Thousands more young Victorians can now take their learner permit tests without waiting for an appointment date or travelling to a VicRoads Service Centre, as the roll-out of the Andrews Labor Government’s new online test scales up.

As the online test rolls out across the state, 1,000 extra prospective learners each week with existing test appointments will be invited to sign up and complete the test – with people booked at Mooroolbark, Sunbury and Colac invited last week, and Kyneton, Dromana and Sunshine coming online this week after the program started in Gippsland last month.

Next week will see the test roll out to people who have booked testing appointments at the VicRoads hub@exhibition in Melbourne’s CBD, Ballarat, and Hoppers Crossing – before all prospective learners across Victoria are able to sign up online by the end of June.

The new test takes learners through a course that includes a mix of theory, interactive videos and visual graphics before the final assessment, reinforcing key road safety messages with mini-quizzes to progressively test learners’ knowledge in modules like speed, drink and drug driving, seatbelts, fatigue, distractions and road rules.

To access the test, customers will need to create a myVicRoads personal account on a compatible device. The entire course and test will take between four and six hours to complete, with prospective learners having 12 months to sit and pass the online test once they’ve registered.

When the online course and assessment has been successfully completed, learner drivers need to attend a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to confirm their identity, have their photo taken and complete an eyesight check – but this process does not require an appointment, and can be done at a time that suits the learner.

While the new test is rolled out, people can still sit the Learner Permit Test in person at VicRoads Customer Service Centres if they prefer – and those requiring interpreter services support will still be supported to take the test in person at a Customer Service Centre.

For more information on how to access the Learner Permit Test Online, visit vicroads.vic.gov.au.