HOW TO GET YOUR MOTORCYCLE LICENCE

Our Q-Ride Courses are held at Brookside/Mitchelton, Runcorn, Slacks Creek and Ipswich

Ready to start your riding journey?

At RideSmart, we make learning to ride simple, supportive, and enjoyable. Whether you’re brand new to motorcycling, returning after a break, or upgrading your licence, our experienced instructors will help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to ride safely.

Our QRide courses are designed to develop real-world riding skills, instil safe riding habits, and set you up for a lifetime of confident, enjoyable riding.

To make it easy to follow, we’ve broken the rider journey into clear, step-by-step courses, from your very first Pre-Learner course all the way to your unrestricted (R) licence. You can explore all the steps below in the drop-down menu.

Whether this is your first ride or your next step, RideSmart is here to guide, support, and celebrate every milestone along the way.

Click on the headings below to view more information…

🏁 Step 1 Pre-Learner Course

Start Here: Pre-Learner Course

If you’re ready to begin your motorcycle journey, your first step is completing the 2-day Q-Ride Pre-Learner Course with RideSmart.

Eligibility

To enrol, you must have held your provisional or open car licence for at least 1 year.

What You’ll Learn

This course is designed to give you the essential knowledge and skills to ride safely on Queensland roads. Key areas include:

Basic motorcycle controls and handling – learning to ride confidently in a safe environment.
Road rules and traffic awareness – understanding the legal and practical requirements for motorcyclists.
Safe riding habits – including hazard recognition, positioning, and defensive riding.
Pre-ride checks and maintenance basics – ensuring your motorcycle is safe before every ride.

Course Structure

The course runs over two days, both of which must be completed within 30 days of each other.
We recommend completing Day 2 within 14 days of Day 1 to maximise information retention, reinforce key safety skills, and ensure you get the most out of the second day.

Support and Environment

At RideSmart, our experienced instructors provide guidance every step of the way. You’ll learn in a relaxed, safe, and structured environment, where questions are encouraged and every student is treated as an individual.

Preparing for Your Next Steps

Successfully completing the Pre-Learner Course prepares you for:

Step 2 – Motorcycle Knowledge Test

Step 3 – Hazard Perception Test

🏁 Step 2 Motorcycle Knowledge Test

Next Step: Motorcycle Knowledge Test

Once you’ve completed the 2-day Pre-Learner Course, your next step is to sit the Motorcycle Knowledge Test with the Department of Transport.

The test contains 30 questions on motorcycle licensing, road rules, and hazard perception, all key knowledge you’ll need for safe riding. You can complete the test online or in person at your nearest Department of Transport office. You can also practise using the official online tool PRACTICE Motorcycle Knowledge Test.

Complete your Motorcycle Knowledge Test HERE.

After successfully completing the test, you’ll be issued your Motorcycle Learner Licence (RE L). You are required to hold your learners licence for 90 days. During this learner period, you may ride any Learner Approved Motorcycle, provided you are supervised by someone with a restricted or unrestricted motorcycle licence.

Supervisor Requirements

Your supervisor must have held an open licence for the class of motorcycle you are learning for at least 1 year.
Supervisors cannot be pillion passengers. You may only carry a supervisor if your motorcycle has a sidecar.
If there is no sidecar, your supervisor must supervise from a safe distance on another motorcycle or in another vehicle.

Important Information About Licence Issuing

If your RE learner licence cannot be automatically added online. You will need to apply at a Driver Licence Issuing Centre if:

Your licence is expired or will expire within 6 weeks from the date you pay your test fee, or
You have not had a digital photo and digitised signature taken in the last 9 years.

This ensures your learner period is safe, structured, and supported, giving you the confidence to progress to the next step in your riding journey.

🏁 Step 3 Hazard Perception Test

Sharpen Your Awareness: Hazard Perception Test

Before you can progress to the Q-Ride RE Course or take your RE practical riding test, you must pass the Motorcycle Hazard Perception Test (HPT).

All Queensland learner motorcycle licence holders are required to pass this test before upgrading their learner licence. There are no exemptions, so if you are unable to complete the online test, please contact TMR or call 13 23 80 for guidance.

You can take the hazard perception test at any stage during your learner licence period. The test takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, so ensure you have a reliable internet connection and enough time to complete it in one session.

To access the test, a fee is required, and your access will be valid for up to 12 months.

Note for regional or remote learners: Currently, there is no offline version of the hazard perception test available.

Completing this test is a crucial step in developing your hazard awareness and road safety skills, helping you become a confident and competent rider.

Complete your Hazard Perception Test HERE.

🏁 Step 4 RE (RESTRICTED) Motorcycle Licence Course

Ready to Ride Unsupervised: RE Course

Once you’ve completed your Motorcycle Hazard Perception Test and held your RE learner licence for at least 90 days, you’re ready to take the next step: upgrading to your RE provisional (P1, P2) or open licence (O).

To do this, you will need to complete the Q-Ride Restricted (RE) Course.

What happens during the RE Course

The 1-day course is designed to test and refine your riding skills under the guidance of our experienced instructors here at RideSmart.
Upon demonstrating your competency, you will receive your Q-Ride competency declaration.

Upgrading your licence

If your Q-Ride competency declaration is recorded online with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, you may be eligible to upgrade your licence online.
If your declaration is issued on paper, or online upgrade isn’t available, you must apply for your class RE provisional or open licence at a Transport and Motoring Customer Service Centre.

Licence conditions

Once upgraded to a restricted (RE O) motorcycle licence, you can ride any Learner Approved Motorcycle unsupervised.
For the first 12 months, you cannot carry a pillion passenger and must maintain zero blood alcohol while riding.
If you wish to upgrade to a full open licence, you must hold your restricted licence for 2 years. However, if you are happy riding LAMS-approved motorcycles, you may remain on your restricted licence indefinitely.

This step completes your journey from learner to fully licensed rider, equipping you with the skills, confidence, and legal approval to enjoy safe motorcycling for years to come.

🏁 Step 5 R (UNRESTRICTED) Motorcycle Licence Course

Take the Final Step: R (Unrestricted) Licence

Once you have held your RE provisional or open licence for at least 2 years, you’re eligible to take the next step: upgrading to your R (unrestricted) motorcycle licence.

To do this, you will need to complete the Q-Ride Unrestricted (R) Course.

What happens during the R Course

The course is designed to test and refine your skills on motorcycles of any engine size, ensuring you are ready to ride safely and confidently at the unrestricted level.
Upon demonstrating your competency, you will receive your Q-Ride competency declaration.

Upgrading your licence

If your Q-Ride competency declaration is recorded online with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, you may be able to upgrade your licence online.
If your declaration is issued on paper, or an online upgrade isn’t available, you must apply for your class R provisional or open licence at a Transport and Motoring Customer Service Centre.

Licence benefits

With your unrestricted (R) licence, you can ride any motorcycle, of any engine size, giving you complete freedom on the road.

This final step completes your progression from learner to unrestricted rider, equipping you with the skills, confidence, and legal authority to enjoy motorcycling at any level safely and responsibly.

Additional Information

About Q-Ride Courses

All Q-Ride courses are delivered by Q-Ride registered service providers, approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). To complete your motorcycle licence training, it’s important to use an approved provider like us here at RideSmart.

There are three main Q-Ride courses:

Pre-Learner Course – designed for new riders to gain basic riding knowledge and skills in a safe, controlled environment before riding on the road. It covers protective gear, bike handling, controlled braking, curves, and good roadcraft.
Restricted (RE) Course – builds on the Pre-Learner Course for riders with some experience. This course develops knowledge and skills for riding unsupervised and reinforces safe riding attitudes.
Unrestricted (R) Course – designed for riders with significant experience on restricted motorcycles. Focused on higher-order skills, risk management, and riding more powerful bikes safely, this course is mostly on-road with coaching and feedback stops.

Key Points to Know

Competency Declarations: After completing each course, RideSmart will issue a Q-Ride competency declaration (certificate). This declaration is not a licence but is required to progress to the next step.
Online Licence Updates: If your Q-Ride provider records your competency declaration online with TMR, you may be eligible to upgrade your licence online. If not, you must take your declaration to a Transport and Motoring Customer Service Centre. Bring your evidence of identity.
Validity: Competency declarations are valid for 1 year. If you do not progress to the next step within that time, you’ll need to retake the course.
Eligibility Notes:
- If you live more than 100km from a Q-Ride training area, you may apply for an exemption from the Pre-Learner Course. In that case, you must hold your RE learner licence for at least 12 months instead of the standard 90 days.
  
  * Speak with TMR directly about this process, if you live more than 100km from a Q-Ride training area and are unable to travel to our RideSmart locations.
- Pre-Learner courses must be undertaken on a Learner Approved Motorcycle — mopeds, trikes, or conditionally registered bikes are not permitted.

This overview provides a clear roadmap of the Q-Ride pathway, ensuring you understand what each course involves and how it fits into your journey from learner to unrestricted rider.

Please click on the book now button below to book your course

HOW TO GET YOUR MOTORCYCLE LICENCE

Our Q-Ride Courses are held at Brookside/Mitchelton, Runcorn, Slacks Creek and Ipswich

Ready to start your riding journey?

🏁 Step 1 Pre-Learner Course

Start Here: Pre-Learner Course

Eligibility

What You’ll Learn

Course Structure

Support and Environment

Preparing for Your Next Steps

🏁 Step 2 Motorcycle Knowledge Test

Next Step: Motorcycle Knowledge Test

Supervisor Requirements

Important Information About Licence Issuing

🏁 Step 3 Hazard Perception Test

Sharpen Your Awareness: Hazard Perception Test

🏁 Step 4 RE (RESTRICTED) Motorcycle Licence Course

Ready to Ride Unsupervised: RE Course

What happens during the RE Course

Upgrading your licence

Licence conditions

🏁 Step 5 R (UNRESTRICTED) Motorcycle Licence Course

Take the Final Step: R (Unrestricted) Licence

What happens during the R Course

Upgrading your licence

Licence benefits

Additional Information

About Q-Ride Courses

Key Points to Know

About Us

Q-Ride Courses

Get in touch