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 the practical driving test until you are at least 17 years of age and have met the logbook requirements.
If you are 25 years of age or older, you will need to book and pass your practical driving test to get your P2 licence. You do not need to meet logbook requirements or apply for a P1 licence.
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, either the physical card or on the Digital Licence app, 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.
- 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.
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.
