P1 & P2 probationary licence restrictions

You must:

• carry a driver licence when driving.
• show red P plates that can be seen from at least 20 metres away, on the front and back of your vehicle unless you’re:
  • a member of the police force driving a vehicle for work
  • a member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) driving a vehicle for fire fighting operations
  • driving an ambulance service or a Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) vehicle for work.
• have a zero Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
• drive an automatic vehicle and have an A condition on your licence if you were tested in one:
  • If you want to remove this restriction, visit licence conditions and refer to the A - Automatic transmission section for more information.

You can’t:

• use a mobile phone of any kind (not even a hands-free, or hand-held to message) including a GPS
• read any text messages
• tow another vehicle or trailer unless:
  • in the course of your employment as requested by your employer
  • it’s solely used for agriculture, horticulture, dairy, pastoral, commercial fishing or similar
  • there’s a full licence driver sitting beside you
• drive a probationary prohibited vehicle unless you’re:
  • a member of the police force driving a vehicle for work
  • driving the vehicle for work as requested by your employer
  • driving for your business or to and from the work place of that business, and there’s an active Australian Business Number (ABN) 
  • learning to drive a heavy vehicle with a person who holds a full licence sitting beside you 
  • granted an exemption from this restriction by VicRoads.

Peer passenger restriction

You can’t:

• carry more than one peer passenger aged between 16 and less than 22 years old unless you’re:
  • a member of the police force driving a vehicle for work
  • driving an emergency vehicle for work
  • driving an emergency vehicle in line with any contract terms
  • driving with a full licence driver sitting beside you
  • granted an exemption from this restriction by VicRoads.

You must:

• carry your P2 licence when driving
• show green P plates that can be seen from at least 20 metres away, on the front and back of your vehicle unless you’re:
  • a member of the police force driving a vehicle for work
  • a member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) driving a vehicle for fire fighting operations
  • driving an ambulance service or a Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) vehicle for work
• have a zero Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
• drive an automatic vehicle and have an A condition on your licence if you were tested in one
  • If you want to remove this restriction, visit licence conditions and refer to the A - Automatic transmission section for more information. 

You can’t:

• use a mobile phone of any kind (not even a hands-free or hand-held to message) including a GPS
• read any text messages
• drive a probationary prohibited vehicle unless you’re:
  • a member of the police force driving a vehicle for work
  • driving the vehicle for work as requested by your employer
  • driving for your business or to and from the work place of that business, and there’s an active Australian Business Number (ABN) 
  • learning to drive a heavy vehicle with a person who holds a full licence sitting beside you
  • granted an exemption from this restriction by VicRoads.

This is someone who’s at least 16 but less than 22 years old, but doesn’t include:

• your spouse or domestic partner
• your sibling or step-sibling. 

You won’t need to get an exemption if you’re a P1 driver carrying the above listed people.

The same probationary restrictions from your state will apply if you’re driving in Victoria. 

A P1 driver or corresponding novice driver must not drive a motor vehicle with more than one peer passenger. 

A peer passenger is a person who is at least 16 but less than 22 years of age, but does not include a person who is:

• the spouse or domestic partner or
• the sibling or step-sibling of the probationary P1 driver or corresponding novice driver. 

A corresponding novice driver is a person who holds a probationary or provisional licence issued by another jurisdiction or country and has held the licence for less than 12 months. 

It’s a good idea to visit information for tourists and check out the the road rules before you drive here.

If you ride a motorcycle or have a probationary restricted motorcycle licence, visit motorcycle licence and learner permit restrictions for more information.

Need more help?

Call 13 11 71 and speak to one of our friendly staff who can help.