If you're a Perth learner — or a parent trying to budget for one — the Department of Transport's fees for getting a licence are spread across half a dozen different pages, and none of them add it all up for you. We've done that here. Every figure below is a current Department of Transport WA fee (checked September 2026), laid out in the order you'll actually pay them, from your first theory test through to your P plates.
At Golden Road Driving Academy we get asked “how much is this actually going to cost me?” almost every week, so here's the honest, itemised answer.
The Short Answer
Assuming you pass everything on your first attempt, choose the free digital logbook, and take a 1-year provisional licence card, the Department of Transport fees for a WA car licence — Ls to P's — come to $252.50. Choose a 5-year card instead and it's $375.10. That's before driving lessons, which we cover further down.
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Computerised Theory Test (CTT) | $22.40 |
| Learner's permit application (includes 1st PDA attempt) | $150.80 |
| Learner logbook (printed) | $10.70 (or free — digital Learn&Log app) |
| Hazard Perception Test (HPT) | $29.90 |
| Provisional licence card | $49.40 (1 year) or $172.00 (5 years) |
| Total (digital logbook, 1-year card) | $252.50 |
Step 1: The Computerised Theory Test and Your Learner's Permit
Before you can get behind the wheel, you need to pass the Computerised Theory Test (CTT) at a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre, then apply for your learner's permit.
- CTT fee: $22.40 for your first attempt. If you don't pass, a resit costs $19.20.
- Learner's permit application fee: $150.80. Handily, this one fee already includes your first Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) attempt down the track — so you're not paying for that twice.
- Learner logbook: a printed logbook costs $10.70, or you can use the digital Learn&Log app for free. Either way, you'll need it to record your 50 hours of supervised driving.
You need to be at least 16 to apply, and your Ls are valid for 3 years from the date you get them.
(We've covered the full step-by-step Ls process, including ID requirements and supervising driver rules, in our guide to getting your Ls in WA.)
Step 2: Logging Your 50 Hours (No DoT Fee, But Budget for Lessons)
There's no Department of Transport fee for the logbook stage itself — just time behind the wheel. WA requires 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 5 hours at night, logged either in the printed book or the Learn&Log app.
This is where most of your actual spending happens, because it's also when most learners take paid lessons with an instructor. We've covered that separately below, since it's a real cost that just isn't a government fee.
Step 3: The Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
Once you're comfortable behind the wheel, you'll sit the Hazard Perception Test — a computer-based test that checks how quickly you spot developing hazards on the road.
- HPT fee: $29.90 for your first sitting.
- HPT resit fee: $24.10 for every attempt after that.
There's no minimum logbook hours requirement to sit the HPT itself, but most learners sit it partway through their 50 hours, once they've had enough real-world exposure to hazards to feel ready.
Step 4: The Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)
This is the big one — the actual driving test. To book it, you need to be 17 or older, have held your Ls for at least 6 months, have logged your 50 hours (including the 5 night hours), and have passed the HPT.
- First PDA attempt: already paid for — it's bundled into your $150.80 learner's permit fee back in Step 1.
- Every PDA resit after that: $120.50.
If you want the detail on exactly what the examiner is scoring you on during the PDA, we've broken down all 7 assessment categories here.
Step 5: Getting Your Provisional (P Plate) Licence
Pass your PDA and you're issued a provisional licence, which runs for 2 years (or until you turn 19, whichever is longer). Behind the scenes, though, the actual licence card still follows the Department's standard renewal cycle — meaning you choose and pay for either a 1-year or 5-year card at the counter:
- 1-year licence card: $49.40
- 5-year licence card: $172.00
There's a genuine perk worth knowing about here: the P-Plater Safe Driver Reward. If you don't pick up any traffic offences during your provisional period, your first licence renewal after that is free. Drive clean on your P's, and the Department effectively refunds one renewal cycle.
(We've covered the full red-plate/green-plate rules, curfews and demerit thresholds in our P plate rules guide.)
What If You Need a Resit?
Nobody plans to fail a test, but it happens, and it's worth budgeting for realistically rather than being caught out. Here's what one resit of each test would add to your total:
| Resit | Extra Cost |
|---|---|
| CTT resit | $19.20 |
| HPT resit | $24.10 |
| PDA resit | $120.50 |
The PDA resit is by far the expensive one, which is exactly why it pays to go into test day properly prepared rather than “seeing how you go.” A few extra lessons focused on your weak spots is almost always cheaper than a $120.50 resit fee plus the wait for another booking slot.
The Other Big Cost: Driving Lessons
Everything above is what the Department of Transport charges. It isn't the whole cost of learning to drive — lessons with a qualified instructor are the other major line item, and they vary a lot depending on how many hours you book and who you book them with.
We won't put a made-up number on that here, because it depends on your package — but we'd rather learners spend on the lessons that build real skill and confidence than gamble on resit fees. If cost is the thing holding you back from booking lessons, Golden Road Driving Academy offers AfterPay so you can spread the cost of a lesson package over time instead of paying it all upfront. Get in touch and we'll talk you through current pricing and packages for your situation.
Total Cost: Putting It All Together
Here's the full picture, Department of Transport fees only, assuming everything goes smoothly on the first attempt:
| Scenario | Total DoT Fees |
|---|---|
| Best case — digital logbook, 1-year P's card | $252.50 |
| Best case — digital logbook, 5-year P's card | $375.10 |
| Printed logbook instead of digital | add $10.70 |
| One resit of everything (CTT + HPT + PDA) | add $163.80 |
Add your driving lessons on top of that, and you've got your real total. The good news: apart from lessons, none of this is a surprise if you plan for it — and passing each test the first time is the single biggest thing you can do to keep the final number down.
Book a driving lesson with Golden Road Driving Academy today.
Drive safe. Stay focused.
Paul
Golden Road Driving Academy (G.R.D.A)
Admin@goldenroaddriving.com.au | +61 403 089 100
© Golden Road Driving Academy (G.R.D.A) Perth 2026