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Apply for driving instructor authority

A driving instructor is anyone who, for profit/gain or as part of their trade or business, teaches an unlicensed person to drive a motor car on a public or open road.

This definition doesn’t include motorcycles, a vehicle that weighs more than 4.5 tonnes or a vehicle with seating for more than 12 adults, including the driver.

In Victoria, professional driving instructors must hold a Driving Instructor Authority when teaching an unlicensed person to drive a car. This page details the applicant criteria and application process.

Applicant criteria

Applicants for a Driving Instructor Authority must:

  • hold a current full Victorian driver licence granted under section 19 of the Road Safety Act 1986 (Vic) (Road Safety Act)
  • provide proof of identification documents
  • successfully complete the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Car Driving Instruction) (TLI41216 or TLI41218). This must be accompanied by a letter advising if training was completed in a manual or automatic vehicle
  • meet the Medical Standards for commercial vehicle driving as set out in the publication Assessing Fitness to Drive 2016 produced by Austroads
  • pass a traffic history check. Applications will be checked for serious or frequent traffic offences. A history of serious or frequent breaches of the Road Safety Act 1986 may, in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary, disqualify a person from being granted an authority
  • hold a current Working with Children Check (issued for ‘Employment’ purposes) if they intend to instruct students under the age of 18 years on a regular basis.

Application process

Step 1: Sign up to the CPVV User Portal

You need an account with the CPVV User Portal to apply for driver accreditation.

If you don't already have an account, sign up here, then follow the prompts.

If you already have an account, log in here.

Step 2: Upload your current valid Victorian driver licence and a driver licence selfie

You will need to upload a copy of your current Victorian driver licence and a self-captured photo (selfie) showing you holding your Victorian driver licence next to your face. Please make sure we can see your face clearly and that the driver licence you are holding is clear and readable. This helps us confirm the link between you and the identity you are claiming.

Acceptable photo
acceptable for proof of identity

Unacceptable photos
Show examples of unacceptable proof of identity photos (selfies) for driver accreditation application - full face not visible, too dark, too bright, photo covered, face covered and blurry.

Step 3: Provide copies of your proof of identification documents

These documents must be clear and easy to read. If they are not, we will take longer to process your application.

We cannot accept credit or debit cards as proof of identity.

You must provide 1 document from this list:

  • full Australian birth certificate (not an extract or birth card)
  • current Australian passport (not expired)
  • Australian visa current at time of entry to Australia as a resident or tourist
  • ImmiCard issued by Immigration and Border Protection that enables the cardholder to prove their visa and/or migration status and enrol in services
  • certificate of identity issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade to refugees and non-Australian citizens for entry to Australia
  • document of identity issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade to Australian citizens or persons who have the nationality of a Commonwealth country for travel purposes
  • certificate of evidence of resident status.

You must provide 2 different documents from this list:

  • certificate of identity issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • document of identity issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • convention travel document secondary (United Nations) issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • foreign government issued documents (for example, drivers’ licence)
  • Medicare card
  • enrolment with the Australian Electoral Commission
  • security guard or crowd control photo licence
  • evidence of right to an Australian government benefit (Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs)
  • consular photo identity card issued by Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • photo identity card issued to an officer by a police force
  • photo identity card issued by the Australian Defence Force
  • photo identity card issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government
  • Aviation Security Identification Card
  • Maritime Security Identification card
  • credit reference check
  • Australian tertiary student photo identity document
  • Australian secondary student photo identity document
  • certified academic transcript from an Australian university
  • trusted referees report.

If you have changed your name or use a different name on different documents

If you have different names on any of the documents you supply (for example, one document has your maiden name, and another your married name), you must submit one of the following documents:

  • marriage certificate issued by a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Australia
  • divorce papers showing the name you reverted to
  • Deed Poll (issued before November 1986 in Victoria)
  • Change of Name Certificate (issued after November 1986 in Victoria).

Step 4: Upload additional information

Upload evidence of completing the Certificate IV course:

Upload evidence that you have completed the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport - Car Driving Instruction) (TLI41216 or TLI41218). This must be in the form of a letter from the registered training organisation (on company letterhead) specifying the course completed and whether training was conducted in a manual or automatic vehicle.

Further information is available on the training requirements page.

Working with Children Check:

Provide your Working with Children Check employment  number if you intend to instruct students under the age of 18 years on a regular basis.

Upload Photograph:

Your photo must be a recent coloured passport-like image, with a white background and a clear shot of your head and shoulders.

Step 5: Upload a completed medical assessment

A medical assessment must be completed by a medical practitioner.

Your application may be approved or declined based on the result of your medical check. You’ll need to repeat the check at least once every three years.

Step 6: Pay your application fee

In alignment with the current Road Safety (Driving Instructors) Regulations 2020, all driving instructors’ applicants will need to pay for a 3-year authority. The fee can be paid by card through the User Portal. Please note, this fee is non refundable.

For more information please see Fees and chargers.

What happens next

We will assess your application and let you know as soon as possible if it’s been successful. We may also contact you for more information or documentation to support your application.

We may refuse your application based on your medical or police check. You can ask us to review this decision. Learn about National Police History Checks.

What we do with your data

Your personal information gets managed in line with industry standards. We only use your contact details to contact you about your driver instructor authority and the industry.

If your application is successful, the following will also display on our Public Register:

  • Driver Instructor Authority number (e.g. DI001234)
  • Endorsement type (eg, Automatic and/or Manual transmission)

For more information, read our privacy policy. You can also read the Victoria Protective Data Security Standards.

Mutual recognition

If you have held a driving instructor authority in another state or territory and wish to apply for mutual recognition, you must complete a Mutual Recognition form instead of this form and provide the required documentation as outlined in that form.

For more information see our mutual recognition page.

Industry associations

Contact information for industry bodies and associations:

For further information, contact us.

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