Provisional licence restrictions
Certain restrictions apply when you drive using a P1 or P2 licence. These restrictions also apply if you are driving on a probationary P1 or P2 licence after serving a suspension.
- Peer passenger restriction (P1 only)
- Mobile phone restrictions
- High-powered vehicle restriction
- Late night driving restriction
Peer passenger restriction
If you hold a P1 licence, are under 25, and you are driving between 11pm and 5am you can only carry 1 passenger under the age of 21 who is not an immediate family member.
An immediate family member includes a:
- brother or sister of the driver
- stepbrother or stepsister of the driver
- child, stepchild, foster child or ward of the driver
- spouse (including de facto partner) of the driver
- stepparent of the driver
- guardian of the driver
- approved carer of the driver (if the driver is a child)
- child, stepchild, foster child or ward of an approved carer of the driver (if the driver is a child)
- foster child or ward of a parent or stepparent of the driver
- child, stepchild, foster child or ward of a guardian of the driver
- spouse (including de facto partner) of a grandparent of the driver
- a person who is regarded under Aboriginal tradition or Torres Strait Islander custom to be a child of the driver (if the driver is an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander).
Mobile phone restrictions
All drivers are banned from holding a mobile phone in their hand or having it rest on any part of their body, such as their lap, while driving. This applies even if you're stopped in traffic.
The phone does not need to be turned on or in use for it to be an offence. Find out more about mobile phone rules that apply to all drivers.
P1 licence holders under 25 years of age
P1 licence holders under 25 years of age must not use a mobile phone including:
- hands-free kits
- Bluetooth accessories
- wireless headsets
- a phone's loudspeaker function.
If your phone is in a pocket of your clothing or a pouch you're wearing, you must not use it in any way. This includes touching it, looking at it or operating it with your voice.
Your passengers can’t use a phone on loudspeaker while you are driving either. If your passengers are found using a phone on loudspeaker while you are driving, they may be given a fine.
P2 licence holders and P1 licence holders over 25 years of age
P2 licence holders and P1 licence holders over 25 are allowed hands-free use of a mobile phone, for example, in a cradle attached to the vehicle. This can include:
- to accept calls
- use navigation apps
- skip a song
- accept/finish a trip as a rideshare driver.
The position of the phone must not obscure your view of the road, and you must always maintain proper control of the vehicle and drive with due care and attention.
- P2 licence holders and P1 licence holders over 25 can use a phone hands-free if it's in a pocket of your clothing or a pouch you're wearing. You must not touch or look at the phone, you can only operate it using your voice.
This table give an overview of mobile phone restrictions for P1 and P2 licence holders.
| Licence type and age | Hands-free | Wireless headsets | Mobile phone on loud speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 licence holder under 25 | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| P1 licence holder over 25 | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| P1 probationary/restricted licence holder | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| P2 licence holder | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Passengers of a P1 licence holder who is under 25 | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Passengers of a P1 probationary licence holder | Allowed | Allowed | Not allowed |
Mobile phone restrictions for motorcycle riders
Any mobile phone restrictions that apply to your car licence type and age also apply when riding a motorcycle.
Interstate and overseas licence holders must comply with Queensland's mobile phone rules and restrictions for their equivalent licence-type, as well as any conditions from their issuing jurisdiction.
Penalties for using mobile phones illegally
If you are found using a mobile phone while driving, you may be given a fine and demerit points will be recorded on your traffic history. Double demerit points apply for second or subsequent mobile phone offences committed within 12 months of an earlier offence.
High-powered vehicle restrictions
High-powered (performance) vehicle restrictions apply to P1 and P2 licence holders under the age of 25.
These restrictions also apply if you are returning from a disqualification to a P1 or P2 probationary licence, and you were under 25 at the time of the offence. These restrictions apply for the duration of the probationary period regardless of your age.
If you are caught driving a high-powered vehicle and you do not hold an exemption, you will receive a fine and demerit points.
Before purchasing a vehicle, we recommend you undertake your own checks based on the vehicle’s specifications. This can be done using the below definitions and manual calculation. The check my high-powered vehicle status tool may also be used as a guide to checking the vehicle’s high-powered status.
Definition of high-powered vehicles
Cars manufactured on or after 1 January 2010
A car manufactured on or after this date is a high-powered vehicle if it has:
- a power-to-weight ratio of more than 130kW/t
- an engine modification that must be approved under section 17 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2021.
The power-to-weight ratio is calculated by dividing the car’s maximum engine power in kilowatts (kW) by the tare mass and multiplying the result by 1,000.
For example, the power-to-weight ratio of a car that has a maximum engine power of 195kW and a tare mass of 1,667kg would be calculated as:
- (195 ÷ 1667) x 1,000 = 117kW/t.
Cars manufactured before 1 January 2010
A car manufactured before 1 January 2010 is a high-powered vehicle if it has:
- an engine with 8 or more cylinders
- a turbocharged or supercharged engine that is not diesel powered
- an engine with a power output of more than 210kW
- a rotary engine with an engine capacity of more than 1146cc
- an engine modification that must be approved under section 17 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 2021.
The following vehicles are exempt and can be driven on a P1 or P2 licence:
- Suzuki Cappuccino 2D Cabriolet Turbo 3 657–698cc (1992–1997)
- Daihatsu Copen L880 2D Convertible Turbo 4 659cc (2003 or later)
- Smart Fortwo Coupe 2D Turbo 3 698cc (2000 or later)
- Smart Fortwo Cabriolet Turbo 3 2D 698cc (2000 or later)
- Smart Roadster Turbo 3 2D 698cc (2000 or later)
- Toyota Landcruiser.
Penalties for breaking your restriction
You will be penalised if you drive a high-powered vehicle without an exemption. You may be fined and get demerit points.
Applying for a high-powered vehicle exemption
In very rare situations, you may be able to get an exemption to drive a high-powered vehicle while holding a P1 or P2 licence under the age of 25 if you can demonstrate you meet specific circumstances.
If you are under the age of 25 and hold a P1 or P2 licence, it is a good idea to check before you purchase a vehicle whether it is high-powered. The purchase of a high-powered vehicle is not in itself a reason to grant an exemption.
Late night driving restriction
A late night driving restriction is imposed if:
- you accumulate excessive demerit points resulting in either a good driving behaviour period or a licence suspension
or - your licence is suspended for committing a high speed offence.
A late night driving restriction is only imposed if, at the time of the offence, you were under 25, and held a provisional or probationary licence or you did not hold a valid licence and were not eligible for an open licence.
A late night driving restriction is also imposed if you are disqualified from holding or obtaining a Queensland driver licence, if you committed the offence when you were under 25 and held provisional, probationary or open licence or did not hold a valid licence.
A late night driving restriction will apply for 1 year and means you can’t drive between 11pm and 5am. The restriction will still apply even if you upgrade to an open driver licence or add another class to your licence.
The date your late night driving restriction starts will depend on why it is being applied.
If you choose a good driving behaviour period, the late night driving restriction will start on the same day the good driving behaviour period starts.
If you are suspended, the late night driving restriction will start the day after your licence suspension period ends.
If you apply for a special hardship order, your late night driving restriction will start either the day the court grants the special hardship order, or—if the court does not grant a special hardship order—the day after the amended suspension period ends.
If you are disqualified by a court, the late night driving restriction will start:
- if the offence was committed before 1 January 2014—the day you reapply for your driver licence after the disqualification period ends
- if the offence was committed on or after 1 January 2014—the day after your disqualification period ends.
If you are granted a restricted (work) licence by a court, the late night driving restriction will start:
- if the offence was committed before 1 January 2014—the day after you have completed your work licence order period
- if the offence was committed on or after 1 January 2014—the day the court grants the work licence order.
Penalties for breaking your restriction
You will be penalised if you drive between 11pm and 5am and you have a late night driving restriction, or you have an exemption but you don’t have your exemption certificate with you. You may be fined and get demerit points.
Driving with an exemption
You can apply for an exemption from the late night driving restriction if you can prove that certain circumstances apply to you.
If granted an exemption, you must carry your approved exemption certificate with you at all times and produce it if asked to by a police officer. You can be fined if you drive without your approved exemption certificate.