From 22 November 2021, a person must be at least 18 years of age to be issued with a motor bike learner’s permit, unless [Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 75A(2a)]:

Prescribed localities are set out in the Motor Vehicles Regulations 2010 (SA) reg 45B. If a motorbike 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 sch 2].

Previously a person who was 16 years of age could be issued with a learner’s permit.

Those applying for motorbike learner’s permits must complete prescribed motor bike driver training [s 75A(2)(a)(v)(A)].

Conditions of motor bike learner's permits

A motorbike learner’s permit holder must:

It may also be a condition of a motorbike learner’s permit that the holder only drive a particular kind of bike or limiting the hours or locality within which the bike may be driven [s 75A(10)(d)].

A learner’s permit holder must also:

If a learner's permit holder incurs 4 or more demerit points, their permit will be canceled 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

Further conditions for permit holders that apply from 22 November 2021 include:

Length of motor bike learner's permit

From 22 November 2021, 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.

Section 75 provides that 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)].

From 22 November 2021, there is a graduated motor bike licensing scheme.

An R-date licence classification must now 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

From 22 November 2021, the following conditions apply to R-date licences:

It may now also be a condition of an R-date motor bike licence that the licence holder does 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 $1250.

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, including frequently asked questions about transition to the new scheme, is available on the MyLicence website (link opens in new window).