Is motorcycle rider training compulsory in WA?

Not at present. A learner rides with an approved supervisor, then passes the Hazard Perception Test and the Practical Driving Assessment. In April 2026 the WA Government proposed mandatory pre-learner and pre-provisional training. Consultation closed on 24 May 2026, and no decision or start date has been announced.

Does a motorcycle instructor need a licence in WA?

Yes, if they are paid. Anyone who teaches another person to drive a motor vehicle for payment, motorcycles included, must hold a Driving Instructor's Licence under the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963. They must be at least 21 and have held the class of licence they teach for at least three continuous years.

What age can you get a motorcycle learner permit in WA?

From 16 for the R-E motorcycle learner permit, and from 15½ for the moped-only R-N permit. The April 2026 proposals would raise the minimum age for an R-E motorcycle learner permit to 18; they do not cover moped licences. That change has not been decided.

Do you run riding lessons?

No. We sell and service scooters and motorcycles in Dianella. Call or email us and we'll help you find a riding instructor.

Motorcycle Rider Training in WA: Lessons, Instructors and What May Change

Western Australia does not currently require a riding course to get a moped or motorcycle licence. You learn with an approved supervisor, then pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA). Paid lessons are optional.

That may change. In April 2026 the WA Government proposed mandatory training for new motorcycle riders, and public consultation closed in May 2026. This guide covers the current rules, who is allowed to teach you, and where the proposals stand.

Do You Need Lessons to Get a Motorcycle Licence in WA?

No, not at present. None of the WA licence steps includes a compulsory course.

Licence	What you have to do
R-N (mopeds only)	Learner's permit from 15½, supervised riding with no minimum hours, the HPT, then the PDA from 16
R-E (LAMS motorcycles)	Learner's permit from 16, held for at least 6 months; 50 logged hours, including 5 at night, unless you hold a car licence; the HPT from 16½; the PDA from 17
R (unrestricted)	Hold R-E for at least 2 years, then pass another PDA

Fees, P-plate rules and the moped exemption for car licence holders are in our WA scooter and motorcycle licence guide.

What Riding Lessons Are For

Because no course is mandated, there is no set syllabus. Each instructor decides what a lesson covers, so ask before you book. Riders usually look for lessons at one of four points:

Before riding on the road. Learning the controls and slow-speed handling away from traffic, before supervised road riding.
Before the PDA. Practising the manoeuvres and road riding the assessment covers.
Moving from R-E to R. Preparing for the second PDA, and for bigger bikes than LAMS allows.
Returning after a break. Riders who hold a licence but have not ridden for years.

Supervisors and Instructors

A learner must ride with an approved supervisor at all times, with L plates on the front and back. A supervisor does not need to be paid or qualified as an instructor, but must have held a motorcycle licence for at least 4 years (2 for a moped learner) and ride with you on another bike, as your pillion or in a sidecar.

Anyone who is paid to teach riding is different. Under the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963, a person who teaches someone to drive a motor vehicle for payment must hold a Driving Instructor's Licence. That includes motorcycles.

Among other requirements, including a police check, a medical, and a theory and practical assessment, an instructor must:

be at least 21
hold a current WA driver's licence
have held the class of licence they teach for at least three continuous years

The licence authorises its holder to instruct in one or more classes of vehicle.

Questions to Ask an Instructor

Is your Driving Instructor's Licence current, and does it cover motorcycles?
Do you supply the bike and protective gear, or do I bring my own?
Are lessons one-on-one or in a group?
Can I use your bike for my PDA? You must bring a licensed, roadworthy bike of the right class to the assessment: LAMS-approved for an R-E test.
What does a lesson cost, how long is it, and how many do riders at my stage usually need?

Proposed Changes to WA Rider Training

On 26 April 2026 the WA Government released proposed changes to the motorcycle graduated licensing system and opened them for consultation. WA would also separate its car and motorcycle licensing systems, in line with the other states and territories. The media statement listed:

raising the minimum age for a learner motorcycle licence from 16 to 18
extending the provisional period from two years to three: one on red P plates, two on green
mandatory pre-learner and pre-provisional training and assessment
late-night riding restrictions for learners
pillion passenger restrictions for learner and provisional riders
automatic progression from a restricted to an unrestricted licence
a ban on mobile phone use for learner and provisional riders, except hands-free use of built-in navigation and audio, set up before the ride

The consultation paper goes further. It proposes removing the 50-hour supervised riding requirement once training is mandatory, and suggests a one-day pre-learner course and a half-day pre-provisional check ride, run by private accredited providers and paid for by learners. The proposals cover motorcycle licences, not the moped-only R-N licence. The department is also separately reviewing the Motor Vehicle Drivers Instructors Act 1963.

Public consultation ran from 3 May to 24 May 2026. As of October 2026 the consultation is listed as under review, and no decision has been announced. The government has said implementation timeframes will be set after the consultation, with the legislative changes aligned with its reforms to car licensing.

Until the law changes, the current rules above apply.

Finding an Instructor in Perth

We sell and service scooters and motorcycles in Dianella, and we do not run lessons ourselves. Call or email us and we'll help you find a riding instructor.

Summary

Are lessons compulsory in WA? No, not at present.
What do you need instead? A learner's permit, supervised riding, the HPT and the PDA.
Who can teach for payment? Only the holder of a Driving Instructor's Licence.
Is mandatory training coming? It has been proposed. Consultation closed on 24 May 2026, and no decision or start date has been announced.

Sources

Information based on the WA Government's April 2026 announcement, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure's consultation page and ABLIS, current as of October 2026. The motorcycle licensing review is ongoing. Check the My Say Transport page for its outcome.

Motorcycle Rider Training in WA: Lessons and the Proposed Changes (2026)