Summary of novice car licensing pathway
In all novice stages
You must have a breath/blood alcohol content of 0.00 and carry your licence on you whenever you’re driving.
Driver knowledge test
This can be attempted from the minimum age of 15 years and 11 months.
You must be 16 years of age to be issued with your learner licence.
Learner licence requirements and restrictions
In the learner stage you must:
- be accompanied by a supervisory driver
- hold your licence for a minimum of 12 continuous months
- complete 80 logbook hours (including 15 at night)
- never tow another vehicle, including trailer
- drive no faster than 90km/h even when a higher speed limit applies
- display L plates
- not use a mobile phone.
Hazard perception test
The hazard perception test was introduced on 7 March 2022 and is now a requirement for most learners. The hazard perception test can be completed online from three months before your earliest P1 practical driving assessment date.
For more information on the hazard perception test, including details about who needs to complete the test, please click here.
P1 practical driving assessment
To sit your P1 practical driving assessment you must be a minimum of 17 years of age and have satisfied your learner licence hours and licence period requirements.
P1 licence
In the P1 stage you must:
- hold your licence for a minimum of 12 continuous months
- display red P plates
- drive no faster than 100km/h even when a higher speed limit applies
- not use a mobile phone.
If you are under 25 years of age you will also have some peer passenger restrictions.
P2 licence
Depending on your age when your licence is upgraded to P2 you will need to hold the licence for a different period of time before progressing to your full licence.
If you are under 23 when you get your P2 licence
You will need to hold the licence for two years
If you are 23 or older but under 25
You will need to hold the licence for 12 months or until you turn 25. The time that applies will be whichever of these is longer.
If you are 25 or older
You will need to hold the licence for 12 months.
If you progress to your full licence without recording demerit points or certain offences over your P1 and P2 periods you may be eligible for the safer driver reward.
