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The FIFO Trainer

Your QLD licence, sorted step by step.

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The route

Six steps to your licence

01

Translate your overseas licence

If your licence isn't in English, you'll need an official translation. A NAATI-accredited translator is the safest option โ€” your country's consulate/embassy in Australia, or the original licence-issuing authority, are also accepted.

02

Gather your proof of identity

TMR asks for a specific set of documents for Evidence of Identity โ€” originals only, no copies. Check the full list before you go, so you're not making a second trip.

03

Visit a TMR centre

Bring your translation and all your documents to any Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre. At most centres you don't need to fill out a paper form in advance โ€” it's handled at the counter. (The F3000 form below is only needed at police stations or some QGAP offices.)

04

Sit the Road Rules Theory Test

Once you're registered, you're eligible to sit the written road rules test. Practise with the official PrepL tool and study the "Your Keys to Driving in Queensland" handbook before you go.

$29.70
Fail it? You can pay again and retake it the same day โ€” as long as it's before 3:45pm, the last test slot of the day.
05

Pay for and book your Practical Driving Assessment

Once you've passed the theory test, pay and book your Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) at the counter. You can reschedule for free with 24 hours' notice โ€” but you'll lose the fee if you cancel with less notice, or if your car doesn't meet the minimum standard.

$69.40 GST included

Your car needs to have

  • Current rego, no unpaid fines
  • Tyres in good condition, not worn
  • All lights working
  • No windscreen damage that affects visibility

Not fully confident?

A driving lesson can be the difference between passing and paying to book the test again.

Worth asking someone to check your car from the outside before test day, too.

06

Pass the PDA and collect your licence

Once you've passed the practical, choose and pay for your licence term. You'll drive on a temporary document for two weeks while the official card is mailed to you.

$94.65 1 year  ยท  $212.00 5 years
From this point, you can no longer drive on your foreign licence in Australia โ€” though it stays valid in other countries.
At a glance

What you'll pay

Road rules test
$29.70
Practical Driving Assessment
$69.40
Licence ยท 1 year
$94.65
Licence ยท 5 years
$212.00
The practical test

What the PDA actually assesses

What the PDA assesses โ€” official criteria table Recommended gear and speed table

The MILO check โ€” use it on every turn, merge or park

M

Mirror. Check your centre mirror.

I

Indicator. Signal the direction you're about to move.

LยทO

Look over. Turn your body and check your blind spot โ€” make it obvious to your assessor.

Automatic fail

  • Not giving way at a stop sign
  • Going more than 5 km/h over the limit
  • The assessor has to intervene for a dangerous situation

Costs you points

  • Looking at the gearstick while driving
  • Revving the engine too high
  • Not checking your mirrors often enough
Turning left, turning right, and amber light rules

The 2nd of 5 PDA sections. The assessor is checking how you enter a public car park and park safely โ€” space selection, signalling, speed and brake control, awareness of pedestrians, staying within the lines, and a controlled exit.

1. Entering

  • Slow down and read the car park
  • Pick a suitable, available space
  • Indicate towards the side you're parking on

2. Parking

  • Check mirrors and blind spot before turning
  • Turn smoothly into the space
  • Avoid over-correcting back and forth
  • Stay inside the lines

3. Exiting

  • Mirrors + head check for pedestrians or moving cars
  • Indicate in your exit direction
  • Pull out slowly and with control
Common ways to lose points: not slowing down on entry, skipping the indicator, missing a mirror or head check, parking outside the lines, or pulling out without checking first.

The 4th of 5 PDA sections โ€” a simulated stop, then a reverse-park manoeuvre into a driveway, then heading back to your starting point.

1. Initial stop

  • MILO with indicator left
  • Stop straight, close to the kerb
  • Indicator off, into neutral, handbrake on
  • Note a landmark โ€” you'll need to find this spot again

2. Back on the road

  • Handbrake off, 1st gear
  • MILO with indicator right
  • Merge back into traffic safely

3โ€“4. Return & reverse

  • Find the first safe place to turn โ€” usually a driveway
  • MILO before turning in, pull up near the letterbox
  • Check behind before reversing
  • Turn the wheel from the start to straighten out
  • Keep checking behind the whole time โ€” a wheel drifting slightly off the lane isn't a big deal

5. Finish

  • Indicator right, pull out in 1st gear
  • MILO again if you need to turn back
  • Stop in neutral, handbrake on
Roundabout โ€” 1st exit example Roundabout โ€” 2nd exit example Roundabout โ€” 3rd/4th exit example

1st exit

Indicate left on approach, and switch it off once you're aligned in the exit street.

2nd exit (straight through)

No indicator on approach. Once you pass the 1st exit, indicate left and switch off once straightened.

3rd exit

Indicate right before entering. After passing the 2nd exit, switch to left to signal your exit.

4th exit (U-turn)

Indicate right before entering. After passing the 3rd exit, switch to left to signal your exit.

Met standard: Yes
Example assessment sheet
Real passing PDA assessment summary
Section 1 โ€” Normal driving, point to point
Section total
โœ“
6 of a possible 6 โ€” minimum required was 4.
Section 2 โ€” Stopping for shopping
Section total
โœ“
12 of a possible 12 โ€” minimum required was 8.
Section 3 โ€” Normal driving, point to point
Section total
โœ“
6 of a possible 6 โ€” minimum required was 4.
Section 4 โ€” Left something behind
Section total
โœ“
11 of a possible 12 โ€” minimum required was 8.
Section 5 โ€” Roundabout
Section total
โœ“
4 of a possible 4 โ€” minimum required was 4.

You don't need a perfect score in every section โ€” you need to hit the minimum in at least 4 of the 5 sections, and pass every essential item overall. This candidate did both.

Met standard: No
Example assessment sheet
Real failing PDA assessment summary
Full official evaluation sheet
Detailed section-by-section evaluation sheet
Section 1 โ€” Normal driving, point to point
Vehicle management
โœ—
Steering/gear/clutch/brake error โ€” wrong gear, over-revving.
Section 2 โ€” Stopping for shopping
Look behind
โœ—
Look error while reversing โ€” not enough checks all around; no head check while altering course.
Section 3 โ€” Normal driving, point to point
Look behind
โœ—
No head check while merging.
Movement
โœ—
Failed to adjust to the situation โ€” approached a roundabout too slowly.
Section 5 โ€” Roundabout
Flow
โœ—
Failed to give way to traffic at a roundabout โ€” assessor had to intervene verbally and physically (handbrake).

This candidate met the minimum for 4 of 5 sections, but the roundabout intervention was an automatic fail on its own โ€” a good reminder that one serious error outweighs several small ones.

Prices shown are for reference only (Transport and Main Roads Queensland, current as at 1 July 2026) and may change. Always confirm the current amount and requirements directly with TMR before paying or sitting a test. The FIFO Trainer is not responsible for changes to official regulations.

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