PDA Booking in WA: How to Book Your Driving Test

The Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) is the driving test that decides whether you get your WA provisional licence. This page explains who can book one, how PDA booking works through the Department of Transport, and how Safe Start Academy can book it for you and get you ready.

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Need help with your PDA booking? We can do it for you

Booking a PDA isn’t hard, but it’s easy to get wrong: the wrong centre, a date that clashes with your lessons, or a booking made before you’re ready. Safe Start Academy offers PDA booking assistance for learners in Kelmscott and across Perth.

What that means in practice:

  • We help you pick a test centre and date that fits your lesson schedule
  • We make sure your booking lines up with your preparation, so you’re not sitting the test before you’re ready
  • We explain what to bring and expect on the day
  • We can book your PDA for you with your consent, following the Department of Transport’s requirements
Get Help Booking Your PDA →
Learner driver preparing for a WA practical driving assessment (PDA) with an instructor
Booking a WA PDA online through DoTDirect
Who can book

Who can book a PDA in WA?

To take your PDA for a WA car licence, the Department of Transport says you must:

  • Be at least 17 years old
  • Have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months
  • Have recorded at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including 5 hours of night driving if you’re under 25
  • Have passed the hazard perception test (HPT)
  • Feel confident you can drive safely without a supervising driver

You can book a PDA up to 6 months in advance. Don’t book a date you can’t realistically be ready for, because changing it at short notice can cost you another fee 


How to book

How to book your PDA online

For metropolitan Perth, PDA bookings are made online through DoTDirect, the Department of Transport’s online service. In-person bookings aren’t available at metropolitan licensing centres.

  • Create a DoTDirect account if you don’t already have one.
  • Log in and choose to book a PDA.
  • Choose your licensing centre. Pick one close to where you’ve been practising, ideally one whose test area you’ve driven. See WA licensing centres.
  • Pick a date and time that gives you a few lessons beforehand.
  • Pay the fee and keep your confirmation.

Prefer not to do it yourself? Contact us and we’ll talk you through it or arrange it with your consent.

Booking a WA PDA online through DoTDirect
Safe Start Academy dual-control automatic used for PDA preparation in Kelmscott
Before test day

Before your PDA: what to prepare

Your logbook or Learn&Log. You must bring your completed Department of Transport learner log book, signed by you and your supervising driver. If you recorded all your hours in the Learn&Log app, submit your electronic declaration of completion instead.

Your learner’s permit. Bring it with you.

A suitable vehicle. If the car is found unsuitable on the day, your PDA is cancelled and you’ll need to pay for and book another one. Don’t have a car, or not sure yours will pass? Ask about our test-day vehicle hire.

Practice on the test roads. A mock assessment on routes near your licensing centre is the best use of your last lessons before the real thing. See driving test preparation.


Test day

What happens on the day of your PDA

  • Arrive at least 15 minutes early. If you’re late, your PDA is cancelled and you’ll need to rebook and pay again.
  • The assessment takes about 45 to 50 minutes and is made up of several sections, including how well you combine driving skills and respond to traffic.
  • If you pass, you’re issued your provisional licence.
Learner practising parking during a driving lesson
PDA Booking
Changes and resits

Cancelling, rescheduling or resitting your PDA


Give at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Less than that, and you can be required to pay for another PDA.

If you don’t pass, you’ll need to book and pay for another PDA, and wait at least 7 days before you can sit it again.

Current PDA fees are listed on the Department of Transport website. They change, so check there for the up-to-date amount.


FAQ

PDA booking questions

Online through DoTDirect for all metropolitan licensing centres. You’ll need a DoTDirect account. In-person bookings can’t be made at metropolitan centres.

es, with your consent and following the Department of Transport’s requirements. Contact us to arrange it.

Up to 6 months ahead.

Yes. You must have passed the HPT, held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months, and completed your logged supervised hours before you can sit a PDA.

You book and pay for another PDA and wait at least 7 days before sitting it again.

Yes, with at least 48 hours’ notice. Otherwise you can be required to pay for a new booking.

Roughly 45 to 50 minutes.

Ready to book your PDA?

Get your booking sorted and your last lessons lined up before it. Call Safe Start Academy in Kelmscott, or send us a message and we’ll get back to you.

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