Getting Your Motorcycle Licence After 25 in NSW

Getting your NSW motorcycle licence is slightly easier if you’re 25 or older and hold a full Australian car licence, as you’re allowed to skip the 24-month ‘P2’ stage. The rest of the process remains the same: passing initial practical and theory tests to get your Ls, then another skills test after 3-12 months to get your P1s, which you’ll need to hold for 12 months while following the rules in order to apply for your full licence.

How to get your NSW motorcycle licence if you’re 25+ and have a full car licence:

1. Complete the practical pre-learner course.
2. Pass the written Rider Knowledge Test (RKT) to get your Ls.
3. Get your gear and your bike, and start riding.
4. Three months later, pass the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (MOST) for your P1s.
5. Apply for your full licence after 12 months (no extra tests or P2 stage required).

While many (if not most) people in NSW get their car licence pretty much as soon as they’re able, motorcycle licences tend to be treated a little differently: less a need to have than a want to have.

That means it’s common for Sydneysiders to get or return to their bike licence in their late-20s, 30s and beyond. There’s also a compelling reason to wait until you’re 25 years old to get your motorcycle licence in NSW: it’s quicker and easier.

At Bikebiz, we know this process inside out, because our team members have completed it themselves, many of whom were over the age of 25 at the time. We’re here to help you at every step of the journey, from gearing up and choosing your first LAMS bike, to upgrading to your dream set of wheels once you drop the L and P plates.

In this guide we’ll walk you through the entire process of securing your motorcycle licence in NSW, and how it can differ before and after your 25th birthday.

Can you get a motorcycle licence after 25 in NSW?

Yes. There’s no upper age limit. A 103-year-old great-grandmother can throw her leg over a hog if she passes all the tests (though that may not be recommended). What’s more, a little bit of extra age and a full car licence makes the process far more efficient, as the NSW government knows that your road skills have been battle-tested, and trusts you to transfer these abilities from four wheels to two.

To begin, the process is the same for all riders no matter their age. But if you’ve reached your quarter-century and hold a full car licence, you may get to skip the final and longest step on the path to a full motorcycle licence.

The NSW rider licensing steps (the MGLS)

What are the steps to getting your motorcycle licence in NSW? We cover the process in detail in our full guide, but the basic steps of the NSW Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme (MGLS) are as follows:

1. Learner: If you’re aged at least 16 years and 9 months you can complete the pre-learner course and the rider knowledge test (based on the Motorcycle Riders' Handbook) to secure your Ls.
2. Provisional 1: After holding your Ls for 3-12 months you can complete the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (MOST) to get your P1s.
3. Provisional 2: After 12 months of carefully following all the rules and restrictions on your P1s, you can apply to upgrade to your P2s, no test required. And as we’ll explain in the next section, in certain circumstances you can skip this step altogether.
4. Full/unrestricted: After 24 months on your P2s you can apply for your full licence, and leave all provisional rules and restrictions behind.

The over-25 advantage: skipping the P2 stage

“If you’re 25 or older and hold a full (unrestricted) Australian driver licence, you can apply for a full rider licence without completing the provisional P2 licence stage.” So sayeth the NSW government, which means that for eligible riders the path to a full motorcycle licence becomes Ls > P1s > Full, wiping two years off the process.

It’s important to note that the mandatory pre-provisional course, practical riding test, rules and restrictions during the L and P1 stages don’t change, and failing to follow them will delay your ability to move onto the next stage or force you to completely restart the process.

What it costs and how long it takes

If you’re eligible to skip the P2 stage, you fast track the process of getting your full rider’s licence by 24 months. After securing your learner rider licence, you only need to complete the minimum holding period of three months on your Ls and 12 months on your P1s before applying with Service NSW for your full licence, which means it can be completed in as little as 15 months.

All told it costs around $500 to get a motorcycle licence through to the P1 stage in NSW (the price can vary slightly depending on your situation). This covers the mandatory pre-learner course, the Rider Knowledge Test (RKT), your physical licence, the pre-provisional test (MOST) and provisional licence fees.

Choosing your first bike (LAMS)

When shopping for your first set of wheels while on your learner or provisional licence, you’ll be limited to a list of bikes covered by the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS). These models are slightly limited in terms of engine capacity (660cc or less) and power (150kW per tonne), though these numbers still equal plenty of pep.

Older novice riders are often confident enough on the road to push close to the power limits outlined by LAMS, though many won’t feel the need to do so. No matter what bike you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it at Bikebiz, Sydney’s #1 motorcycle dealer. Check out our leading range of secondhand bikes, or browse our guide to the very best new LAMS motorcycles on the market.

Gear you'll need from day one

You’ve got your bike, but you’re not ready to ride just yet. You first need to wrap yourself up in appropriate levels of protection (and ideally look great while you do it).

Home to Sydney's largest range of riding gear from the world's biggest and best brands, at Bikebiz we can cover you from head to toe in all the gear you need:

• Helmet: A perfectly fitted helmet that's suited to your riding style and meets Australian standards is a non-negotiable.
• Jacket: Look for abrasion-resistant shells, CE-rated armour, and potentially even airbags. The best jackets are those that suit your riding style, whether racing, cruising, commuting or adventuring.
• Pants: Standard denim or cotton will disintegrate like wet tissue paper in a slide, so go for leather or Kevlar-lined riding pants that align with how you ride.
• Boots: A pair of reinforced riding boots will ensure your feet and ankles aren’t crushed or broken in an accident, and some are more than comfortable enough to wear off the bike too.
• Gloves: Your hands will automatically try to brace your body in a fall, and if they aren’t covered in a quality pair of synthetic or leather gloves you risk real damage.

Registering and insuring your first bike

There are some last bits of admin you’ll need to knock over before you hit the road. As part of the rego process you’ll need to demonstrate that you have a certain level of insurance and your bike is mechanically sound – requirements denoted by different coloured slips:

• Green slip: As part of the motorcycle registration process you’ll need to secure compulsory third party (CTP) personal injury insurance, which covers the injury costs of people involved in a crash.
• Pink slip: If your bike is more than five years old you need to take it to an Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) station once a year, where it will need to pass a comprehensive inspection designed to check that it is safe to ride.
• Blue slip: If registration lapsed 3+ months ago or a bike is bought from interstate it will need a blue slip, which is more or less the same as a pink slip.

FAQs

Can I get my motorcycle licence at 30 (or 40) in NSW?

You sure can – learner’s permits can be secured at the very specific age of 16 years and nine months, with no upper age limit. And if you are over the age of 25 and hold a full driver’s licence, you can knock 24 months off the process of securing your full rider’s licence by skipping the P2 stage.

Do I still need to do L and P plates if I'm over 25?

Yes you do, but if you’ve celebrated your 25th and hold a full car licence, you can skip the 24-month P2 stage, speed-running your way to a full motorcycle licence in as little as 15 months.

Can I skip P2 on a motorcycle in NSW?

You bet, but only if you already hold a current, unrestricted Australian car licence and have spent at least a quarter-century on this earth.

Do I need a car licence before a motorcycle licence?

No, you don’t – you can go straight to two wheels if you so choose, as long as you’re 16 and ¾ years old.

Get motoring with Bikebiz

Now that you understand the basics of motorcycle licences in NSW, you’re ready to ride. And at Bikebiz we’re ready to hook you up with all the kit you need. From a complete range of learner-ready motorcycles to the finest road gear from the world’s biggest brands, our expert team will point you to the kit you need to feel completely confident on the road.

Browse our massive range of new and used LAMS-approved bikes and high-end road gear today, or roll down to our Parramatta or Granville showrooms to get fitted by our in-store experts.