The rules for a Provisional and Learners Licence in Tasmania

The rules and type of learner licences changed in Tasmania on December 1, 2020, with those new rules described here. If you began your licence pathway before then, you can find more details on this link here.

While you can do a driver knowledge test (DKT) for the learner licence from 15 years 11 months of age, you must wait until you’re at least 16 to obtain a Tasmanian learner licence.

You can do the DKT in one of two ways: either online via the Plates Plus course or by booking a test at Service Tasmania.

Learner licence holders must have L-plates clearly displayed front and rear and have a supervisory driver alongside them when driving.

A supervisory driver in Tasmania is defined as someone having a full Australian car licence (other than a restricted licence) and who has held this full licence continuously for the previous 12 months.

Learner drivers have to observe a maximum speed limit of 90km/h, have no alcohol in their bloodstream, not use a mobile phone and not tow anything.

A learner is liable for suspension if they record four or more demerit points in a period of 12 months or less.

Learner drivers need to log 80 hours, including 15 hours at night over a minimum 12 months.

To help get the logbook hours up, you can attend a Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program and gain five hours for your learner logbook.

You can get a one-hour lesson with a certified driving instructor and each time gain two hours for your learner logbook (capped at 20 hours).

If you take a Keys2drive free lesson or Plates Plus free lesson you gain an extra hour each for your logbook hours, but these are counted within the 20-hour cap.

To apply for your P1 licence in Tasmania, you must have undertaken learner logbook requirements and be at least 17 years of age and have held a learner licence for a minimum of 12 months.

You have to pass a P1 practical driving test you have booked with an authorised testing officer. There are government and non-government assessors, according to your location.

P1 licence holders must have red P-plates clearly displayed front and rear (and on the rear of any trailer you’re towing, if the trailer obstructs a P-plate mounted on the back of the tow vehicle), observe a maximum speed limit of 100km/h, have no alcohol in their bloodstream, not use a mobile phone and have limits on passengers.

You can only drive with one peer passenger aged between 16 and 21 years (inclusive) at any time. This does not include a partner or spouse or immediate family. There are work or education exemptions, which you can check here.

If you choose to take your P1 practical assessment in a manual car, you’ll get a manual driving licence that will allow you to drive both manual and automatic cars. If you take your P1 practical assessment in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you’ll get an automatic licence, which means you can only drive automatic cars.

A P1 (and P2) provisional licence holder is liable for suspension if they record four or more demerit points in a period of 12 months or less.

Your 12-month P1 period will be reset to zero if you: fail to wear a seat belt; use a mobile phone, including in hands-free mode, while driving; exceed the posted speed limit by 10km/h or more; fail to display P-plates; or transport more than one peer passenger without an exemption.

If you hold your P1 licence for 12 continuous months and drive safely (not receiving any P1 restart offences, disqualifications or suspensions), you’ll progress to your P2 licence.

You do not need a separate licence card and your licence will renew automatically as long as it is current.

P2 licence holders must have green P-plates clearly displayed front and rear (and on the rear of any trailer you’re towing, if the trailer obstructs a P-plate mounted on the back of the tow vehicle) and have no alcohol in their bloodstream.

P2 licence holders have no peer passenger restrictions and can follow the same speed and mobile phone laws as full licence holders, although are still liable for suspension if four or more demerit points are recorded in a period of 12 months or less.

The length of time you need to hold your P2 licence before progressing to your full licence depends on the age you first received the P2 licence.

If you are under 23 when you get your P2 licence, you will need to hold the licence for two years. If you are 23 or older but under 25, you will need to hold the licence for 12 months or until you turn 25. The time that applies will be whichever of these is longer.

If you are 25 or older, you will need to hold the licence for 12 months.

Get more information on obtaining a licence in Tasmania 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.