P1 & P2 probationary licence restrictions

• Must carry a driver licence when driving.
• Must display red P plates.
  This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
  • a member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of fire fighting operations
  • driving an ambulance service or a Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) vehicle in the course of duty.
• Must not use a mobile phone of any kind.
  No hands-free or hand-held, or any messaging (includes reading text messages).
• Must not tow another motor vehicle or a trailer.
  This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • unless in the course of the holder's employment and at the request of the employer
  • it is being solely used for agriculture, horticulture, dairy, pastoral or other similar pursuits, or commercial fishing
  • an experienced driver is sitting beside the probationary P1 driver licence holder and a driver under instruction plate is affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle. 
• Must not drive a probationary prohibited vehicle.
  This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
  • when a probationary driver is driving the vehicle in the course of the drivers employment and at the employer’s request
  • in the course of the driver's business or to and from the work place of that business, and where an Australian Business Number (ABN) is in force
  • when the probationary driver is learning to drive a heavy vehicle and an experienced driver holding an Australian driver licence for that category is sitting beside the driver and a driver under instruction plate is affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle
  • when VicRoads has granted an exemption from this restriction.
• Must not carry more than one peer passenger aged 16 to less than 22 years of age.
   This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
  • a driver who is driving an emergency vehicle in the course of employment or duties or in accordance with terms of a contract or any engagement
  • a driver whose driver licence is subject to a condition that prevents carriage of more than one other person
  • when an experienced driver is sitting beside the driver
  • when a driver is driving a motor vehicle while under the instruction of a driving coach who is present in the vehicle
  • when VicRoads has granted an exemption from this restriction.
• Must have a zero blood alcohol content (BAC).
• Must drive an automatic vehicle if tested in an automatic vehicle.
  Visit licence conditions to find out how to remove the automatic vehicle restriction.

• Must carry P2 licence when driving.
• Must display green P plates. 
  This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
  • a member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of fire fighting operations,
  • driving an ambulance service or a Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) vehicle in the course of duty.
• Must not use a mobile phone of any kind.
  No hands-free or hand-held, or any messaging (includes reading text messages).
• Must not drive a probationary prohibited vehicle.
  This restriction will not apply in the following circumstances:
  • a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
  • when a probationary driver is driving the vehicle in the course of the drivers employment and at the employer’s request
  • in the course of the driver's business or to and from the work place of that business, and where an Australian Business Number (ABN) is in force
  • when the probationary driver is learning to drive a heavy vehicle and an experienced driver holding an Australian driver licence for that category is sitting beside the driver and a driver under instruction plate is affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle
  • when VicRoads has granted an exemption from this restriction.
• Must have a zero Blood Alcohol Content (BAC).
• Must drive an automatic vehicle if tested in an automatic vehicle.
  Visit licence conditions to find out how to remove the automatic vehicle restriction.

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
• the sibling or step-sibling

of the probationary P1 driver or corresponding novice driver.

No exemption is required from VicRoads when a probationary (P1) driver is driving a vehicle carrying the above listed people.

This restriction also does not apply to a probationary P1 driver who is:

• a member of the police force who is driving a motor vehicle in the course of duty
• a driver who is driving an emergency vehicle in the course of employment or duties or in accordance with terms of a contract or any engagement
• whose driver licence is subject to a condition that prevents carriage of more than one other person
• when an experienced driver is sitting beside the driver
• who is driving a motor vehicle while under the instruction of a driving coach who is present in the vehicle.

Definitions

Corresponding novice driver

A person who holds a driver licence issued on a probationary basis under a corresponding law of another jurisdiction and has held that licence for less than 12 months and was under 21 years of age when the licence was granted to that person.

Domestic partner

A person to whom the person is in a registered relationship with or an adult person to whom the person is not married but is in a relationship as a couple (irrespective of gender).

Sibling

A brother or sister, including step, foster and defacto relationships.

Spouse

A person to whom the person is married to.

Driving coach

A person who holds a driving instructor authority or a person employed by an approved provider to teach driving skills.

An experienced driver must hold:

• a current full (not probationary) Australian driver licence that authorises the person to drive that type of vehicle
• a current full (not probationary or provisional) overseas driver licence that authorises them to drive the type of vehicle being driven by the learner.

An experienced driver:

• must carry their driver licence with them 
• is subject to a .05 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) requirement 
• must have a zero BAC if subject to an alcohol interlock condition or zero blood alcohol condition 
• must not drink a beverage containing alcohol.

Please note that an experienced driver with licence restrictions such as hand controls and automatic transmission is not prohibited from being an experience driver. However, they must not contravene any provision of the restriction.

You can apply for an exemption from the peer passenger restriction on hardship grounds. Visit the passenger restriction section at licence exemptions.

 

Probationary driver licence issued prior to 1 July 2008

A person issued with a probationary driver licence prior to 1 July 2008 will have a 12 month passenger restriction imposed on their licence if the driver licence is suspended or cancelled as a result of an offence committed within the first 12 months of obtaining the probationary licence. This restriction prevents the carriage of more than one passenger (irrespective of age).

This passenger restriction can only be applied once. If the probationary licence with the passenger restriction is cancelled or suspended, any outstanding passenger restriction period must be re-applied when the driver licence is re-issued. A new 12 month restriction must not be imposed.

Probationary driver licence issued on or after 1 July 2008

A person issued with a probationary P1 driver licence on or after 1 July 2008 will have a passenger restriction imposed on the driver licence for the remainder of the P1 period if the driver licence is cancelled or suspended as a result of a traffic offence.

Medical review, Fines Victoria (External link) licence suspensions and suspensions as a result of an offence committed under Section 51 of the Road Safety Act 1986 are excluded. This passenger restriction is in addition to the peer passenger restriction which prohibits probationary P1 drivers from carrying more than one passenger aged 16 and less than 22 years when driving.

If the probationary P1 driver licence with a passenger restriction is suspended or cancelled, the passenger restriction must be re-imposed for the remaining probationary P1 period including any extension to the probationary P1 period.

Applying for an Exemption from the Passenger Restriction

Find out if you're eligible to apply for an exemption (External link).