The honest short answer
Whether you can sit your learner knowledge test online comes down to which state or territory issues your licence. There is no single national driving test in Australia — each authority runs its own learner test, sets its own rules, and decides whether that test can be taken from home.
At the time of writing, New South Wales is the stand-out: eligible learners can complete the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) online from home under live webcam supervision. Most other states and territories still ask you to attend a service or licensing centre in person, even where the booking and payment happen online. Because these policies change without much fanfare, treat everything below as a starting point and confirm the current position with your authority before you plan your day. We are an independent study resource and not affiliated with any government authority, so the authority’s own page always wins over anything you read here.
Test yourself
Two ways a knowledge test is delivered
It helps to understand the two delivery models, because the word ‘online’ can mean very different things.
- Supervised online (at home): You log in at a booked time, a remote proctor confirms your identity by webcam, checks your room is clear, and watches you for the whole test. You need a working camera, a stable internet connection, photo ID and a private, quiet space. This is a genuine test sitting — not practice.
- In person (at a centre): You attend a service or licensing centre, prove your identity over the counter, and sit the test on a centre computer or touchscreen. Many states still run an eyesight check at the same visit, which is one reason the in-person model persists.
A third thing often confused with the real test is online practice — the mock questions you use to prepare. Those are always available to everyone, everywhere, and they never count towards your licence. Our free practice tests sit in that third category, and every one of them is free to use as many times as you like.
State by state: where the online sitting stands
Here is the honest state of play. Where we say ‘confirm with’, it is because availability has genuinely been shifting and the authority’s own page is the only reliable source.
- New South Wales — Service NSW: Offers the DKT online from home for eligible applicants, as well as in a service centre. Identity and eligibility conditions apply; confirm the current details with Service NSW.
- Victoria — VicRoads: The Learner Permit Knowledge Test is generally sat in person at a VicRoads customer service centre, alongside an eyesight check. Confirm the current process with VicRoads.
- Queensland — TMR: The written road rules test is delivered through Department of Transport and Main Roads centres and agents; check TMR for the current sitting options in your area.
- Western Australia — DoT: The Learner’s Permit theory test is typically completed at a Department of Transport centre or approved agent. Confirm with DoT.
- South Australia — DIT / mylicence: The learner’s theory test is administered through Service SA and authorised providers; check the mylicence site for the current sitting options.
- Tasmania — Transport Tasmania: Learner knowledge tests are handled through Service Tasmania; confirm the current delivery method with Transport Tasmania.
- Northern Territory — MVR: The road rules knowledge test is sat through Motor Vehicle Registry offices; confirm options with MVR.
- ACT — Access Canberra: The road rules knowledge test is delivered through Access Canberra service centres; confirm the current arrangements with Access Canberra.
Notice the pattern: one clear at-home pathway (NSW), and everywhere else a centre-based sitting that you should verify rather than assume.
How the online at-home test actually works
If you are eligible for a supervised online sitting, the flow is broadly the same wherever it is offered:
- Before you book: Check the eligibility conditions — some authorities restrict at-home testing by age, applicant type, or whether it is your first attempt.
- Set up: Use a device with a working webcam and microphone, a strong connection, and clear the desk of notes, phones and second screens.
- Identity check: A proctor verifies your photo ID and scans your surroundings before the questions start.
- During the test: You answer on screen while being observed. Looking off-camera, talking to someone, or having materials nearby can void the attempt.
- Result: You usually get your result immediately, and a pass is recorded against your record so you can progress to the next step.
The convenience is real, but the integrity rules are strict — an online test is not an easier test.
What the test actually covers
Wherever and however you sit it, the learner knowledge test checks that you know the road rules, signs and safe-driving basics before you drive supervised. The number of questions differs by state. Published car-test counts include Victoria 32, Queensland 30, Western Australia 30, Tasmania 35, the Northern Territory 30 and the ACT 35. New South Wales and South Australia do not publish a fixed count in the same way, so confirm the current number with Service NSW or DIT rather than relying on a figure you saw online.
Most tests are multiple choice with a required pass mark, and many weight the safety-critical questions so you cannot scrape through on the easy ones alone. The reliable way to be ready is repetition on real-style questions until the rules feel automatic. Work through our free practice tests, and read the road signs guide so the sign questions become easy marks.
Whichever path you take, prepare the same way
Online or in person, every authority checks the same fundamentals: proof of identity, that you meet the minimum age and residency conditions for a learner licence, and payment of the test fee. Fees, minimum ages and accepted ID differ by state and change over time, so we deliberately do not print a dollar figure or age here — check the exact requirements on your authority’s page before you book.
Once you know your state’s pathway, the preparation is identical: learn the rules properly rather than memorising an answer key, because the same knowledge keeps you safe once you are actually driving. Start with the learner guides hub to plan your route to a licence, then drill on free practice until you are consistently scoring well above the pass mark.
Keep learning
Last verified 7 September 2026 against the Australian Road Rules and the relevant state road authority. Rules, fees and figures change — always confirm current details before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I do my learners test online in Australia?
- It depends on your state. New South Wales lets eligible learners sit the Driver Knowledge Test online from home under webcam supervision. Most other states and territories still require you to attend a service or licensing centre in person, even when booking and payment happen online. Confirm current eligibility with your state’s authority — policies change regularly.
- Is the online learners test easier than doing it in person?
- No. A supervised at-home test uses the same questions and the same pass mark as the centre version, and the supervision is stricter, not looser — a proctor watches you by webcam and having notes, a phone or another person nearby can void your attempt. The convenience is in the location, not the difficulty.
- How should I prepare for the learners knowledge test?
- Learn the road rules and signs properly rather than memorising an answer key, since the same knowledge keeps you safe when you start driving. Drill on real-style questions until you score well above the pass mark. Our practice tests are free and unlimited — start at /quiz/ui and review the road signs guide before you book.