Learning to drive QLD
 

A quick query as I've gone through the website and read and reread the books and can't find the answer.

If a 16/17 year old is learning to drive, in order to get a Manual licence, they have to do 100 hours split into 90 for daytime and 10 for nighttime driving. However, does all that driving have to be done in a Manual car or can some of it be done in an Automatic?

Reason I ask is that although the daughter has her own Manual car, sometimes it would easier if she could drive my Automatic but that's not worth it at the moment if it doesn't count towards the hours. Friends of hers are doing most of their in Automatic cars but reckon they're going for a Manual licence.

Common sense tells me that if she's driving an Automatic, she's not getting Manual experience so it shouldn't count but common sense isn't huge in Queensland Transport ;)

Confused much.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Hi moneypenny

My hubby works as a customer service officer for QT and he says that, as far as he is aware, it doesn't matter whether the hours are done in a manual or automatic - so long as she can pass her test in a manual.

I agree with you - seems completely bonkers:confused:

He's in work tomorrow so will check it out for definite for you (if he remembers!)

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

That would be great if he remembers but I understand he's a guy ;):lol: I guess they assume that if they haven't done enough in a Manual then they will fail the test but it seems bloody silly to me.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

My wife has a driving licence for a manual, but she has NEVER driven one, not ever !

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

How did she get that then?

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

I am wondering that aswell.....

She took her test in NSW, in an auto. I assume the NSW licence was restricted, but don't have it now so can't check.

She swapped it to a UK one, when we moved back, and then swapped back again on our return to Australia. It must have been that. Unless the change from a NSW licence to a QLD one, a year or so later, wasn't done correctly.

I have her old UK licence somewhere, I shall try to find it and see if that had an auto restriction on it.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Someone cocked up.:D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Unless they have drastically changed it over the years, if you did the test in an automatic, you licence was endorsed to drive "automatic only". If you get a licence for a manual, you can drive either manual or auto.
I cheated, did the test in both auto and manual cars......, but then again, I didn't have to go through all the BS that now has to be done.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

What's the point of that? If you pass your manual driving exam, surely you're qualified to drive an automatic?:confused:

JTL

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Errr, back then we only had an auto, no manual to learn in (had to borrow from one of the local coppers to do the test), and none of the BS that they have to do now-testing done by the local cops, 100 hours in a liar book.....
When they went to QT testers, it was guaranteed that if you were male, it took at least 2 to 3 goes to pass (female, especially good looking ones, passed 1st time).

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

I just think if you're going for a Manual licence, ALL your hours should be done in a Manual car. However now I know it doesn't matter, my daughter will be doing more hours in my Automatic as it's more comfortable than her Barina. :lol: The more experience she gets in various styles of car the better but I still think the vast majority should be in the Manual whereas some of her friends are using Automatics for most of the hours and then wondering why they fail the Manual test and then go for the Automatic one and pass. What's the point? We want her to be able to drive any car without a problem, are we odd or unusual? :confused:

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

I think there's more to it than just what type of car it is. It's the ability to drive safely etc... which is far more important. Once someone has the hang of both manual and auto, then it's just road sense experience that counts.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

When I was learning to drive in the UK my parents had an automatic, so they fronted up for driving lessons for me in a manual. Apart from the driving lessons all my car driving experience was in an automatic - car driving is car driving when it comes to gaining road sense, so long as you get enough manual car experience so you are aware of the role that changing gear has to the car's performance etc.

Obviously that doesn't help you for your Qld question and the 100 hours :) Is she having professional driving lessons too? The kids had informed me that professional driving lessons count for more hours - can't remember if its 1 hour of driving lesson = 2 hours in the log book or if its some other ratio, but you can only count so many of them.. again, this may be a complete lie, I've managed to stall the boys learning to drive at all so I didn't investigate it fully.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

It's 1:3 and yes, you can only count about 10 professional lessons as triple hours. The only reason I'm checking now, she's already done 40 odd but had to take five months out for medical reasons and she's obviously eager to do the rest as quickly as she can fit in.

Thanks all for the help.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

There is a third option....... "sensible" :D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Nic has too! When we went to Queensland Transport to apply for a QLD one they've given her a full open licence. She only passed her test in Auto in the UK but here she could legally drive a manual. I say legally as in the real world it'd be a diff case ... :D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Visions of crunching gear boxes !! :eek:

She can't even use my tiptronic gearbox in manual mode, and there is NO clutch.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

QLD has a driving test? :blink: :eek:

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

They even need to show L plates and P plates now.. don't times change.... :lol:

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

For sure! ... :D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

It's all true!

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

How much does the 'Test' itself cost?

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

If you can weave in and out of traffic without hitting anyone, you pass.......:D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

I don't know about the test, but it cost one guy at work between $4500 and $5000 ($50 per hour with an instructor).:eek:

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Hubby remembered to check this at work today :eek:
Yes you can do your hours in an automatic - I suppose they figure that, if you take your test in a manual, having done all your driving in an auto, then you'll fail!

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Thanks for that. She had a professional lesson the other day and the instructor said she was up to speed on everything so that's cool. Let her drive my car this morning and we both hated it :lol: I was worried about my baby (car) and she hated driving it because of it's size compared to hers so it's Manual all the way for her. :D

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

:eek: That's a LOT of hours/lessons.

My son has just done his license here 25.5 hrs @£22 p/h + £75 for the test = £636 all told.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

The actual test is I think $43.50 or $46.50 or something around that amount.

I cant remember 100% though.

Not too expensive. You've got to get the licence afterwards, though if you pass. (Extra $$$ on top)

The lessons are what's going to kill your finances though. Personally I think 5 or so initial lessons, then driving with parents for a while then 5 or so final lessons would probably be the best bet.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Whilst holding a can of Bundy and Coke and not spilling it.

Bonus points for a "Justify Your Existence" sticker.

Extra bonus style points for being on a bike.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

L has his first professional lesson next week, the older sturdy truck we had earmarked for him needed $4000 of work :( so we had to trade it in, hes now be driving a new mitsubishi triton dual cab, quick driving school course to polish up his skills.

Had to laugh when we picked it up we let him have a little drive from the school, hes already one of the first to get the L plates, you should have seen the ladies swoon at him :wub:in his big new pick up truck.

However he wont be getting much action in it :rofl: we have a rule they cant drive with mates in the car for 2 years after they get the P's.

Re: Learning to drive QLD
 

Good rule. A friend of first born's isn't taking anyone in her car unless they pay her. She drives to school everyday and gives her younger sister a lift - same school. She charges her as well :lol: Start as you mean to go on I say :D