A person must be at least 18 years of age to be issued with a motor bike learner’s permit, unless [s 75A(2a)]:

Prescribed localities are set out in regulation 45B of the Motor Vehicles Regulations 2010 (SA) and include areas considered regional within South Australia. If a motor bike learner’s permit is issued to a person under 18 years of age because they live in a prescribed locality, they will hold a restricted motor bike learner’s permit. These permit holders may only drive a motor bike in prescribed circumstances [s 75B and Schedule 2] such as to travel to and from education, sport or work.

Those applying for motor bike learner’s permits must complete prescribed motor bike driver training [s 75A(2)(a)(v)(A), see also Motor Vehicles Regulations 2010 (SA) reg 45C]. From 9 December 2024, this includes successful completion of a motor bike rider knowledge test and a motor bike specific hazard awareness test, as well as a motor bike training course with a practical component. For more information, visit mylicence.sa.gov.au.

Conditions of motor bike learner's permits

A motor bike learner’s permit holder must:

It may also be a condition of a motor bike learner’s permit that the holder only drive a particular kind of bike or only drive between certain hours or in certain localities [s 75A(10)(d)].

The maximum penalty for breaching any of these conditions is a fine of $1,250 [s 75A].

A learner’s permit holder must also:

If a learner's permit holder incurs 4 or more demerit points, their permit will be cancelled and they will be disqualified from holding their permit for 6 months [s 81B(1)].

No passengers, no towing and night-time curfew for those under 25 years of age

All holders of motor bike learner's permits must not carry any passengers or tow any other vehicles (maximum penalty: $1,250 [s 75A(24), (25)]).

Prescribed motor bike learner's permit holders (those under the age of 25) may not drive a motor bike on a road between midnight and 5:00 am (maximum penalty: $1,250 [s 75A(20)]). A driver may have a defence if they were driving for a particular purpose, such as to attend education or for work [see s 75A(21) and Schedule 2 and reg 45F].

Length of motor bike learner's permit

A motor bike learner’s permit must be held for a minimum of 12 months, regardless of your age or if you hold a full driver’s licence for another class of motor vehicle.

A person may only be issued with a licence to drive a motor bike if they are at least 19 years of age [s 75(1)(aa)(i)]. Section 79A provides that a person may only be issued with a licence to drive a motor bike if they held a learner’s permit for a continuous period of at least 12 months [s 79A(1)(b)].

If a person has not held a licence to drive a motor bike for 5 years, then the requirement for the learner’s permit being held for 12 months may apply afresh. Similarly, if a person is disqualified from driving the law that applies is more complicated [s 79A(1)(a)].

A graduated motor bike licensing scheme has been in place since 22 November 2021.

An R-date licence classification must be held for a minimum of 2 years before the licence holder can move to a full motor bike licence, known as an R classification [s 72(1) and Motor Vehicles Regulations 2010 (SA) reg 42 and Schedule 2]. This means that after holding a motor bike learner’s permit for a minimum of 12 months and an R-date classification for a minimum of 2 years, a person cannot be less than 21 years of age when they obtain a full R classification.

Conditions of R-date motor bike licence classification

The holder of an R-date licence must not drive on a road with any concentration of alcohol in their blood, or any prescribed drug in their oral fluid or blood [s 81AC(1), (2)]. The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $1,250 [s 81AC(3)].

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may place additional conditions on an R-date licence, including that the holder not drive a motor bike unless it is fitted with an automatic transmission [s 81(1a)]. This will be the case if the licence holder completed the prescribed motor bike training with automatic transmission. It is an offence to contravene this condition [s 81(4)]. The maximum penalty is a fine of $1,250.

Conditions of R motor bike licence classification

An R-date classification motor bike licence will automatically convert to an R classification licence after 2 years [reg 42(2)]. The licence need not be endorsed with the R classification [reg 42(3)].

A condition that the holder of the licence does not drive a motor bike unless it is fitted with an automatic transmission may continue with an R classification licence [s 81(1a)].

More information about the graduated motor bike licensing scheme, including current training requirements, is available on the MyLicence website.