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How Many Driving Hours Do You Need in New South Wales?
Before you can upgrade from your Ls to your Ps in New South Wales, you need 120 documented hours behind the wheel. 20 at night, 100 during the day. It’s one of the highest requirements in Australia, but there are shortcuts built into the system if you know where to look.
New South Wales permit requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 120 |
| Daytime hours | 100 |
| Night hours | 20 |
| Minimum learner age | 16 |
| Minimum hold period | 12 months |
| Supervisor requirement | Full licence holder |
| Driver education required | No |
| Maximum speed on Ls | 90 km/h |
| Blood alcohol limit | Zero |
Night driving rules in New South Wales
Night driving counts from sunset to sunrise. In Sydney, that could mean 5:00 PM in winter or 8:30 PM in summer. The seasonal swing is your friend — winter makes it much easier to rack up night hours because darkness comes early.
Plan to start evening sessions about 30 minutes before sunset. You’ll get comfortable in fading light before it goes fully dark. 20 hours is roughly 20 sessions if you’re doing an hour each time. Mix these in from the start rather than saving them for the end.
Supervisor requirements
Your supervisor must hold a full (unrestricted) Australian licence. That means no P1 or P2 drivers. They need to sit in the front passenger seat, stay alert, and be ready to take over if needed. Zero blood alcohol for the learner, and supervisors should keep their level well within legal limits too.
If you get pulled over and your supervisor doesn’t hold the right licence class, that drive won’t count — and you could both cop a fine.
Instructor bonus hours
This is the biggest shortcut in the NSW system. Every hour with a licensed driving instructor counts as 3 hours in your logbook. The cap is 10 instructor hours, which translates to 30 hours of credit. That cuts your real driving time from 120 hours down to 100.
You still need to complete at least 90 hours of actual driving. The 3-for-1 bonus just accelerates the logbook total.
Safer Drivers Course
The Safer Drivers Course is a Transport for NSW program available to learners who’ve logged at least 50 hours. It includes facilitated group discussions and on-road coaching with professional instructors. Completing it gives you 20 bonus hours in your logbook.
Combined with the instructor bonus, you could earn up to 50 credit hours — meaning you’d need about 70 hours of actual seat time instead of 120. Worth doing.
How to plan your 120 hours
You need to hold your learner licence for at least 12 months in NSW. That gives you plenty of time to spread your hours out. Here’s what a realistic schedule looks like:
| Timeline | Sessions per week | Session length | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed (40 weeks) | 3 | 1 hour | ~40 weeks |
| Moderate (24 weeks) | 5 | 1 hour | ~24 weeks |
| With all bonuses (18 weeks) | 4 | 1 hour | ~18 weeks |
The “with all bonuses” row assumes you max out the instructor 3-for-1 (30 credit hours) and complete the Safer Drivers Course (20 credit hours), dropping your actual requirement to about 70 hours.
Night hours are about 17% of your total. Don’t save them all for the end. One or two evening sessions per week from the start and you’ll have them done months before the rest of your hours.
Age exemptions
If you’re 25 or older when you get your learner licence, you’re exempt from the 120-hour logbook requirement. You still need to hold your Ls for the minimum period and pass the driving test, but you don’t need to fill out a logbook.
Tracking your driving hours
Tracking 120 hours on paper is asking for trouble. Lost pages, forgotten sessions, illegible notes. Moda logs every drive automatically, breaks it down by day and night, calculates your instructor bonus hours, and shows exactly how far you’ve come. When it’s time to submit your logbook, export it in the format NSW requires.
How many supervised driving hours does New South Wales require?
NSW requires 120 total supervised driving hours. 20 must be at night and 100 during the day.
What counts as night driving in New South Wales?
Night driving in NSW is defined as sunset to sunrise. The exact times shift with the seasons, so check your local sunset time before heading out.
Can I get bonus hours with a driving instructor in NSW?
Yes. Each hour with a licensed instructor counts as 3 hours in your logbook. The cap is 10 instructor hours, which gives you 30 hours of credit toward your 120.
What is the Safer Drivers Course in NSW?
The Safer Drivers Course is a Transport for NSW program that gives you 20 bonus hours in your logbook. It includes facilitated group discussions and on-road coaching.
How old do you have to be to get a learner licence in NSW?
You can apply for a learner licence in NSW at age 16.
Who can supervise a learner driver in NSW?
Your supervisor must hold a full (unrestricted) Australian licence. P1 and P2 licence holders can’t supervise.
Do I need to complete all 120 hours if I’m over 25?
No. If you’re 25 or older when you get your learner licence in NSW, you’re exempt from the 120-hour logbook requirement.
Calculate your remaining hours
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