Licence testing in Victoria to resume as coronavirus restrictions ease

Booking in for your learner's permit is one of the highlights of turning 16.

Licence testing was given the green light to resume in regional Victoria yesterday but Darcy Langdon, who turned 16 on Sunday, will have to wait.

Darcy will take his test after hundreds of Bendigo appointments, postponed by VicRoads due to COVID-19, are re-booked.

"I've taken the practice test a few times and gone alright. I scored about 80 per cent," he said. "I was looking forward to driving so I don't have to get mum and dad to haul me around everywhere."

Darcy, who got driving lessons for his birthday, is planning to book his learner's test in the next week but will have to join a wait list.

"I have a had a couple mates who got theirs before (the pandemic) but some have been waiting," he said.

"I'm not super into cars but I was looking forward to learning. I have been working to save money for a car."

Licence testing was given the green light to resume in regional Victoria yesterday.

1.30pm

Licence testing has been given the green light to resume in regional Victoria from today.

Shadow minister for Rural Roads Roma Britnell said the government is letting down prospective drivers with a "half-baked" plan that provides a lack of detail.

"The government just doesn't understand the importance of getting a licence in regional Victoria," Ms Britnell said.

"Our young people can't just jump on a tram or a train to get around."

A spokesperson for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety said there are about 370 appointments in Bendigo that need to be rebooked as a result of COVID-19 cancellations.

All Pass Driving School driving instructor Tony Barber said his school has had more than 50 drivers undertake driving tests in recent months.

"The tests have been going on for drivers who have applied for exemptions with VicRoads," Mr Barber said.

Earlier

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said the first priority under the staged resumption will be to re-book tests for those in regional Victoria whose appointments were postponed in March due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

"A driver's licence opens up a world of possibility for people in regional Victoria and we're now in a position to safely resume testing so that they can access employment, study and other activities," Mr Carroll said.

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Regional customers with a postponed appointment will be contacted by VicRoads directly to reschedule their test in the order of cancellation.

New appointments will be available once the backlog of tests is cleared.

For those who may need extra time to accrue more hours of supervised driving practice before sitting a test, they can re-book their test without losing their place in the queue.

Testing was suspended in March and briefly resumed in June, until restrictions tightened and testing was again suspended in early August.

The state government said about 5000 licensing appointments were postponed in regional Victoria, with a further 25,000 people unable to book a new test since the suspension.

VicRoads anticipates taking new bookings in November.

While tests have been suspended, VicRoads have been offering licence tests for people who would have faced undue hardship from not having their learner permit or licence.

This option will continue to be available until the availability of new appointments returns to normal, with VicRoads looking into increase access to online registration and licensing services.