Motorbike learner licence (class RE)
The first step you need to take before learning to ride a motorbike (class RE) is to obtain a learner licence for that class of vehicle. To be eligible to apply for a motorbike learner licence you must have held a provisional or open licence of another class for at least one year within the last five years.
Make the most of your time as a learner, so that you become a safe and capable rider.
To apply for a class RE motorbike learner licence
You must:
- have held a provisional or open licence of another class for at least one year in the last five years
- complete the Driver Licence Application/Renewal form (F3000)
- show suitable evidence of identity and Queensland residency documents
- pass an eyesight test, if required
- declare that you are medically fit to learn to drive the class of motor vehicle (Note: If you have a medical condition that might adversely affect your ability to drive or ride safely, you will be required to give a medical certificate from your doctor stating that you are medically fit to drive or ride safely)
- pay the written road rules test fee and pass the test
- pay the required learner licence fee (Note: Payment is only required if renewing at the same time otherwise a label will be placed on the back of your licence).
Note: You can prepare for your road rules test by visiting the practice road rules test page.
When learning to ride a motorbike
You must:
- clearly display an L-plate on the rear of the motorbike that you are learning to ride. Alternatively you may wear a vest clearly displaying a capital 'L'. If you are not correctly displaying an L-plate, both you and the person supervising you to ride the vehicle will be fined
- keep your learner licence with you at all times when you are learning to ride and show it to a police officer when asked to do so
- obey any conditions stated on your learner licence
- only learn to ride on a learner approved motorbike (LAM)
- not drive under the influence of drugs
- only be supervised by a person who holds, and has held, an open licence for the class of motorbike you are learning to ride, for at least one year
-
not carry your supervisor as a pillion passenger on the motorbike. You may only carry a suitably licensed supervisor seated in the sidecar attached to the motorbike. If the motorbike does not have a sidecar, the supervisor may follow you at a safe distance on another motorbike or in another vehicle (Note: Provisional licence holders must not supervise a learner licence holder to ride a motorbike. Only open licence holders are authorised to supervise a learner to ride.)
- comply with the no alcohol limit (0.00). (drink driving applies to motorbikes also, and offences carry penalties of monetary fines and disqualification periods).
Note: Since 1 July 2010, the no alcohol limit (0.00) now applies to the following (regardless of age):
- all learner licence holders
- all licence holders learning to drive the next higher class of licence under the authority of their provisional, probationary or open licence
- all provisional, probationary and restricted licence holders
- all class RE motorbike licence holders for the first 12 months of holding their class RE motorbike provisional, probationary or open licence
- all class RE motorbike licence holders learning to ride a class R motorbike under the authority of their class RE provisional, probationary and open licence
- all licence holders driving tractors and specially constructed vehicles.
This is in addition to the existing no alcohol limit (0.00) requirements for all licence holders driving a:
- truck, bus, articulated motor vehicle, B-double or road train
- taxi or limousine
- tow truck, pilot or escort vehicle escorting an oversize vehicle
- vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods
- vehicle being used by a driver trainer to give driver training.
The practical driving test
You may choose to obtain your motorbike licence through Q-Ride, a competency-based training and assessment program, or by passing the Department of Transport and Mains Roads Q-SAFE practical riding test.
Unless you undertake Q-Ride training, you must hold your learner licence for at least six months before you are eligible to take a practical driving test. The six month period may be made up of a single continuous period or a number of individual periods within two years before you apply to take the test. Otherwise you can complete the Q-Ride competency based training program to obtain a Q-Ride Certificate for the grant of a class RE provisional licence without needing to be tested by the department. For more information, see motorbike licence (provisional or open) page.
Other information for learners is available in the learning to drive section of this website.
