Blog /
How Many Driving Hours Do You Need in Victoria?
Victoria asks for 120 supervised driving hours before you can move from your Ls to your Ps. 20 at night, 100 during the day. No instructor bonus, no shortcuts. Every hour has to be real seat time.
Victoria 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 (not P1 or P2) |
| Driver education required | No |
| Instructor bonus | None |
| Blood alcohol limit | Zero |
Night driving rules in Victoria
Night driving counts from sunset to sunrise. In Melbourne, sunset can be as early as 5:00 PM in June or as late as 8:45 PM in January. That seasonal range is significant — plan your evening sessions around winter when darkness comes early.
Start about 30 minutes before sunset so you get practice in fading light before full darkness. 20 hours breaks down to roughly one evening session per week over five months. Don’t leave them all to the end.
Supervisor requirements
Victoria is strict on this. Your supervisor must hold a full (unrestricted) licence. P1 and P2 licence holders can’t supervise under any circumstances. They need to sit in the front passenger seat, stay alert, and be ready to intervene.
The learner must have zero blood alcohol. The supervisor should be well within legal limits too — practically speaking, don’t drink before supervising.
No instructor bonus
Unlike NSW and several other states, Victoria doesn’t offer any instructor bonus hours. If you take professional lessons, those hours count one-for-one in your logbook. Same as a session with mum or dad.
Professional lessons are still worth it for skill development, especially for complex situations like roundabouts, hook turns, and freeway merging. But they won’t reduce your total hour count.
How to plan your 120 hours
You need your learner permit for at least 12 months, so there’s no rush. But 120 hours is a lot of driving. Here’s how the math works:
| Timeline | Sessions per week | Session length | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed (40 weeks) | 3 | 1 hour | ~40 weeks |
| Moderate (24 weeks) | 5 | 1 hour | ~24 weeks |
| Intensive (17 weeks) | 7 | 1 hour | ~17 weeks |
Most families land in the moderate range. Five sessions a week sounds like a lot, but two of those can be short drives — to school, to the shops, to footy practice. The key is making driving part of your routine rather than a special event.
Night hours make up about 17% of the total. Work in one or two evening sessions each week from the start and they’ll be done well before you hit 120.
Age exemptions
If you’re 21 or older when you get your learner permit, you’re exempt from the 120-hour logbook requirement. You still need to hold the permit for the minimum period and pass the hazard perception test and driving assessment, but the logbook itself isn’t required.
How Victoria compares
Victoria and NSW both require 120 hours, making them the highest in Australia. Queensland asks for 100, South Australia 75, Tasmania 80, and Western Australia just 50. But Victoria’s lack of instructor bonuses means you’re genuinely driving for 120 hours — no shortcuts.
Tracking your driving hours
A paper logbook works until you lose it, forget to fill it in, or spill coffee on it. Moda logs every drive automatically, separates day and night hours, and shows your progress toward 120. When you’re ready for the test, export your logbook in the format VicRoads requires.
How many supervised driving hours does Victoria require?
Victoria requires 120 total supervised driving hours. 20 must be at night and 100 during the day.
What counts as night driving in Victoria?
Night driving in Victoria is defined as sunset to sunrise. The times change with the seasons, so check your local sunset before planning evening sessions.
Who can supervise a learner driver in Victoria?
Your supervisor must hold a full licence — not a P1 or P2. They need to sit in the front passenger seat and be ready to take control at any time.
Does Victoria offer instructor bonus hours?
No. Victoria doesn’t offer a 3-for-1 or any instructor bonus. Every hour in your logbook must be a real hour behind the wheel.
How old do you have to be to get a learner permit in Victoria?
You can apply for a learner permit in Victoria at age 16.
Do I need to complete all 120 hours if I’m over 21?
No. If you’re 21 or older when you get your learner permit, you’re exempt from the 120-hour logbook requirement in Victoria.
How long do I need to hold my learner permit in Victoria?
You must hold your learner permit for at least 12 months before you can sit the driving test.
Calculate your remaining hours
Enter the hours you've already completed to see what's left.