Learners Test Fees, Booking & What to Bring (2026)
2026-07-27
NSW: Driver Knowledge Test
Book through Service NSW, either online or at a service centre. The DKT costs AUD $58 per attempt, whether you sit it online or in person, and there’s no cap on how many times you can resit it while your learner licence application is active — though at $58 a time, that’s not an invitation to guess your way through.
Fail the online version and you can try again after 12 hours. Bring identification that meets Service NSW’s requirements — the exact accepted documents are listed on their site, so confirm yours before you go.
Because there’s no cap on resits, some learners treat the first attempt as a free look at the format. That’s an expensive habit at $58 a go — three casual attempts costs more than a proper week of study, for a worse result.
VIC: Learner Permit Test
VicRoads runs the Learner Permit Test, and your first attempt online is free. If you don’t pass, a retest costs $28.70 online or $50.80 at a VicRoads service centre.
Book and check current requirements directly through VicRoads, and bring identity documents as listed on their site if you’re sitting the test in person. The gap between the online and in-person retest fee is worth noting — if you’re confident, the online option saves over $20 on a resit.
QLD: PrepL Road Rules Test
Queensland’s road rules test is booked through the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) as part of enrolling in PrepL. It costs AUD $29.70 per attempt, and if you don’t pass, you can try again once per day.
Enrol and find your nearest testing location through the TMR site — you’ll need proof of identity to sit the test. Because Queensland only allows one attempt per day, a fail costs you a full day’s wait on top of the fee, so it’s worth being genuinely ready before you book your first slot.
WA: Computerised Theory Test
WA’s theory test is booked through Transport WA (Department of Transport). Your first attempt costs AUD $22.40, and each resit after that is $19.20.
If you don’t pass, you can resit the next day. Bring identification that meets Transport WA’s requirements — check the exact list on their site before you go.
Which state has the cheapest test?
On sticker price, Victoria wins outright — a free first attempt beats every paid option here. Among the tests that always charge, WA’s $22.40 is the cheapest single attempt, followed by Queensland at $29.70 and NSW at $58, the most expensive of the four regardless of how you sit it.
Fees aren’t the full cost, though. A cheap resit is still money and time spent redoing something you could have passed the first time — the study plan above is worth more than any fee difference between states.
It’s also worth factoring in how forgiving each state is if you don’t pass. Queensland’s $29.70 fee looks cheap next to NSW’s $58, but a fail costs you a full extra day before you can try again, where WA’s next-day rule and NSW’s 12-hour online rule get you back in front of the screen sooner.
What to bring, whichever state you’re in
Every state requires proof of identity before you can sit the test. The accepted document lists differ slightly between states, so check your own state’s official page rather than assuming a passport alone is always enough.
Arrive early. Walk-in wait times at service centres vary, and turning up five minutes before a booked slot risks losing it entirely — and in Queensland especially, losing your slot means losing the day, since you can only sit the test once per day.
If you’re booking online where that’s an option, keep your confirmation details handy — you’ll likely need them again for later licensing steps, like booking your practical test once you’ve held your learner licence for the required period.
Passing the knowledge test is usually the last knowledge-based hurdle before you’re issued your learner licence. From there, the requirements shift from what you know to supervised hours behind the wheel — so treat the fee you just paid as the last money spent on studying, and the next stage as the one that actually needs a car.
FAQ
How much does the DKT cost in NSW?
AUD $58 per attempt, whether you book online or sit it at a service centre, with no cap on resits.
Is the Victorian learner permit test really free?
Your first online attempt is free. A retest costs $28.70 online or $50.80 in person at a VicRoads centre.
How soon can I resit after failing?
It depends on the state: 12 hours in NSW for the online DKT, once per day in Queensland, and the next day in WA. Check your state’s official booking page for the current rule.
Where do I actually book the test?
Service NSW for the DKT, VicRoads for the Learner Permit Test, Queensland Transport and Main Roads for PrepL, and Transport WA for the computerised theory test — all linked below.
Sources: Service NSW — Driver Knowledge Test, VicRoads — Learner Permit Test, Queensland Transport and Main Roads — PrepL, Transport WA — Theory Test