Learner Driver Survey and Statistics 2023

Find out all about in-depth statistics, pass rates, errors and advice for learner drivers in our latest survey analysis and industry statistics.

From 2011-21 there has been a noticeable shift in car transmission preferences. During this time, more Queenslanders opted to get automatic licences over manual. There were more manual tests in 2014, but since then, drivers have preferred taking automatic tests instead. 

Over the last ten years, there has been a consistent trend in pass rates. Those taking a Class C (manual) test have always had a higher pass rate than those taking a Class CA (automatic) test.

Over the last 10 years, pass rates have been higher for Queensland learners who booked a test through a driving school over private bookings.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

Over 60% of men surveyed held a manual licence.  

More than 70% of 18-27 year old participants held an automatic licence. 

Nearly 60% of South Australians surveyed held an automatic licence (10% more than respondents in 2021) [9], while nearly 65% of Queensland and Western Australian respondents held a manual licence.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

More than 60% of Australians surveyed were not required to complete a logbook of supervised driving hours to qualify for a provisional licence. This has increased by 25% since our last survey on learner drivers in 2021. [9]

Over 90% of 18-27 year olds surveyed were required to complete a logbook to qualify for their P-plates. The amount of people who were required to fill out a logbook decreases with age. 

Nearly 55% of participants from Western Australia were required to fill out a logbook with driving hours. 

More than 70% of participants who held a manual licence were not required to complete a logbook of supervised driving hours. The amount of people who were not required to fill out a logbook increases with age.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

*Only respondents who mentioned they were required to complete a logbook were asked this question.

Of the surveyed participants, who said they were required to fill in a log book, 27.56% said they exaggerated the time they drove to complete their driving hours faster. This result has increased by nearly 8% since 2021. [9]  

Nearly 40% of 18-27 year olds surveyed admitted to exaggerating the number of hours recorded in their logbook.

More than 30% of Victorian respondents said they exaggerated the number of hours in their log book. 

The number of surveyed drivers who held a manual licence, and admitted to exaggerating their logbook hours has increased by 10% since 2021. [9]

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

Nearly 80% of Australians surveyed only attempted their written road rules test once to qualify for their learner licence. 

More than 80% of Victorian respondents only made one attempt before they passed the test while more than 25% of South Australians made two attempts before passing the written road rules test. 

More manual licence holders surveyed passed their learner driving test on the first attempt compared to automatic licence holders.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

More than 70% of Australians surveyed only attempted their practical driving test once to qualify for their provisional licence. While only 22% made two attempts to pass. 

More than 80% of South Australians surveyed only attempted their practical driving test once before passing.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

More than 10% of Australians surveyed failed to look over their shoulder during their practical driving test. This result has decreased by nearly 9% since 2021. [9]

Nearly 23% of 18-27 year olds surveyed failed to look over their shoulder during the test. 

And more than 12% of participants in New South Wales failed to look over their shoulder during the practical test. This has decreased by nearly 14% since 2021. [9]

Out of the participants surveyed who held an automatic licence, 12% of them failed to look over their shoulder during the driving test. This has decreased by 8% since 2021. [9]

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

While driving as a learner 3% of Australians surveyed were involved in an accident and also found at fault.  

According to the survey, nearly 5% of 18-27 year olds were found at fault when they were involved in an accident as a learner. 

Nearly 6% of South Australian drivers surveyed were involved in an accident as learners and found at fault.

^Due to how the figures are rounded within the survey data, numbers may not add up to exactly 100%

More than 40% of Australians surveyed believe that recording mandatory log book hours in different weather conditions would help improve the learner driver process.

For insurers, your age is one of the most critical factors used to determine how much risk you pose to other drivers. And for those who are under 25, your inexperience driving may mean that you are considered “high-risk”. 

Findings from this survey support this theory including: 

• Nearly 40% of 18-27 year olds surveyed admit to exaggerating the driving hours recorded in their logbook.

• Nearly 5% of 18-27 year olds surveyed were found at fault when they were involved in an accident as a learner driver.