Australian Road Rules: L- and P-plate restrictions by state and territory

What you need to know about getting your L and P plates in Australia

The opportunity to earn your learner or probationary licence is an exciting time for many new drivers and their families, but they must follow significant restrictions.

As the road rules in Australia are enforced at a state level, there are slight variations on what restrictions are applied to new drivers depending on their place of residence.

While there are differences in rules, each state and territory has a strict zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs for both L- and P-plate drivers.

Here is a run-through of critical rules and regulations facing learner and probationary drivers on the road across Australia's different states and territories.

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The important numbers up front

You'll find more detail if you continue reading, but here's the important numbers side-by-side.

JUMP AHEAD

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia
• Other frequently asked questions

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Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Learner and provisional licence rules

What age do I have to be to get a licence in the ACT?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 15 years, 9 months
• Minimum age for a provisional licence: 17 years (requires 12 months on a learner licence with logged hours)

How many passengers can I carry in the ACT?

• P1 drivers: Only one passenger allowed between 11pm and 5am, unless they are a family member or the travel is for work or education.
• Learner and P2 drivers: May carry passengers up to the vehicle’s legal seating capacity.

Can I tow a trailer in the ACT?

• Learner and P1 drivers: Restricted to trailers with a combined weight (trailer + load) of no more than 750kg GVM.

How fast can I drive in the ACT?

• Learners and P-plate drivers: Allowed to drive at the posted speed limit for the road.

Can I use my phone whilst driving in the ACT?

• Learner and provisional drivers are prohibited from using mobile devices while driving.
• This includes hands-free or Bluetooth-enabled features. Mobile phones may only be used for GPS, music, or podcasts if set before driving and not touched during the trip.

What vehicles are prohibited in the ACT?

There are no vehicle restrictions for provisional drivers in the Australian Capital Territory.

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New South Wales

What age do I have to be to get a licence in NSW?

• Minimum age for a learner licence in New South Wales: 16 years
• Minimum age for a provisional P1 licence: 17 years (requires 12 months on a learner licence and logbook hours if under 25).

How many passengers can I carry in NSW?

• P1 drivers under 25: Limited to one passenger under 21 years between 11pm and 5am.
• P1/P2 drivers returning from suspension: Limited to one passenger for 12 months.

Can I tow a trailer in NSW?

• Learners: Cannot tow trailers or other vehicles.
• P1 drivers: Limited to trailers with an unladen mass of no more than 250kg (loaded weight may exceed this).

How fast can I drive in NSW?

• Learners and P1 drivers: Maximum 90km/h
• P2 drivers: Maximum 100km/h

Can I use my phone whilst driving in NSW?

• All learner and provisional drivers are prohibited from using mobile phones in any mode, including hands-free.

What vehicles are prohibited in NSW?

• P1 and P2 drivers cannot drive vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio above 130kW/tonne or those classified as high-performance.
• Exemptions may apply for work-related purposes or exceptional circumstances.

Drivers should note that other ‘high-performance’ classifications may apply.

For example, a Subaru WRX is considered a ‘high-performance’ vehicle and banned for provisional drivers in New South Wales, despite several variants falling below the maximum power-to-weight ratio of 130kW per tonne.

According to Transport for NSW, a provisional licence holder is permitted to drive a prohibited vehicle if it needs to be driven for "genuine work purposes" or if "exceptional circumstances apply".

For further information on vehicles banned for provisional drivers in New South Wales, you can access the searchable database compiled by Transport for NSW [↗].

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Northern Territory

What age do I have to be to get a licence in the NT?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 16 years
• Minimum age for a provisional licence: 16 years, 6 months (requires six months on a learner licence).

How many passengers can I carry in the NT?

• No passenger restrictions for learners or provisional drivers.

Can I tow a trailer in the NT?

• Learners and provisional drivers may tow vehicles or trailers. L- and P-plates must be displayed on both the vehicle and the trailer.

How fast can I drive in the NT?

• Learners: Maximum 80km/h
• Provisional drivers: Maximum 100km/h

Can I use my phone whilst driving in the NT?

• Prohibited for learner and provisional drivers, including hands-free usage.

What vehicles are prohibited in the NT?

• None for provisional drivers.

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Queensland

What age do I have to be to get a licence in Queensland?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 16 years
• Minimum age for a provisional P1 licence: 17 years (requires 12 months on a learner licence with logbook hours if under 25).

How many passengers can I carry in Queensland?

• P1 drivers under 25: Limited to one passenger under 21 years between 11pm and 5am, unless they are immediate family.

Can I tow a trailer in Queensland?

• Learner and provisional drivers may tow vehicles or trailers with L- or P-plates displayed.

How fast can I drive in Queensland?

• No specific speed restrictions; L- and P-plate drivers must adhere to the posted speed limits.

Can I use my phone whilst driving in Queensland?

• Learners and P1 drivers under 25: Prohibited from using mobile phones in any capacity, including hands-free. Passengers cannot use loudspeaker functions while driving.

What vehicles are prohibited in Queensland?

• P1 and P2 drivers are restricted from operating vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio above 130kW/tonne or modified for performance.
• A provisional licence holder with an automatic-only condition can drive a prohibited vehicle with a manual transmission to learn, but only when a fully-licenced driver sits beside them and provides supervision.

For further information on vehicles banned for provisional drivers in Queensland, you can access the searchable database compiled by the Department for Transport and Main Roads [↗].

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South Australia

What age do I have to be to get a licence in SA?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 16 years
• Minimum age for a provisional P1 licence: 17 years

When is driving banned in SA?

• P1 drivers under 25: Limited to one passenger aged 16-20 and banned from driving between midnight and 5am.

Can I tow a trailer in SA?

• No towing restrictions for L- or P-plate drivers.

How fast can I drive in SA?

• Maximum 100km/h for L- and P-plate drivers, regardless of posted limits.

Can I use my phone whilst driving in SA?

• Prohibited for learners and P1 drivers, including hands-free usage.

What vehicles are prohibited in SA?

• P1 and P2 drivers under 25 cannot operate vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio above 130kW/tonne or modified for performance.

This restriction applies to all vehicles in South Australia produced after January 1, 2010.

For further information on vehicles banned for provisional drivers in South Australia, including cars produced before 2010, you can access a searchable database compiled by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport [↗].

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Tasmania

What age do I have to be to get a licence in Tasmania?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 15 years, 11 months
• Minimum age for a provisional licence: 17 years

How many passengers can I carry in Tasmania?

• P1 drivers (first 12 months): Limited to one passenger aged 16-21, excluding immediate family.
  • This restriction applies 24/7, although exemptions apply for employment, education or training, medical purposes, undue hardship, emergency services, or travelling with a fully-licenced driver beside you.
• Learner drivers and P2 drivers can carry up to the passenger capacity of the vehicle they are driving.

Can I tow a trailer in Tasmania?

• Learners cannot tow vehicles or trailers.
• P1 and P2 drivers may tow vehicles or trailers.

How fast can I drive in Tasmania?

• Learners: Maximum 90km/h
• P1 drivers: Maximum 100km/h

Can I use my phone whilst driving in Tasmania?

• Learners and P1 drivers cannot use mobile phones, including hands-free, but maps and audio media can be used if settings are applied before driving.
• P2 licence holders are allowed to use a mobile phone hands-free in Tasmania.

What vehicles are prohibited in Tasmania?

No restrictions for P1 or P2 drivers.

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Victoria

What age do I have to be to get a licence in Victoria?

• Minimum age for a learner permit: 16 years
• Minimum age for a probationary licence: 18 years – and you must have held a learner permit for at least 12 months with the required driving hours if aged under 21.

For additional information, refer to the VicRoads website's ‘How to get your Ps’ [↗] guide.

How many passengers can I carry in Victoria?

• P1 licence holders in Victoria cannot carry more than one peer passenger aged 16 to less than 22 years of age, excluding a spouse/domestic partner or siblings/step-siblings. This rule applies 24/7.
• Learner and P2 licence holders can carry up to the passenger capacity of their vehicle.

Can I tow a trailer in Victoria?

• Learners and P1 drivers cannot tow vehicles or trailers unless supervised for employment purposes:
• A P1 licence holder can tow another motor vehicle or trailer if it is in the course of employment and requested by an employer, or if a fully-licenced driver is sitting beside the probationary driver.
• P2 licence holders can tow another motor vehicle or trailer.

How fast can I drive in Victoria?

• No specific speed restrictions; drivers follow posted limits.

Can I use my phone or other devices whilst driving in Victoria?

• Prohibited for learners and probationary drivers, including hands-free and built-in systems.
• Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras were introduced in the state on March 31, 2023.

What vehicles are prohibited in Victoria?

P1 and P2 drivers cannot operate vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio above 130kW/tonne or modified for performance.

According to VicRoads, a probationary licence holder can drive a prohibited vehicle if a fully-licenced driver sits beside them and provides supervision.

In addition, exemptions apply to selected vehicles. For further information, consult VicRoads’ Probationary Prohibited Vehicle database [↗].

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Western Australia

What age do I have to be to get a licence in WA?

• Minimum age for a learner licence: 16 years
• Minimum age for a provisional P1 licence: 17 years

When is driving banned in WA?

• P1 provisional licence holders are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5am for the first six months they hold a driver's licence in Western Australia (with some exemptions).

How many passengers can I carry in WA?

• There are no passenger capacity restrictions for learner and provisional drivers in Western Australia.

Can I tow a trailer in WA?

• No towing restrictions for L- or P-plate drivers.

How fast can I drive in WA?

• No specific restrictions; drivers follow posted limits.

Can I use my phone whilst driving in WA?

• Limited hands-free use is permitted, but touching the phone is prohibited.

What vehicles are prohibited in WA?

• No restrictions for provisional drivers.

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Other frequently asked questions

What is the blood alcohol limit for L- and P-plate drivers?

All L- and P-plate drivers must have a zero blood alcohol concentration nationwide.

Is food delivery such as Uber Eats allowed for P-plate drivers?

There are no mandated conditions for these services, although they do apply their own restrictions.

• Uber Eats, Menulog: P-platers are not allowed.
• DoorDash: Permitted with appropriate insurance.

All independent drivers in Australia seeking to deliver items should have third-party insurance as a minimum – and this is often a requirement for most delivery services.

Can P-platers rent cars?

Rental policies vary: Most companies require drivers to be over 21 with a full licence.

Navigating the licensing rules for learner and provisional drivers in Australia can feel complex, given the variations across states and territories.

Thankfully, most drivers will only need to think about just one state.

It’s essential, of course, to consult the official transport authority in your state or territory to ensure compliance with the latest regulations.

Drive safe!

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