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 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)
• not drive under the influence of illegal drugs
• always drive within the set speed limit
• drive an automatic vehicle 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)
• 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 an experienced driver beside you and you have a driver under instruction plate at the front and back of your vehicle. 
• 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 an experienced driver who has an Australian driver licence for that category next to you and you have a driver under instruction plate on the front and back of your vehicle
  • 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 in line with contract terms
  • driving with an experienced driver next to you
  • driving under instruction of a driving coach who’s in the vehicle
  • granted an exemption from this restriction by VicRoads.

Passenger restriction

If your licence is cancelled or suspended on your P1 licence from a traffic offence, you’ll be restricted from carrying passengers for the rest of your P1 licence period. This means that you can only carry one passenger regardless of their age.

The passenger restriction is separate to the ‘peer passenger restriction’ and will override any peer passenger restriction exemptions. 

If you’ve already got a passenger restriction on your P1 licence and it gets suspended or cancelled, the passenger restriction is re-imposed on the rest of your P1 period including any extensions to the P1 probationary period.

The passenger restriction condition code for a probationary licence is XPAS.

You must:

• carry your P2 licence when driving
• show green P plates that can be seen from at least 20 metres away 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)
• not drive under the influence of illegal drugs
• always drive within the set speed limit
• drive an automatic vehicle 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)
• 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 an experienced driver who has an Australian driver licence for that category next to you and you have a driver under instruction plate on the front and back of your vehicle
  • 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.

 

This is someone who has a current full (not probationary) Australian or overseas driver licence for the vehicle they drive.

They must:

• carry their driver licence with them 
• be subject to a .05 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) requirement 
• have a zero BAC if they have an alcohol interlock or zero blood alcohol condition 
• not supervise under the influence of illegal drugs.

What if they have licence conditions?

A driver with licence conditions like hand controls and driving an automatic can still be an experienced driver, but they can’t break their restrictions.

An exemption can only be given due to hardship. This means that we look at your work, education or family situation. We also look at your driving record and experience.

To apply for an exemption, visit licence exemptions and refer to the peer passenger restriction section for more information.

If you got your probationary driver licence on or after 1 July 2008

If you’ve had your licence suspended or cancelled from a traffic offence, you’ll have a passenger restriction on your licence for the rest of the P1 period. The passenger restriction gets re-issued for the rest of your probationary P1 period including any extension received.

What’s excluded? 

Medical review, Fines Victoria (External link) licence suspensions and suspensions from an offence committed under Section 51 of the Road Safety Act 1986. This passenger restriction is in addition to the peer passenger restriction.

Can I get an exemption to the passenger restriction?

An exemption can only be given due to hardship. This means that we look at your work, education or family situation. We also look at your driving record and experience.

To apply for an exemption, visit licence exemptions and refer to the passenger restriction section for more information.

What if I’m a probationary driver from interstate?

The same probationary restrictions from your state will apply if you’re driving in Victoria. It’s a good idea to visit information for tourists and check out the the road rules before you drive here.

Need more help?

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

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