Q-Ride courses
Q-Ride courses are delivered by Q-Ride registered service providers. These providers have been approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Please use an approved registered service provider to complete a Q-Ride course for motorcycle licence training.
Find an approved Q-Ride registered service provider.
There are 3 Q-Ride courses:
- Q-Ride pre-learner course
- Q-Ride restricted (RE) course
- Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course
Q-Ride pre-learner course
The Q-Ride pre-learner course is designed to help new riders gain basic riding knowledge and motorcycle handling skills in a safe environment before learning to ride on the road. Designed for people with no riding experience the course covers the basics of riding including protective gear, riding curves, controlled braking and good roadcraft. The pre-learner course contains 34 modules that are delivered over a minimum of 2 days.
The course aims to:
- ensure learner riders have the knowledge and skills to manage routine riding situations under supervision
- to instil good riding attitudes
- to minimise the likelihood of harm due to inadequate riding knowledge or skills.
Find out how to enrol and complete the pre-learner course.
Q-Ride restricted (RE) course
The Q-Ride restricted (RE) course is designed to help learner riders further develop their riding knowledge and skills. Designed for riders who have completed the Q-Ride pre-learner course and have some riding experience, the course reviews and builds on the pre-learner course to further develop riding knowledge and skills. The RE course contains 15 modules that are delivered over a minimum of 1 day.
The course aims to:
- ensure riders have the knowledge and skills to manage riding situations unsupervised
- to reinforce good riding attitudes
- to minimise the likelihood of harm due to inadequate knowledge, skills, or risk management.
Find out how to enrol and complete the restricted course.
Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course
The Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course is designed to reinforce riders’ knowledge and skills, and further develop higher order cognitive skills and risk management strategies. Designed for riders who have completed the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course and have significant riding experience, the course is conducted mainly on-road with regular stops to provide coaching and discuss safe riding behaviours and strategies. The R course contains 7 modules that are delivered over half a day.
The course aims to:
- enhance and reinforce riders’ knowledge and skills to effectively manage riding situations on a more powerful motorcycle
- reinforce good riding attitudes
- minimise the likelihood of harm due to inappropriate riding skills, behaviours or risk management.
Find out how to enrol and complete the unrestricted course.
Enrol and complete Q-Ride courses
Enrol in the Q-Ride pre-learner course
You can enrol in the Q-Ride pre-learner course if you hold a provisional, probationary or open car licence and have held the licence for at least 1 year.
Check your eligibility to do the Q-Ride pre-learner course.
Complete the Q-Ride pre-learner course
You must undertake the Q-Ride pre-learner course on a learner approved motorcycle. You can't undertake the course on a moped, trike or conditionally registered motorcycle.
During the course you will need to demonstrate your competency on a learner approved motorcycle. When you have been assessed as having acquired the required competencies, the Q-Ride training provider will issue you with a competency declaration (Q-Ride certificate). Your competency declaration is not a licence.
- If your Q-Ride training provider notifies the Department of Transport and Main Roads that you have successfully completed the course you can take the motorcycle knowledge test online and automatically have the class RE learner added to your licence.
- If your Q-Ride training provider does not notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads, you must take your competency declaration to a transport and motoring customer service centre before you can take the motorcycle knowledge test. You will also need to bring:
- your evidence of identity.
You no longer have to complete a driver licence application form when visiting a Department of Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre.
You will still need to complete a driver licence application form (F3000) at police stations and most QGAP offices.
Your competency declaration is only valid for 1 year from the date of issue. If you do not take and pass the motorcycle knowledge test and have the RE learner added to your licence within 1 year, it will expire and you will need to do the Q-Ride course again to get a new competency declaration.
Enrol in the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course
You can enrol in the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course after you have held your RE learner licence for at least 90 days (at least 1 year if you got an exemption from the pre-learner course).
From 1 July 2021 you must pass the hazard perception test before you can take the Q-Ride RE Course or RE practical riding test.
Check your eligibility to do the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course.
If you got your RE learner licence before 1 October 2016, there is no minimum time that you must hold your learner licence before you are eligible to do the Q-Ride restricted course.
Complete the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course
You must undertake the Q-Ride restricted (RE) course on a learner approved motorcycle. You can't undertake the course on a moped, trike or conditionally registered motorcycle.
During the course you will need to demonstrate your competency on a learner approved motorcycle. When you have been assessed as having acquired the required competencies, the Q-Ride training provider will issue you with a competency declaration (Q-Ride certificate). Your competency declaration is not a licence.
- If your Q-Ride training provider notifies the department that you successfully completed the course you can apply for your RE provisional or open licence online
- If your Q-Ride training provider does not notify the department, you must take your competency declaration to a transport and motoring customer service centre to apply for your RE provisional or open licence. You will also need to bring:
- your evidence of identity.
You no longer have to complete a driver licence application form when visiting a Department of Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre.
You will still need to complete a driver licence application form (F3000) at police stations and most QGAP offices.
Your competency declaration is only valid for 1 year from the date of issue. If you do not upgrade to an RE provisional or open licence within 1 year, it will expire and you will need to do the Q-Ride course again to get a new competency declaration.
There is no fee to upgrade your licence. However you will have to pay a fee if you are renewing your licence at the same time.
Enrol in the Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course
You can enrol in the Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course after you have held your RE provisional or open licence for at least 2 years.
Check your eligibility to do the Q-Ride unrestricted course.
Complete the Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course
You must undertake the Q-Ride unrestricted (R) course on an R unrestricted motorcycle. You can't undertake the course on a moped, trike or conditionally registered motorcycle.
During the course you will need to demonstrate your competency on an R motorcycle. When you have been assessed as having acquired the required competencies, the Q-Ride training provider will issue you with a competency declaration (Q-Ride certificate). Your competency declaration is not a licence.
- If your Q-Ride training provider notifies the department that you have successfully completed the course you can apply for your R licence online.
- If your Q-Ride training provider does not notify the department, you must take your competency declaration to a transport and motoring customer service centre to apply for your R licence. You will also need to bring:
- your evidence of identity.
You no longer have to complete a driver licence application form when visiting a Department of Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre.
You will still need to complete a driver licence application form (F3000) at police stations and most QGAP offices.
Your competency declaration is only valid for 1 year from the date of issue. If you do not upgrade to an R licence within 1 year, it will expire and you will need to do the Q-Ride course again to get a new competency declaration.
There is no fee to upgrade your licence. However you will have to pay a fee if you are renewing your licence at the same time.
Q-SAFE: restricted and unrestricted practical riding test
Q-SAFE is a practical riding test delivered by Queensland Government driving examiners. It is designed to assess your ability to ride safely and correctly in different road situations, on a learner approved motorcycle or on an R motorcycle.
You can only take the Q-SAFE test if you live more than 100kmradius of a Q-Ride training area. You must take the test:
- on a learner approved motorcycle for a restricted (RE) licence
or - on an R motorcycle (not a learner approved motorcycle) for an unrestricted (R) licence.
You can't undertake the Q-SAFE test on a moped, trike or conditionally registered motorcycle.
To book a Q-SAFE test, call the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80. In some rural and remote areas, you may need to visit a police station that issues driver licences to take the test.
- Last updated:
- 2 February 2024
