Motorcycle Licence Queensland (QLD), Australia

Before riding a motorcycle in Queensland (QLD), you will require a licence. To get a motorcycle licence you will need to go through a process of getting an RE learners licence, to RE provisional or open licence, to an R licence. Just like other states, QLD has Graduated Licensing System designed to help protect beginner riders, then ease restrictions the more experience you gain. At each licensing stage you will need to be tested to progress until you reach your full unrestricted R licence.

To start the licensing process for a motorcycle you will need to have held your have held a provisional or open car licence for at least a year to ensure you have on the road experience. You cannot apply to get your provisional car licence until your are at least 17 years old. This means that you can’t apply for a motorcycle learners licence until you are at a minimum 18 years of age. Listed below are the steps needed to get your motorcycle licence in Queensland, Australia.

3 steps to getting a motorcycle licence in Queensland (QLD), Australia

1. Getting a learner motorcycle licence (RE)

If you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, you must apply for an RE learner licence.

To apply for this licence, you must first complete: 

• Q-ride pre-learner test
• Motorcycle knowledge test

Q-ride pre-learner test

The Q-ride pre-learner training course is designed to help new riders gain basic riding knowledge and motorcycle handling skills in a safe environment before learning to ride on the road. This course is designed for new riders with not riding experience. It will cover:

• Motorcycle protective gear
• Riding curves and making turns
• Controlled braking
• Good roadcraft

The course aims to provide learner riders with the knowledge and skills to manage routine riding situations, to instill good riding attitudes and to minimise the risk of harm while riding out on the roads due to inadequate riding skills or knowledge.

You must undertake the course on a learner approved motorcycle, you cannot use a moped, trike or conditionally registered motorcycle.

You will need to demonstrate your competency on a learner approved motorcycle during the course. If you succeed you will be provided with a competency declaration (Q-ride certificate). This is not a licence. This certificate will allow you to go on to the next step of completing your motorcycle knowledge test which can be done online.

Motorcycle knowledge test

This online test consists of 30 multiple choice questions on topics ranging from road rules to risk management and hazard perception. You will need to get 27 out of the 30 questions right to pass the test.

If you pass and pay for your motorcycle knowledge test online, your drivers licence may have the RE learner licence automatically added to it and a new drivers licence will be sent to you. If this isn’t the case you will need to head to a driver licence issuing centre and apply for the licence.

Once you have your RE learner licence you can now start learning to ride a motorcycle on the road.

Rules for learner riders

You can only ride a learner approved motorcycle. Click here for a list.

• You must clearly display an L plate on the rear of your motorcycle at all times.
• You must be supervised by a person who holds an open licence (held for 1 year min.) for the class of the motorcycle you are learning to ride
• Supervisors must not be a pillion passenger on your motorcycle – they must supervise from a safe distance on another motorcycle or car
• You cannot carry a passenger unless they are a supervisor in a sidecar attached to your motorcycle
• You must carry your licence with you at all times
• You must have a zero blood alcohol concentration at all times and not ride under the influence of drugs
• You need to hold this your RE learner licence for at least 3 months (1 year if you were exempt from doing the Q-ride pre-learner test) before moving onto the next stage of the licensing process

2. Getting an RE motorcycle licence

To upgrade from your RE learner licence to a RE provisional or open licence you will need to successfully complete the Q-ride restricted RE course then apply for the RE licence.

If you live within 100km radius of a Q-ride training centre you must complete the course, if not you can chose to do the course or take the Q-safe riding test.

Q-ride restricted RE course

This course is designed to help learner riders further develop their riding knowledge and skills. These learner riders already have some riding experience and this course aims to build on that with some more knowledge and skills.

The Q-ride restricted RE course contains 15 modules that will be delivered over a minimum of 1 day. During the course you will need to demonstrate your competency on riding a learner approved motorcycle. If your successful you will be issued with a competency declaration certificate. This is not a licence, and the certificate will expire in 1 year meaning you don’t have to apply for the licence right away. You will need to apply for the RE motorcycle license online or if you can’t, in person at a transport and motoring customer service centre.

Rules for RE provisional or open licence

You must only ride a learner approved motorcycle. Click here for a list.

• If you have a RE P1 provisional licence you must display a red P plate on the rear of your motorcycle
• If you have a RE P2 provisional licence you must display a green P plate on the rear of the motorcycle
• You can only carry a passenger if you have held your provisional or open RE licence for 1 year
• You must have a zero blood alcohol concentration and not ride under the influence of drugs

3. Getting an R motorcycle licence

An R class motorcycle is a 2 or 3 wheel motorcycle with unlimited engine size. To get your R motorcycle licence you will need to have held you RE provisional or open licence for at least 2 years, and have completed the Q-ride unrestricted R course. If you live within a 100km radius of a Q-ride training centre you must complete the course, if not you can complete the course of take the Q-safe riding test.

Q-ride unrestricted R course

You can enrol in the Q-ride unrestricted R course if you have held your RE provisional or open licence for at least 2 years.

You must undertake the course on an R unrestricted motorcycle. You can’t undertake the course on a moped, trike of conditionally registered motorcycle.

The Q-ride unrestricted R course is designed to reinforce what you have learned so far from the previous courses and riding on the road gaining experience. The course will also help further develop your cognitive skills and risk management strategies. The course will be conducted mainly on the road with regular stops to provide coaching and discuss safe riding behaviours and strategies.

This course contains 7 modules that will be completed over half a day.

During the course you must demonstrate your competency on an R class motorcycle. If your successful you will be issued with a competency declaration certificate. This is not a licence. The certificate will expire in 1 year so you don’t have to apply right away. You will need to apply for the R unrestricted motorcycle license online or if you can’t, in person at a transport and motoring customer service centre.

Due to the Graduated Licensing System implemented in most states in Australia, it’s getting harder and more expensive to obtain your full unrestricted motorcycle licence. This is usually seen as a bad thing, especially for riders with plenty of knowledge and experience with motorcycles, but forcing inexperienced and beginner riders to do more progressive training is most definitely saving lives on the roads. Most of this information has been taken from the Queensland government transport and motoring website. If you’re confused about any of the steps listed above or require more information head to www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/motorcycles for more information.