | Night hours | Min L hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 120 | 20 | 12 months |
| VIC | 120 (under 21) | 20 | 12 months |
| QLD | 100 | 10 | 12 months |
| ACT | 100 | 10 | 12 months |
| TAS | 80 | 15 | 12 months (L1 + L2) |
| SA | 75 | 15 | 12 months |
| WA | 50 | 5 | 6 months |
| NT | None (competency-based) | , | 6 months |
The over-25 (and over-21) exemptions
Age changes the answer in most states, which is why this calculator asks for your age band. NSW, Queensland and WA exempt drivers aged 25 and over from the supervised-hours requirement altogether. Victoria drops the hours for anyone 21 or over (under-21s do the full 120). The ACT halves the requirement at 25 (100 hours becomes 50). Only South Australia and Tasmania apply their hours to every age with no exemption. If you started learning later in life, you may need far fewer hours, or none.
Night hours are a separate requirement
Logging the total isn't enough on its own: each state carves out a minimum number of night hours, driving after dark and before dawn, because it's a distinct, higher-risk skill. NSW and VIC want 20, SA and TAS 15, QLD and the ACT 10, WA 5. The calculator tracks your night total separately so you don't reach 120 hours only to find you're short on night driving the week before your test.
The "3 for 1" structured-lesson bonus (NSW & QLD)
NSW and Queensland reward professional instruction with a 3-for-1 credit: each hour of structured lesson with an accredited instructor counts as three hours in your logbook, capped at 10 lessons. Ten real lesson-hours become 30 logged hours, which can bring a NSW learner's real time behind the wheel down from 120 hours to as few as 90. It doesn't reduce the night-hours requirement, and it only applies in NSW and QLD.
Logging your hours without the stress
Whether your state uses a paper logbook or an app (Queensland's digital logbook is mandatory; NSW offers both), the trick is to log every session as you go, date, hours, day/night split and the supervising driver's licence number, rather than reconstructing it the night before your test. Driving instructors and schools that run on OneBookPlus can issue and track prepaid lesson packages and record each student's progress, so a learner and their parents always know exactly how many hours (and night hours) are left.
Frequently asked questions
How many logbook hours do I need to get my Ps in Australia?
It depends on your state and age. For drivers under 25 the standard supervised-driving requirement is: NSW 120 hours (20 at night), VIC 120 hours (20 night, under-21s only), QLD 100 hours (10 night), ACT 100 hours (10 night), TAS 80 hours (15 night), SA 75 hours (15 night), and WA 50 hours (5 night). The Northern Territory has no logged-hours requirement, it's competency-based. Pick your state and age band above for the exact figure.
Do I still need logbook hours if I'm over 25?
In several states, no. NSW, QLD and WA exempt drivers aged 25 and over from the supervised-hours requirement entirely (WA still keeps the 6-month learner hold). Victoria drops the hours for anyone 21 or over. The ACT halves the requirement for 25+ (50 hours instead of 100). South Australia and Tasmania apply their hours to every age with no exemption. Set the age band above to see what applies to you.
Do the hours have to be with a driving instructor?
No, the bulk of logbook hours can be supervised by any fully-licensed driver (a parent, relative or friend who has held a full licence for the required period). Professional instruction is optional, but NSW and QLD reward it with a '3-for-1' bonus: each hour of structured lesson with an accredited instructor counts as three hours in your logbook, up to a capped number of lessons. That can meaningfully cut the total time behind the wheel.
What counts as night driving in the logbook?
Night hours are the driving you do between the end of evening twilight and the start of morning twilight (roughly after dark and before dawn). Most states require a set portion of your total hours to be at night, 20 in NSW and VIC, 15 in SA and TAS, 10 in QLD and the ACT, 5 in WA, because night driving is a distinct, higher-risk skill. The calculator shows both your total and your night requirement, and how many of each you have left.
Is the learner logbook a paper book or an app?
Both exist depending on the state. Queensland uses a mandatory digital logbook app; NSW offers both the Service NSW app and a paper logbook; most other states accept a paper logbook or an approved app. Whatever the format, log each session as you go with date, hours, day/night split and the supervising driver's licence details, the road authority can ask to see it when you book your test.
What's the '3 for 1' structured-lesson rule?
In NSW and Queensland, an hour of professional driving lesson with a licensed/accredited instructor is credited as three hours in your logbook, up to a cap (NSW: 10 lessons; QLD: 10 lessons). So 10 real lesson-hours become 30 logged hours. It's designed to encourage professional instruction and can reduce the real time a NSW learner spends behind the wheel from 120 hours to as few as 90. It doesn't change the night-hours requirement.
Sources & methodology
How we calculate this
This calculator returns the official supervised-driving requirement for the selected state and age band, total hours, night hours and the minimum learner-licence hold period, and, where you enter hours already logged, the hours remaining. Figures are the current (2026) requirements published by each state and territory road authority and are verified against the official source pages linked below; always confirm on your state portal before booking a test.
Authoritative sources
Reviewed by Bishal Shrestha, Founder of OneBookPlus, 10+ years building tools with Australian tax-agent and BAS-agent practices. Page last reviewed and updated: .
Disclaimer: This tool provides estimates only and is not professional advice. For decisions that affect your tax, finances, or compliance position, consult a registered professional.
Teach people to drive?
Run your driving school in one app
OneBookPlus takes online lesson bookings, sells and tracks prepaid lesson packages, and keeps every student's progress and balance in one place, a flat monthly fee, no per-lesson marketplace commission.
Related calculators
Driving Lesson Cost Calculator
Estimate the total cost of learning to drive in Australia, professional lessons, learner permit and practical test fees, with typical 2026 lesson rates for every state.
CalculateInstructor Earnings Calculator
Estimate what you can earn as a driving instructor in Australia, gross and net income from your hourly rate, lessons per week and running costs, including the cost of marketplace commission.
Calculate