Highlights
- VicRoads has released nearly 25,000 new appointments for driver licences
- Appointment fee of $19 has been waived off for learner's, hazard perception and drive tests
- DoT has issued nearly 28,000 new licences since resumption of service from November 2020
Approximately 25,000 new test appointment slots have been released on January 14 by VicRoads, which comes as a welcome move for driving aspirants in Victoria who had been pushed to the end of the queue since November last year.
In addition, 1,500 appointments for priority test under the Department of Transport’s Hardship and Special Circumstances Policy have also been made available to those who may need to take their tests on an urgent basis.
New licence tests had twice been suspended by VicRoads in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.
When the restrictions were eased in November, VicRoads didn’t give new appointments but attended to only those that were scheduled before the lockdown was enforced in August. Thus, a long queue of those seeking new appointments came into being. On November 16, new appointments were resumed.
“We’re delivering more tests than ever before as we clear the backlog of 2020. Since the start of November 2020, approximately 28,000 licences have been issued as a result of successful drive tests,” a Department of Transport spokesperson told SBS Punjabi.
Each fortnight, the department releases approximately 30,000 new appointments (around 10,000 each for drive, hazard perception and learner permit tests). The exact number of appointments in each fortnightly tranche depends upon their capacity to successfully conduct this operation.
The Victorian Government has also announced a “goodwill gesture” by waiving off the $19 appointment booking fee for those impacted by the suspension of key services.
“This will mean all customers who have already taken, are due to take or are waiting to take a learner’s, hazard perception and practical drive test, during the period of 25 March 2020 – 5 April 2021, will be eligible to have their booking fees waived or refunded,” the spokesperson explained.
Ritu Kumar, a Melbourne resident had been waiting for a chance to get herself a new appointment since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. She’s not only relieved that she may finally be able to drive soon but is also pleased with the government’s goodwill gesture.
“I’ve been desperately checking the VicRoads website for almost a year now, but to no avail. Now that there are nearly 25,000 new slots available, I’m hopeful I’ll get one of those,” says Ms Kumar, sounding relieved.
Thousands like Ms Kumar may feel relieved as VicRoads has also opened new Licence Testing Sites and also employed additional staff to tide over the backlog created by the coronavirus lockdown in the state.
“This means you are more likely to find a testing site near your place rather than having to go a few suburbs away, or even another city or town,” Ms Kumar says.
VicRoads charges a fee of $24.60 for a learner's permit knowledge test for driving cars and motorcycles. For taking a hazard perception test, the fee is $18.80 whereas for a car practical driving test, it is $45.60. Prior to the waiver, an appointment fee of $19 was payable for each one of the above.
The easiest way to make an appointment is online. Enquiries can also be made over the phone on 13 11 71 or in person at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
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