The Rules for your P-Plate and Learners Licence in Qld

To obtain a Queensland learner licence you must first pass a road rules knowledge assessment.

You can do this one of two ways: either online by using the PrepL course, or in person at a transport and motoring service centre.

Once you have passed the test, and you are at least 16 years old and are medically fit to drive (you must notify Transport and Main Roads about any medical condition that is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely), then you can apply for a leaner licence.

PrepL is an interactive online program for getting your learner licence. It teaches new drivers the road rules and safe driving behaviours.

You can enrol in PrepL when you are 15 years 11 months, giving you time to work thorough and pass PrepL by your 16th birthday.

The Queensland learner’s licence remains valid for three years, but will be suspended for three months if you reach or exceed four demerit points in an unbroken 12-month period.

You must clearly display L-plates on the front and rear of the vehicle and have a supervisor sitting next to you who has had a full car licence for at least a year.

You must have a zero blood alcohol concentration and also not be affected by drugs, either illegal or prescription.

You also need to obey any conditions on your learner licence, such as only driving with corrective lenses if you have the condition code S.

All drivers including learners are banned from using a mobile phone in the hand or having it rest on any part of their body, such as their lap, while driving.

If you are under 25, you must not use hands-free kits, Bluetooth accessories, wireless headsets or the phone’s loudspeaker function.

If you are under 25, your supervisor and passengers also can’t use a mobile phone on loudspeaker while you are driving. If your supervisor or passengers are found using a mobile phone on loudspeaker while you are driving, they will be fined.

As a learner driver, if you get four or more demerit points in a 12-month period, you will be suspended from driving for three months.

If you were under 25 when you got your learner licence, you need to complete 100 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours of night driving.

Experience with an accredited driver trainer is counted as triple time for the first 10 hours. These hours need to be written into a Queensland Learner Logbook, or entered into the Queensland Learner Logbook app.

You will also need to do an online hazard perception test. This can be done only after you have had a learner’s licence for six months. You must pass this test prior to doing the P1 (red Ps) driving test.

To apply for a P1 provisional licence in Queensland, firstly you must be at least 17 years of age and have held a learner licence for at least 12 months (unless you’re 25 or older).

You need to have done your 100 logbook hours and passed your hazard perception test.

You must also pass a practical driving test. You will get a P1 licence if you pass this driving test when you are under 25 years of age (or go straight to a green P2 provisional licence after passing the test if 25 or over).

You must clearly display P1 (red P) plates on the front and rear of the vehicle.

When you have a red Ps P1 provisional licence, you can’t have any alcohol in your system, cannot use a mobile phone for any reason when driving and your passengers can’t use the loudspeaker function on their mobile phones.

You can’t drive a high-powered (performance) vehicle, or vehicles with modifications that increase performance or any other vehicle identified by the TMS. There are various rules according to vehicle age and type and exemptions on this, so best to check with Queensland transport department or look here.

You cannot drive with more than one 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 or supervise a learner driver.

If you’re over 25 on a P1 licence, you can use a hands-free mobile phone when driving.

If you accumulate four or more demerit points in any one-year period as a P1 driver you will have to choose between a suspension and a good driving behaviour period.

To obtain a green P-plate licence you must have held your red Ps for 12 months. If you are at least 25 when you pass your practical driving test you will go straight to a P2 licence.

The key changes from a P1 licence is that on a P2 licence you no longer have passenger restrictions and you can use a hands-free mobile phone.

You must clearly display P2 (green P) plates on the front and rear of the vehicle. As with P1 restrictions, you can’t drive a high-powered (performance) vehicle, drive under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs or have any alcohol in your system when driving.

To obtain a full licence you must have held your P2 provisional licence for 24 months, unless you have reached 24 years or older, in which case you have to remain on your P2 licence for just one year before graduating to a full licence.

Get more information on obtaining a licence in Queensland here

L-plate and P-plate rules across Australia

Rules and regulations around L and P-plate driving can, and often do, change. To ensure you are referencing the most up to date information, visit your state licencing regulator’s website.