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Practical driving assessment vehicle standard
You need to provide a licensed and roadworthy vehicle when you sit your practical driving assessment (PDA).
There is a minimum standard for all vehicles that can be used to undertake a PDA.
Vehicle suitability inspection
Before you begin your driving or riding assessment, your driving assessor will briefly inspect your vehicle to check if it meets the minimum standard.
If your vehicle is deemed unsuitable or does not meet the minimum standards, you will not be assessed and your PDA will be cancelled.
In this case, you will need to rebook and pay for another PDA.
Licence restrictions
Vehicles with an automatic or synchromesh transmission
If you undertake and pass your PDA using a vehicle with an automatic or synchromesh transmission, you will be granted a driver’s licence restricting you to driving a vehicle with an automatic or synchromesh transmission only.
This restriction will appear on your driver’s licence card.
Restrictions for LAMS approved trike motorcycles (R-E class)
If you undertake and pass your motorcycle PDA on a trike motorcycle, you will be granted a licence restricting you to riding a trike motorcycle only.
A trike is defined as a motor vehicle with 3 wheels, although it does not include a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a sidecar attached to it that is supported by a third wheel.
The restriction will appear on your driver’s licence document and card.
Minimum standards for assessment vehicles
Car (C class)
A car must meet the following requirements:
- demister, door handles, horn, and speedometer must operate effectively.
- all windows must operate effectively and can be opened
- exhaust must be secure and not leak or produce excessive noise
- park brake must be centrally mounted and hold the vehicle stationary on a slope (excluding driving instructor cars fitted with dual controls)
- headrests must be fitted
- lights must operate effectively, and headlights must be focused correctly
- reflectors must have minimal corrosion on reflectors and lenses must not be cracked or faded, and headlights are focused correctly
- learner “L” plates must be removed for your PDA
- interior and exterior mirrors must be fitted and adjusted for maximum view
- accelerator, break and clutch pedals must have anti-slip or non-slip covering
- seatbelts must be operational and not frayed, twisted or damaged
- tyres must have appropriate speed and load rating, at least 1.5mm tread depth across the entire width of the tyres, and not be mismatched, worn or damaged
- windscreen must not have any cracks exceeding 15cm in length, or chips or cracks in the driver’s line of sight
- windscreen wipers and washers must operate and prevent dirt and moisture from obscuring visibility
- vehicle must be reasonably clean and any loose objects must be secured
- must be equipped to seat not more than 12 adults including the driver
- no engine warning lights (red or amber) should be showing on the dashboard (including the low petrol warning light.)
Driving instructor vehicles must meet the above requirements and be fitted with an additional rear vision mirror.
Note: You cannot use a vehicle for a practical driving assessment if it is subject to a recall or fitted with Takata airbags. Find out more about Product Safety Australia’s Takata airbag recall.
Moped (R-N class)
To be deemed suitable for a PDA, your moped must meet the following requirements:
- must not to be capable of a speed exceeding 50 km/h
- must not have an engine capacity exceeding 50cc or be powered by a piston engine
- not be fitted with a sidecar.
Learner approved motorcycle (R-E class)
To be deemed suitable for a PDA, your learner approved motorcycle (LAMS) must meet the following requirements:
- must have power to weight ratio not exceeding 150 kilowatts per tonne
- must not have an engine capacity exceeding 660cc
- must not be fitted with a sidecar
- must be fitted with a hand or foot operated clutch, unless you only require a licence for an automatic motorcycle.
- must be listed in the publication known as ‘Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS): R-E approved motorcycles list
| Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS): R-E approved motorcycles list | Kb | |
Motorcycle
To be deemed suitable for a PDA, your motorcycle must meet the following requirements:
- must have a power to weight ratio that exceeds 150 kW/t or an engine capacity exceeding 660cc
- must not be fitted with a sidecar.
Light rigid (LR class)
A light rigid motor vehicle must meet the following requirements:
- must have a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes; or
- must have a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or less that is equipped to seat more than 12 adults including the driver.
Medium rigid (MR class)
A medium rigid motor vehicle must have 2 axles and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 8 tonnes.
Heavy rigid (HR class)
A heavy rigid motor vehicle (except a prime mover) must meet the following requirements:
- is of class HR and must have at least 3 axles
- must have a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 15 tonnes
- must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 16 tonnes.
- Load should be distributed evenly between the vehicle and trailer.
Heavy combination (HC class)
A heavy combination vehicle must meet the following requirements:
Prime mover
- is of class HR and must
- has at least 3 axles and a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of more than 15 tonnes; and
- be attached too one semi-trailer that has at least 2 axles, an unladen mass exceeding 4,500 kg, a GVM of 16 tonnes or more and a length of at least 10 metres
- vehicle combination must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 28 tonnes.
- Load should be distributed evenly between the vehicle and trailer.
Motor vehicle
- has at least 3 axles and a GVM of more than 15 tonnes; and
- be attached to one trailer that has an unladen mass exceeding 4,500 kg, a GVM of 16 tonnes or more and a length of at least 7 metres,
- vehicle combination must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 29 tonnes.
Multi combination (MC class)
A multi combination vehicle must meet the following requirements:
Prime mover
- has at least 3 axles and a GVM of more than 15 tonnes; and
- is attached to one semi-trailer and one trailer each of which has at least 2 axles, an unladen mass exceeding 4,500 kg, a GVM of 16 tonnes or more and a length of at least 10 metres
- vehicle combination must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 51 tonnes.
OR
- has at least 3 axles and a GVM of more than 15 tonnes; and
- is attached to 2 semi-trailers each of which has at least 2 axles, an unladen mass exceeding 4,500 kg, a GVM of 16 tonnes or more; and
- together with the semi-trailers has a length of at least 22 metres
- (a B- double configuration)
- vehicle combination must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 39 tonnes.
Motor vehicle
- has at least 3 axles and a GVM of more than 15 tonnes; and
- is attached to 2 trailers each of which has at least 2 axles, an unladen mass exceeding 4,500 kg, a GVM of 16 tonnes or more and a length of at least 7 metres,
- vehicle combination must be loaded to have a minimum on-road mass of 62 tonnes.
Notes for heavy vehicles
- A “bob tail” prime mover (no semi-trailer attached) is not acceptable as an assessment vehicle for any heavy vehicle assessment.
- Load should be distributed evenly between the vehicle and trailer.
- If the vehicle used for your assessment is fitted with a non-synchromesh gearbox, you will have to change gears using the double de-clutch method.
- If you pass your assessment in a vehicle with an automatic or synchromesh gearbox, you will be issued with a restricted licence.
- If you are undertaking your Heavy Rigid assessment in a bus (such as, HR-A class for a standard Trans-Perth link bus, or HR class with various gearbox configurations for long- haul tour buses), there is no loading requirement.