In Victoria, learner drivers must complete 120 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night, recorded in the official VicRoads log book, before they can apply for their P1 licence. Professional driving lessons with a licensed instructor count towards these hours and must be signed off correctly.
If your son or daughter has just got their Learner permit in Victoria, congratulations! Now comes the part that confuses almost every family – the learner driver logbook. People have so many questions – What exactly is it, how does it work, and how do you make sure every hour counts? Here’s a plain-language guide.
What Is the Victoria Learner Driver Logbook?
The VicRoads learner driver logbook is an official record of every supervised driving session your learner completes during their time on a Learner permit. It is a legal requirement, not optional, and must be submitted as part of your application to progress to a P1 (probationary) licence.
Victoria uses a Graduated Licensing System (GLS), which means new drivers earn more independence step by step, and the log book is the foundation of that system.
The 120-Hour Rule – What You Actually Need to Log
To be eligible to sit the VicRoads drive test and progress to your Ps, a Victorian learner driver must complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving, of which at least 10 hours must be driven at night. These hours must be
- Supervised by a fully licensed driver (3+ years on a full licence) sitting in the front passenger seat.
- Accurately recorded with the date, start time, end time, location, road and weather conditions, and the supervisor’s signature.
- Completed within the permit period, considering the learner permits in Victoria are valid for 10 years, but most learners aim to progress in 1-2 years.
Pro tip: Professional driving lessons count toward your 120 hours, but only when conducted by a licensed driving instructor and recorded correctly in the logbook. This is where many families lose hours without realising it.
Want your logbook hours signed off properly every lesson? Book with a licensed driving instructor at Punjab Driving School!
3 Common Logbook Mistakes that Can Cost Your Learner Weeks
- Unsigned entries
Every session must be signed by the supervisor at the time – backdating is not accepted by VicRoads and can result in hours being disqualified.
- Incomplete entries
Missing weather conditions, road type, or start/end times are common errors that invalidate entries during a VicRoads audit.
- Lessons not recorded as professional
When a licensed instructor supervises your lesson, the entry must clearly note this; it may not be credited correctly.
How Punjab Driving School Makes Every Hour Count
At Punjab Driving School, every lesson is conducted by a VicRoads-licensed driving instructor who signs off your logbook entry correctly at the end of each session – no chasing, no follow-up. Our instructors also teach your learner how to fill in private supervised sessions accurately, so the hours you put in outside of lessons all count too.
We service more than 40 Melbourne suburbs, including Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Glenroy, and Sunshine, and offer flexible lesson packages that fit around school, work, and family schedules. View our driving lesson packages in Melbourne here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Learner Driver Logbook Victoria
Does the Victoria learner driver logbook need to be the official VicRoads version?
Yes, you must use the official VicRoads Learner Logbook, which is issued when your learner applies for their Learner permit at a VicRoads customer service centre. Unofficial apps or spreadsheets do not satisfy the legal requirement. VicRoads will review the original signed logbook as part of the drive test booking process, so keeping it complete and accurate from day one is essential for every learner driver in Victoria.
Can parents supervise learner driver hours in Victoria, or does it have to be a professional instructor?
Parents and other fully licensed adults can supervise the majority of your learner driving hours in Victoria; they simply need to have held a full (non-probationary) Australian driver’s licence for at least three years. However, using a professional driving instructor from a VicRoads-approved driving school like Punjab Driving School means your hours are signed off correctly, your technique is built properly from the start, and you develop the specific skills needed for the VicRoads drive test.
What counts as a night driving hour in the Victoria logbook?
In Victoria, night driving hours are defined as driving that occurs between sunset and sunrise, not simply after a certain clock time, as sunset and sunrise vary across seasons. Your logbook entry must record the actual times, and the supervisor must sign off each night session separately. Completing all 10 required night hours before your hazard perception test and drive test booking will avoid last-minute delays for your learner.
How long does it take for a Victorian learner driver to complete 120 hours?
At a typical pace of two to three supervised sessions per week, most Victorian learner drivers complete their 120 logbook hours within 12 to 18 months. Combining regular professional lessons with consistent private supervised practice is the fastest route. The structured lesson packages at Punjab Driving School are designed to build skills progressively so that private hours are used efficiently, not wasted repeating the same mistakes without guidance.
What happens if my learner’s logbook is lost or damaged?
If a learner driver’s log book is lost, stolen, or damaged, a replacement can be obtained from VicRoads, but previously recorded hours cannot be recovered unless there is supporting documentation such as lesson receipts or dated photographs. This is one reason why keeping digital backups (photographs of each completed page) is strongly recommended. At Punjab Driving School, we also keep records of all professional lesson dates, which can support a replacement logbook application if needed.
Do driving lessons from Punjab Driving School count toward Victoria’s 120-hour log book requirement?
Yes, every professional lesson completed with a Punjab Driving School instructor counts toward your learner driver log book hours in Victoria. Our instructors are fully VicRoads-licensed, and every lesson entry is signed off correctly at the end of your session. This means your professional hours are legally recognised and will be accepted when you submit your logbook for your VicRoads drive test application. We also teach learners and their families how to record private supervised hours properly so that no time goes to waste.
Start building your logbook hours with confidence!
Book a lesson at Punjab Driving School today!
