Licence types
New riders are required to pass through three licensing stages to obtain an unrestricted motorcycle licence.
RE learner licence
An RE learner licence authorises you to learn to ride a learner approved motorcycle under supervision. To apply for an RE learner licence you must:
- Hold a car (class C) provisional or open licence and have held the licence for at least one year (in the five years before applying for the learner licence).
- Successfully complete a Q-Ride Pre-Learner Course. You may apply for an exemption from the Q-Ride pre-learner course if you live outside a 100km radius of a Q-Ride training area, however you will then need to hold your learner licence for longer.
- Pass the motorcycle knowledge test, and pay the test fee.
You may also apply for an RE learner licence if you are a returning rider — you previously held a provisional or open motorcycle licence but it stopped being valid more than five years ago. If you are a returning rider you will be given a certificate that you must carry while learning to ride.
While learning to ride you must:
- Wear an approved helmet.
- Only ride a learner approved motorcycle.
- Be supervised by a licensed rider, who has held an open RE or R licence for at least one year. Your supervisor may direct you from a sidecar attached to your motorcycle, from another motorcycle or vehicle.
- Display an L-plate clearly visible from 20m to the rear of the motorcycle.
- Not carry a pillion passenger.
- Have zero blood alcohol concentration.
- Not lane or edge filter.
- Always carry your licence, or driver licence receipt if waiting for the licence in the mail.
You must hold your RE learner licence for at least three months before you can progress to an RE provisional or open licence (at least one year if you were granted an exemption from the pre-learner course). However, if you are a returning rider there is no minimum time that you must hold your learner licence.
RE provisional or open licence
An RE provisional or open licence authorises you to ride a learner approved motorcycle unsupervised. To progress from an RE learner licence to an RE provisional or open licence you must:
- Have successfully completed the Motorcycle Hazard Perception Test. This test is available online here. You must pass this test before you can complete the Q-Ride RE Course or Q-SAFE practical riding test.
- Have held your RE learner licence for at least 91 days. If you were granted an exemption from the pre-learner course you will need to have held your learner licence for at least one year.
- Successfully complete a Q-Ride Restricted (RE) Course.
You may complete the Q-SAFE riding test if you live outside a 100km radius of a Q-Ride training area.
The type of RE licence (provisional, probationary, or open) you get will be determined by the licence you hold. For example, if you hold a car P1 licence, you will be issued an RE P1 licence.
While riding with an RE provisional or open licence you must:
- Wear an approved helmet.
- Only ride a learner approved motorcycle.
- Display a P-plate clearly visible from 20m to the rear of the motorcycle, if you hold a provisional licence.
- Not carry a passenger for the first year.
- Have zero blood alcohol concentration for the first year (at all times if you hold a provisional licence).
- Not lane or edge filter, if you hold a provisional licence.
- Always carry your licence, or driver licence receipt if waiting for the licence in the mail, if you hold a provisional licence.
You must hold your class RE provisional or open licence for at least two years before you can progress to a class R provisional or open licence.
After two years you are automatically authorised to commence learning to ride a class R motorcycle. While learning to ride a class R motorcycle you must display an L-plate clearly visible from 20m to the rear of the motorcycle, and be supervised by a licensed rider, who has held an open class R licence for at least one year.
R provisional or open licence
An R licence authorises you to ride any motorcycle unsupervised. To learn to ride an R motorcycle or progress from an RE provisional or open licence to an R licence you must:
- Have held your RE provisional or open licence for at least two years.
- Successfully complete a Q-Ride Unrestricted (R) Course. You may complete the Q-SAFE riding test if you live outside a 100km radius of a Q-Ride training area. The type of R licence (provisional, probationary, or open) you get is determined by the licence you hold.
For example, if you hold an RE open licence, you will get an R open licence.
While riding with an R licence you must:
- Wear an approved helmet.
- Display a P-plate clearly visible from 20m to the rear of the motorcycle, if you hold a provisional licence.
- Not lane or edge filter, if you hold a provisional licence.
- Always carry your licence (driver licence receipt if waiting for the licence in the mail), if you hold a provisional licence
Q-Ride registered service providers (Department of Transport and Main Roads) (tmr.qld.gov.au)
Upgrade my motorcycle licence | Transport and motoring | Queensland Government
Motorcycle Rider Training Australia – QRIDE
