Learn the right way
Compare verified instructors' prices and real availability, and book online. Your lesson credit works with any instructor.
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Compare real instructors with real reviews, pick a time from their live calendar, and pay online. Your lesson is confirmed as soon as you pay — no phone tag, no waiting on someone to email you back.
Compare every verified instructor near you by reviews, price, car and transmission. Pick the one that suits you.
See the times your instructor has actually opened up, choose one and pay securely by card or in four payments with Afterpay, Klarna or Zip. Confirmed by email straight away, no phone calls.
Your instructor picks you up, every lesson builds your driving hours, and booking the next one takes a tap.
Free rescheduling up to 24 hours before your lesson.
Calculated live from the hourly rates of verified instructors on DriveBuddy — not last year's survey. Each instructor sets their own price. See the full cost guide for prices by city, what moves them, and how many lessons a learner typically needs.
| State | Median rate | Lessons from | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | $75/hr | $45/hr | 34 instructors |
| Queensland | $91/hr | $78/hr | 10 instructors |
| New South Wales | $80/hr | $70/hr | 3 instructors |
| South Australia | $99/hr | $99/hr | 1 instructor |
Lesson credit packs of 4+ hours can be discounted by up to 15% (for learners who found their instructor on DriveBuddy — your price is always shown before you pay), and credits work with any instructor. Choosing between transmissions or teaching paths? See our automatic vs manual guide and the driving school vs private instructor comparison.
Ages, supervised hours and instructor logbook bonuses — checked July 2026 against each state's licensing authority.
| State | Learner age | Supervised hours | Instructor bonus | Get ready |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 16 yrs | 120 hrs 20 at night | 1 hr = 3 hrs · max 10 hrs | Practice test |
| Victoria | 16 yrs | 120 hrs 20 at night | — | Practice test |
| Queensland | 16 yrs | 100 hrs 10 at night | 1 hr = 3 hrs · max 10 hrs | Practice test |
| South Australia | 16 yrs | 75 hrs 15 at night | — | Practice test |
| Western Australia | 16 yrs | 50 hrs 5 at night | — | Practice test |
| Tasmania | 16 yrs | 80 hrs 15 at night | — | Practice test |
| Northern Territory | 16 yrs | No minimum | — | Practice test |
| Australian Capital Territory | 15 yrs 9 mths | 100 hrs 10 at night | 1 hr = 3 hrs · max 10 hrs | Practice test |
Sources: Transport for NSW, VicRoads, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (SA), the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI), the Department of State Growth, NT Motor Vehicle Registry, Access Canberra. Rules change — SA's 2027 reforms add a 3-for-1 instructor credit and WA has announced an increase to 80 hours. Always confirm with your state authority before your test.
Every instructor on DriveBuddy is verified so you can focus on learning.
Read ratings from real learners to find an instructor with a proven track record.
We check instructor accreditations and Working With Children credentials.
See make, model, year and safety rating before you book.
Not the right fit? Change instructors easily, no questions asked.
Common questions about driving lessons in Australia. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us.
Each instructor sets their own hourly rate — the state-by-state table on this page is calculated live from the rates of instructors currently listed on DriveBuddy, so it's always current. Buying lesson credits in packs of 4 or more hours cuts the effective rate by up to 15%, and credits work with any instructor on the platform.
Browse by your state or suburb below — each instructor's profile shows their hourly rate, car, reviews and live availability, and you can book online without phoning around. Every instructor's driving instructor licence and Working With Children Check are verified before they can take bookings.
There's no fixed number — it depends on how much private practice you get between lessons and how quickly skills stick. Most states require 50-120 supervised hours before your test (see the requirements table on this page), and in NSW, QLD and the ACT each hour with an instructor counts as three logbook hours, up to a cap. A common pattern is professional lessons to build each new skill, then private practice to consolidate it.
Your instructor picks you up (from home, school or work), checks your learner licence and logbook, and starts in a quiet area suited to your level. First lessons usually cover the controls, moving off, steering and stopping — in the instructor's dual-control car, so they can take over if needed. Bring your learner licence and your logbook or logbook app.
Recent reviews from learners like you, a car you're comfortable in (automatic or manual — check which transmission they teach), availability that fits your schedule, and experience with your test centre if you're close to test-ready. Profiles on DriveBuddy show all of this, and switching instructors later is free — your lesson credits move with you.
