Motor Vehicle Licence Examiner

A Motor Vehicle Licence Examiner assesses the driving competence and knowledge of applicants seeking to obtain or renew motor vehicle licences in Australia. Working within state and territory transport authorities, they conduct practical driving tests, written knowledge assessments, and hazard perception tests to determine whether applicants meet the legal and safety standards required to operate motor vehicles on public roads.

Conduct practical on-road driving tests using dual-control vehicles, evaluating applicant performance against Australian Road Rules and state-specific driving standards. Assess applicant knowledge of traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices through written examinations or computerised testing systems. Administer hazard perception tests to evaluate applicants' ability to identify and respond to potential road hazards. Record detailed observations and scoring outcomes on examination documentation, including notes on driving errors, rule violations, and safety concerns. Interpret and apply state and territory motor vehicle licensing regulations and competency standards when determining test pass or fail outcomes. Interview applicants to verify identity, licensing history, and eligibility for licence categories (car, motorcycle, heavy vehicle, public transport). Communicate test results and feedback to applicants, explaining specific areas of weakness or non-compliance with driving standards. Maintain vehicle safety and mechanical standards by conducting pre-test inspections of dual-control examination vehicles.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll spend most days sitting in a car with nervous or hostile people, repeating the same test route dozens of times. The work is repetitive and emotionally draining, and you're constantly delivering bad news to people who've failed. Pay is modest for a government job, and there's limited room to move up without leaving the role entirely.

All jobs are with state and territory transport authorities. Work is based in capital cities and major regional centres where testing demand is highest. Remote work isn't possible.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 5995, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Conflict De-escalationcore
• Data Entry and Accuracycore
• Eligibility Assessmentcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Record Managementcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Verification and Authenticationcore
• Advise on licencing procedures
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Check official documents
• Complaint Handling
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
• Digital Literacy
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
• Incident Reporting
• Policy Interpretation
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026