Running a driving school in Australia means navigating a patchwork of state and territory regulations. Each jurisdiction has different licensing requirements, instructor qualifications, and operational rules. Getting compliance wrong can mean fines, licence suspension, or worse.
This guide covers what driving school operators actually need to know.
The Regulatory Landscape
Unlike many industries with federal oversight, driving instruction is regulated at the state and territory level. This creates complexity for operators:
- Queensland: Transport and Main Roads oversees driving instructor licensing
- New South Wales: Transport for NSW manages the Driving Instructor Licence scheme
- Victoria: VicRoads administers instructor accreditation
- Western Australia: Department of Transport handles instructor licensing
- South Australia: Department for Infrastructure and Transport
- Tasmania, NT, ACT: Each has distinct requirements
For operators running schools across state borders, this means maintaining compliance with multiple regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
Instructor Licensing Requirements
Every state requires driving instructors to hold specific qualifications. Common requirements include:
Minimum age: Usually 21 years, though some states allow 20-year-olds with additional experience requirements.
Driving experience: Typically 3-5 years of holding a full licence, with clean driving record requirements varying by state.
Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics: The national qualification for driving instruction (TLI41221 or equivalent). This replaced older state-specific qualifications.
Working with Children checks: Required in all jurisdictions for instructors teaching learners under 18.
Medical fitness: Regular medical assessments, particularly for instructors over certain ages.
Criminal history checks: National Police Certificates required, with some offences being disqualifying.
The challenge for driving school operators is tracking expiry dates, renewal requirements, and ongoing compliance for every instructor on the books.
Vehicle Requirements
Dual-control vehicles must meet specific standards:
- Annual inspections in most states
- Approved dual-control systems (not DIY modifications)
- Signage requirements (learner driver signs, school identification)
- Insurance with appropriate coverage for instruction
- Age limits on vehicles used for instruction (varies by state)
Vehicle compliance is often where schools get caught out—an expired inspection or incorrect signage can result in the instructor being personally liable.
Record-Keeping Obligations
Driving schools must maintain records of:
- All lessons conducted (student details, duration, content covered)
- Instructor working hours and student allocations
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
- Student progress and competency assessments
- Complaints and incident reports
These records must typically be retained for several years and produced on request during audits. Paper-based systems make this increasingly difficult as schools grow.
The DrivingPro Approach
We built DrivingPro specifically for Australian driving schools because existing booking software treats compliance as an afterthought.
The platform handles:
- Automatic tracking of instructor licence expiry dates with advance warnings
- Vehicle inspection scheduling and compliance alerts
- Lesson records that meet state audit requirements
- Student progress tracking aligned with competency frameworks
- Multi-state compliance for schools operating across borders
Australian driving schools deserve software built for Australian regulations—not adapted from overseas systems that don't understand Working with Children checks or state-specific licensing.
Looking Ahead
The driving instruction industry is changing. Electric vehicles require new teaching approaches. Autonomous vehicle technology will eventually reshape the sector. But in the meantime, compliance obligations continue to grow more complex.
Schools that systematise their compliance now—through proper software and processes—will be better positioned for whatever regulatory changes come next. Those still running on spreadsheets and paper logbooks are accumulating risk with every lesson.