P1 provisional licence
There are 2 types of provisional licences—P1 and P2. The P1 licence is your first provisional licence, before you move onto P2.
Applying for a P1 licence
If you are under 25 years of age, you will need to book and pass your practical driving test to get your P1 licence.
You cannot take a practical driving test until you are at least 17 years of age and have met the logbook requirements.
Driving with a P1 licence
Once you have your P1 licence, you can drive unsupervised.
When driving you must:
- display red P plates
- only drive vehicles allowed on your licence class
- have your licence with you and show it to a police officer when asked
- comply with any conditions on your licence. For example, if you have an ‘S’ condition on your licence you can only drive while wearing corrective lenses
- obey the zero alcohol limit.
You must not:
- use a mobile phone for any reason when you're driving. Your passengers can’t use the loudspeaker function on their mobile phones
- drive a high-powered (performance) vehicle
- drive with more than 1 passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member (unrelated by blood, marriage, or a guardian relationship) between 11pm and 5am
- drive under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs
- accumulate 4 or more demerit points in any 1 year period or you will have to choose between a suspension and a good driving behaviour period
- supervise a learner driver.
If you are over 25 years of age, you may use a mobile phone hands-free.
You need to hold your P1 licence for at least 1 year to be eligible to upgrade your licence to a P2 or open licence.