Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about learning to drive with Drivelo — from booking your first lesson to becoming an instructor.

If your question isn't here, email us — we read every message.

About Drivelo

What is Drivelo?

Drivelo is Australia's verified driving instructor marketplace. We connect learner drivers with independent, fully-credentialed driving instructors. You search by suburb, compare instructors side by side, book and pay online — all without phone calls, hidden fees, or guesswork about whether the instructor is properly checked.

Is Drivelo a driving school?

No. Drivelo is a marketplace. The instructors on Drivelo run their own businesses — we don't employ them, train them, or set their prices. We verify them, provide the booking platform, and take a commission on each completed booking.

Who runs Drivelo?

Drivelo is built by a Melbourne founder with two decades in operations and large-scale service delivery. We're a small, independent Australian team. We answer our own emails.

Where is Drivelo available?

Drivelo operates in every state and territory, and we're opening capital by capital, suburb by suburb.

We don't list a suburb until we have verified instructors covering it — so if your suburb comes up empty, that's not a glitch, it means we're not there yet. Enter your suburb on the homepage search to check.

If we haven't reached you, tell us. Knowing where learners are looking is part of how we decide where to open next.

How is Drivelo different from other platforms?

Three main differences:

  1. Lower commission. Drivelo takes 15% from instructors. Franchise driving schools and the larger booking platforms commonly take considerably more, and some charge lead fees or monthly listing fees on top. Instructors keeping more of the fare is what lets them price fairly for learners.
  2. Transparent pricing. Every price is shown upfront. No "from $X" headlines that change when you book. No phone call to get a quote.
  3. Real verification. We publish exactly which five credentials we check, and we re-check them before each one expires.

Booking your first lesson

How do I book a lesson?

  1. Enter your suburb on the homepage
  2. Compare instructors — by price, transmission, languages, specialisations, reviews
  3. Pick a time that works
  4. Pay through the platform by card
  5. Your instructor confirms and arrives at the address you nominate

Do I need a learner permit before booking my first lesson?

Yes. You must hold a current learner permit or learner licence for the state you're driving in before you can legally drive in a lesson — including the practical requirements that come with it, like displaying L plates.

Every state issues these differently and calls them slightly different things. Start with your own state's licensing authority:

How far in advance should I book?

Most learners book 1–2 weeks ahead. Popular instructors and weekend slots fill faster. Test-day bookings should be made as soon as your test slot is confirmed, ideally 4+ weeks ahead.

Can I pick where the lesson starts?

Yes. You enter a pickup address at booking — usually your home, school, or work. Your instructor will arrive there and contact you when they're close.

What if I'm under 18?

You can still book, but a parent or guardian needs to consent to the booking. They don't have to be in the car during the lesson.

Can a parent sit in the back during the lesson?

That's between you and your instructor. Many are happy to accommodate it — particularly for first lessons. Ask before booking via the instructor's profile.

What should I bring to my first lesson?

  • Your learner permit or licence (physical card, or the digital version if your state issues one)
  • Your logbook, if your state requires one — paper or app
  • Comfortable closed-toe shoes (no thongs, chunky boots, or heels)
  • Glasses or contacts if you wear them
  • Water and a snack if you tend to get nervous Full breakdown in the First Lesson Guide.

What if I'm really nervous about my first lesson?

That's completely normal. Tell your instructor at booking so they can plan for it. They can start with a longer static intro in an empty car park if you'd prefer. Some instructors specialise in anxious drivers — look for it on their profile.

Pricing & payment

How much does a driving lesson cost on Drivelo?

Instructors set their own prices, so it varies. Based on rates published by driving schools and other booking platforms in Melbourne, checked August 2026, an hour lesson typically sits between $65 and $95, with most around $75 to $85.

That's Melbourne data. Rates differ between cities, and we'll publish figures for each capital as we open there rather than assume Melbourne's numbers travel.

What moves the price: how experienced the instructor is, how far they travel, whether the car is manual or automatic, and whether they specialise in something like test preparation, anxious drivers or overseas licence conversion.

Whatever the number on the profile says, that's what you pay. No booking fee, no service fee, no card surcharge at checkout.

Are there any hidden fees?

No. No booking fees. No service fees. No "platform surcharge". The price on the instructor's profile is the price you pay.

Can I pay in instalments?

Not currently. Instalment options are on our Roadmap.

What payment methods do you accept?

Credit and debit card, processed securely through Stripe. We don't take cash bookings — one of the reasons we can guarantee transparent pricing.

Apple Pay and Google Pay are on our Roadmap, not live yet.

Do you offer package deals?

Not yet. Right now you book and pay for lessons one at a time, which means you're never locked into a package with an instructor you haven't met.

Multi-lesson packages are on our Roadmap. When we add them, they'll be optional, discounted against the single-lesson rate, and refundable for anything you haven't used.

If you want to lock in a regular weekly slot in the meantime, just tell your instructor — most are happy to hold a recurring time for you without any prepayment.

What commission does Drivelo take?

15% of each booking. It comes out of the instructor's payout, not added to your price. It funds verification, the booking platform, payments, support, dispute handling, and platform development.

Cancellations, rescheduling & refunds

Can I cancel a lesson?

Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before your lesson and you'll be refunded in full. Within 24 hours, the lesson is non-refundable.

Nothing in that policy limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If the service isn't delivered, or isn't delivered with due care and skill, you may be entitled to a remedy regardless of the notice period — and we won't refuse a refund where the law says you're entitled to one.

Full terms in the Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Can I reschedule instead of cancelling?

Yes. Most instructors will happily move your lesson with 24 hours' notice without any fee. Inside 24 hours, rescheduling is at the instructor's discretion — give them a reason and most will accommodate.

What if my instructor cancels?

You receive a full refund, and we'll help you find an alternative instructor for the same time slot if one is available. Instructors who repeatedly cancel on learners are removed from the platform.

What if the weather is bad?

Light rain isn't a reason to cancel — driving in rain is part of learning. Severe weather is a different story. Your instructor will contact you if they need to reschedule for safety. Weather-related reschedules are always fee-free.

What if I fail my driving test and need more lessons?

Just book again. There's no penalty and no waiting period. Many learners take 2–3 additional lessons before re-sitting. Your instructor will tell you honestly what to work on.

Note that most states charge the test fee again each time you rebook, so it's worth being ready before you book.

Instructors & verification

What does "verified" mean on Drivelo?

It means we've checked five things before the instructor appears in your search, and we check them again before any of them expire.

Two are required by government:

  • A current driving instructor licence for the state they teach in. This is the legal licence to teach for payment, and it goes by a different name in each state — a Driving Instructor Authority in Victoria, a driving instructor licence, accreditation or authorisation elsewhere. We verify it against the issuing authority's register where one is published.

  • A current working with children check for the state they teach in — the paid-work version, not the volunteer one, which doesn't cover paid work. The name changes at the border: it's a Blue Card in Queensland, a Working with Vulnerable People registration in the ACT, Registration to Work with Vulnerable People in Tasmania, an Ochre Card in the Northern Territory, and a Working with Children Check or Clearance in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. Three more that we require on top:

  • Public liability insurance. No state mandates it for driving instructors. We do.

  • Comprehensive motor insurance with the policy noted for driving instruction. A standard personal policy may not cover a paid lesson.

  • Current registration and dual controls in the teaching vehicle. If any of these lapse, the instructor comes off the platform until it's current again.

Are Drivelo instructors employees?

No. Drivelo instructors are independent contractors who run their own businesses. They set their own prices, hours, and service areas. Drivelo provides the marketplace; they provide the lesson.

Can I choose a female instructor?

Yes. Instructors tell us their gender on their profile, so you can see it before you book, and you're welcome to email us and we'll point you to the female instructors covering your suburb.

A one-click filter for this is on our Roadmap and we're building it as a priority — it's one of the most common things learners and parents ask us for.

Can I find an instructor who speaks my language?

Instructors list the languages they teach in on their profile. Which languages are available depends on who's teaching in your area.

How do I see an instructor's pass rate?

We don't publish pass rates yet. Doing it properly means verifying test outcomes rather than taking anyone's word for it, and it's on the Roadmap. Until then, look at:

  • Number of completed lessons on the platform
  • Review count and average rating
  • How long they've been listed
  • Reviews that mention test results specifically

What if I don't get along with my instructor?

Two options:

  1. Book a different instructor next time — no penalty, no awkward conversations.
  2. Tell us if anything was wrong — email hello@drivelo.com.au. For safety, harassment or misconduct concerns, see How do you handle complaints? on this page.

Learning to drive in your state

How many supervised hours do I need?

It depends entirely on where you live, and the range is wider than most people expect.

  • Victoria — 120 hours, including 20 at night
  • New South Wales — 120 hours, including 20 at night
  • Queensland — 100 hours, including 10 at night
  • ACT — 100 hours, including 10 at night
  • Tasmania — 80 hours, including 15 at night
  • South Australia — 75 hours, including 15 at night
  • Western Australia — 50 hours, including 5 at night
  • Northern Territory — no set requirement Older learners are usually exempt, but not everywhere. Victoria drops the requirement at 21. New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia drop it at 25. The ACT never drops it — it reduces to 50 hours including 5 at night for learners 25 and over, which catches a lot of people out.

Western Australia has announced changes that will lift its requirement to 80 hours including 10 at night, along with a longer learner period. A start date hasn't been published yet.

Always check your own state's licensing authority for the current rule.

Do lessons booked through Drivelo count toward my logbook hours?

Yes — and in some states they count for more than the time you spend.

This is one of the most misunderstood things about learning to drive in Australia, because the answer changes at every border.

In New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT, an hour with a licensed instructor is credited as three hours in your logbook, up to a cap. In Tasmania it's credited as two hours. In Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia there's no bonus at all — an hour is an hour, exactly the same as an hour with a parent. The Northern Territory doesn't require logged hours in the first place.

The caps differ too, and they're worded differently in each state, so check your own state's page rather than trusting a number you read somewhere else.

Wherever you are, your instructor signs your logbook at the end of every lesson.

If you're in a state with no bonus, that's not a reason to skip lessons — it's the reason the quality of each hour matters more. An hour that fixes your head checks is worth more than three hours of laps around the block.

Is there a way to get my licence without sitting the government driving test?

In some states, yes.

South Australia and the ACT both offer competency-based training and assessment. Instead of a one-off government test, an accredited instructor assesses you against a set of competencies across your lessons and signs you off when you've met them. In the ACT that's 23 competencies over a minimum of seven lessons, and most learners need ten to fifteen. There's no separate driving test at the end.

It suits people who'd rather be assessed over time than in a single high-pressure hour — and it means the person teaching you is the person who knows whether you're ready.

New South Wales doesn't skip the test, but it has the Safer Drivers Course: a three-hour group session plus two hours in a car, for learners under 25 who've already logged at least 50 real hours. It's worth 20 bonus logbook hours, and the government funds a limited number of free places each year for concession card holders and young people in or formerly in out-of-home care.

Everywhere else, the practical driving test with a government examiner is the only route.

What's the Hazard Perception Test?

A computer-based test that checks whether you can spot and respond to developing hazards. Several states require it before you can book your practical driving test; not every state has one, and where it exists the rules differ. Check your own state's licensing authority.

In Victoria, two things people don't know:

  • If you've held a motorcycle licence in the last five years, you're exempt from the hazard perception test entirely.
  • A pass lapses if you haven't passed your driving test within 12 months. You'd need to sit it again. See our Driving Test Prep guide.

How do I book my driving test?

Through your state's licensing authority, once you've met the requirements for your age and completed any tests that come first.

In Victoria, you book through your myVicRoads account, and you need to have held your learner permit continuously for:

  • 12 months if you're under 21
  • 6 months if you're 21 to 24
  • 3 months if you're 25 or over Under 21 you'll also need your 120 logged hours, including 20 at night.

Other states set their own minimum holding periods and age rules — check your licensing authority. Book early either way; popular test centres run weeks ahead.

What do the government fees cost?

That's set by your state, not by us, and it changes — usually on 1 July each year. Rather than publish numbers that go stale, here's the structure so you know what to expect.

In most states you'll pay for: the learner permit test, the hazard perception test if your state has one, and the practical driving test. Several states charge a separate booking or appointment fee on top of the test fee — and that one applies again every time you rebook, which is the part people don't budget for.

Some states waive some of these. Victoria currently waives the learner permit and probationary licence issue fees, and the first online hazard perception attempt.

Check the current figures with your own licensing authority: VicRoads · Service NSW · Queensland Transport · Department of Transport WA · SA.GOV.AU · Transport Tasmania · Access Canberra · NT Government

Separate from all of that: if you use your instructor's car for the test, they'll charge for the car and usually a warm-up lesson. That price is on their profile, and it's the price you pay.

Can I use my instructor's car on test day?

Yes, if the instructor offers it — most do. It's the sensible option, because you'll sit the test in a car you already know, with dual controls and current registration and insurance.

Instructors set their own test-day pricing and list it on their profile. It usually has two parts: a warm-up lesson before the test, and use of the car for the test itself. Expect the two together to land somewhere between $300 and $425, depending on the instructor and the length of the warm-up.

That's separate from your state's own test fee, which you pay directly to them when you book.

Check the instructor's profile for their exact test-day rate before you book — the price shown there is the price you pay.

What are the common reasons people fail their driving test?

The top instant-fail reasons are consistent across the country:

  • Missing head checks before lane changes or pulling away
  • Failing to give way
  • Mounting a kerb during a turn or park
  • Not signalling
  • Speeding over the limit for sustained periods
  • Requiring assessor intervention Full breakdown in our Driving Test Prep guide.

Manual or automatic — which should I learn?

Most Australian learners now learn automatic. Manual is harder to learn and there are fewer manual instructors, which usually means slightly higher costs.

Important: in every state, if you pass your test in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatic vehicles until you re-test in a manual. If you want the freedom to drive either, learn manual.

Overseas licence conversion

I have an overseas licence — can I keep driving here?

For a while, then no. Every state sets its own deadline, and the clock is usually tied to where you live, not what visa you hold.

This is what catches people out. If you're living here, the deadline applies whether you're on a student visa, a skilled visa, a partner visa, a working holiday, or as a permanent resident. It generally doesn't reset if you leave and come back.

The windows are short and they differ. Victoria gives you six months from when you start living there. New South Wales gives permanent residents three months. Other states set their own. Check your own licensing authority before you assume you have longer than you do.

Drive past your deadline on an overseas licence and you're unlicensed — which means fines, and an insurer that may not cover you in a crash.

See the Overseas Licence Conversion guide.

Do I have to sit the full driving test?

It depends on the country that issued your licence, how long you've held it, and how old you were when it was first issued — and it also depends on the state you're converting in.

Australia's recognised-country arrangements changed in 2025 and licences from a number of countries that previously converted directly now require a full test. The lists are maintained by each state and they change, so don't rely on a list you read somewhere else, including here.

Every state licensing authority publishes a requirements checker that gives you the exact answer for your situation. Use that.

How many conversion lessons will I need?

Most experienced overseas drivers need 2–5 lessons before the test. More if you're coming from a right-hand-traffic country, fewer if you've already driven on the left for years.

Can I get an interpreter for my driving test?

Knowledge tests are often available in other languages or with an interpreter. The practical driving test uses simple driving instructions, and interpreters are generally not permitted in the vehicle. Confirm with your state's licensing authority.

Becoming an instructor

How do I become an instructor on Drivelo?

Apply via the Become an Instructor page. We'll ask for your driving instructor licence, your working with children check, your insurance certificates of currency, and your vehicle details. Approval typically takes 5 business days once we have everything.

Do I need to already be a licensed instructor?

Yes. Drivelo is a marketplace, not a training school. You must already hold the current driving instructor licence, authority or accreditation required in the state where you teach.

Can I list if I'm not in Melbourne?

Yes. Drivelo operates in every state and territory, and we're opening capital by capital.

You need a current driving instructor licence for your own state — not a Victorian one — plus the working with children check for wherever you teach.

We open a city once we have enough instructors in it that a learner searching their suburb actually finds someone. If we're not live where you are yet, apply anyway. You'll be first on the list when we open, and knowing you're there is part of how we decide where to open next.

What does it cost to list on Drivelo?

Listing is free. Drivelo only earns when you earn — we take a 15% commission on each completed booking. No monthly fees, no listing fees, no lead fees, no featured-placement fees.

How much can I earn?

That's up to you — you set your own rate, hours and service area, so your earnings depend entirely on what you charge and how full you keep your diary.

The arithmetic is simple. You keep 85% of every lesson. At $80 an hour, that's $68 to you per lesson. Twenty lessons in a week is $1,360; thirty is $2,040. Thirty is a genuinely full book and not what most instructors run.

To be straight with you: Drivelo is new and we don't yet have data on what instructors actually earn on the platform. The numbers above are arithmetic, not a forecast, and we're not going to dress them up as one. What we can tell you is what you keep — 85%, with no listing fee, no lead fee and no lock-in.

You'll also have your own costs to cover: fuel, servicing, insurance, registration and your licence renewal.

When do I get paid?

Weekly. Stripe pays out every Tuesday for the previous week's completed lessons, and the money usually lands in your account within 2 business days of that.

No monthly holds, no minimum payout threshold, and no waiting until the learner finishes a package.

Can I set my own hours and prices?

Yes — completely. You're an independent contractor. Set your own hourly rate, service area, working hours and lesson types. Change them whenever you want.

Can I list on Drivelo and other platforms?

Yes. We don't require exclusivity.

Safety & disputes

Are the cars safe?

Every instructor's vehicle must:

  • Pass our verification — current registration, comprehensive motor insurance noted for driving instruction, and public liability cover
  • Have dual controls fitted
  • Be roadworthy and maintained

What if I feel unsafe during a lesson?

Tell your instructor immediately. If you're not comfortable continuing, ask them to take you home and contact us at hello@drivelo.com.au. For serious safety, harassment or misconduct concerns, email us with URGENT in the subject line — we investigate every report.

If you are ever in immediate danger, call 000 first.

What's a working with children check?

A government screening that anyone doing paid work with under-18s must hold. Every state and territory has one, and the name changes at the border — a Blue Card in Queensland, a Working with Vulnerable People registration in the ACT, Registration to Work with Vulnerable People in Tasmania, an Ochre Card in the Northern Territory, and a Working with Children Check or Clearance in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia.

Whatever it's called where your instructor teaches, they hold a current one covering paid work, we verify it before they go live, and we re-check it before it expires.

What if there's an accident?

Get medical help first if anyone is hurt — call 000. Then tell us and tell your instructor's insurer.

What we can tell you is what we require and what we check. Every instructor on Drivelo must hold comprehensive motor insurance with the policy noted for driving instruction, plus public liability insurance, and we sight a certificate of currency for both before they go live and again before either expires.

What we can't tell you is that any particular claim will be paid. That's a matter for the insurer, and it turns on the specific policy, its exclusions, and the circumstances of the incident. Drivelo isn't a party to those policies and doesn't insure the lesson.

If something happens, report it to us at hello@drivelo.com.au as soon as you can. We'll give you the instructor's insurance details and the booking record, and help you make contact — but the claim itself sits between you, the instructor and their insurer.

Do you do background checks beyond the working with children check?

The working with children check is the legally mandated screening for paid work with minors in every state and territory, and it covers serious criminal history relevant to child safety. Beyond that, we read every review, we investigate every complaint, and we remove instructors where a complaint is substantiated.

How do you handle complaints?

Email hello@drivelo.com.au with what happened, when, and who was involved. If it's about safety, say so in the subject line and we'll treat it as urgent.

What happens next:

  • We acknowledge your complaint within 2 business days
  • We complete an initial assessment within 7 business days
  • We give you a substantive response within 30 days Complaining never affects your ability to use Drivelo, and we don't share your identity with the instructor without telling you first.

If you're not satisfied with how we handle it, you can take it to the consumer affairs or fair trading office in your state or territory. Complaints about an instructor's conduct or accreditation can go to the authority that licenses driving instructors in that state. Privacy complaints can go to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Anything involving immediate danger, or the safety of a child, should go to the police.

Privacy, data & legal

How is my data protected?

Drivelo handles personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles. We collect the minimum needed to operate the marketplace, store it securely, and never sell it. See our Privacy Policy.

Who can see my information?

Your instructor sees your name, contact number, pickup address and lesson notes once your booking is confirmed — they need those to turn up and teach the lesson. Instructors you haven't booked don't get your contact details, and other learners never see your information at all.

Every instructor on Drivelo is contractually bound to handle your information to the same standard the Australian Privacy Principles require of us — use it only to deliver your lesson, keep it secure, not disclose it to anyone else, and tell us immediately if it's ever compromised.

We share data with third parties only where it's necessary to run the service — Stripe for payments, and identity and credential verification providers.

Can I delete my account?

Yes. Email hello@drivelo.com.au to request account deletion. We delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we're required to keep records under Australian law — tax records, and records relating to a complaint or dispute.

What's in the Terms of Service?

The legal terms that apply when you use Drivelo. In plain English: you agree to use the platform honestly, you understand instructors are independent contractors rather than our employees, and you accept our cancellation and payment terms. Nothing in them limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Read the full Terms of Service.

Reviews & feedback

How does the review system work?

After every completed lesson you can rate your instructor 1–5 stars and leave a written review. Only learners who actually completed a paid lesson can leave one.

Can I edit my review?

Yes, within 30 days of posting. Email hello@drivelo.com.au if you need to update it.

Can instructors respond to reviews?

Yes. Instructors can post a public reply to each review they receive, so both sides can be heard.

Can Drivelo remove reviews?

Only where a review breaches our content rules — defamation, threats, unrelated content, personal information about third parties, or a review from someone who didn't book a lesson. We don't remove reviews because an instructor doesn't like them, and we don't publish reviews we've solicited or written ourselves.

Still have a question?

Email us — we read every message and reply within 1–2 business days.

For urgent safety concerns, mark your email "URGENT" in the subject line and we'll respond same-day. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Our Story · First Lesson Guide · Driving Test Prep · Overseas Conversion · Pricing · Become an Instructor · Roadmap · All Policies

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