Rules for L-Plate And P-Plates in Victoria

To obtain a Victorian learner’s permit you need to pass a multiple-choice knowledge test, either online or in person at a VicRoads customer service centre.

Once you pass the test, you’ll still need to visit a VicRoads centre to prove your identity and pass an eyesight test before being issued with the learner’s permit.

You need to be at least 16 years old to go on your Ls. The learner’s permit is valid for 10 years.

While driving on a learner’s permit, you must display L-plates on the front and rear of the vehicle, visible from a distance of 20 metres, be accompanied by a supervising driver holding a full (not probationary) driver’s licence, not use a mobile phone, including hands-free or hand-held or messaging of any kind, not have any alcohol in your blood, not tow a trailer or another vehicle and only drive a car (not a bus or truck).

Learner drivers can drive up to the posted speed limit in Victoria.

If you’re under 21, you’ll need to have had at least 120 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours of night driving.

Logging of a learner driver’s supervised hours can be done via either the official printed learner logbook available from a VicRoads centre or the digital logbook app and website called myLearners.

In addition to clocking up 120 hours, if you’re under 21 you must be on your learner permit for a minimum of 12 months before you can go for your P1 probationary licence.

If you’re aged 21 to under 25, you must wear your L-plates for six months before you can go for your Ps. At 25 or older the requirement is reduced to three months.

To get a probationary driver’s licence, you must be at least 17 years and 11 months of age and successfully pass a hazard perception test booked at VicRoads.

The test results are valid for 12 months. The hazard perception test must be passed before you can attempt the practical driving test.

The practical test (booked via VicRoads) takes about 30 minutes, and the vehicle used must allow the examiner to see the speedo and access the handbrake during the test.

On passing, you’ll be issued with a four-year probationary licence. Year one you wear red P-plates signifying a P1 licence. Following that you upgrade to a P2 licence with green P-plates for a further three years.

Probationary P1 drivers in Victoria must have red P-plates clearly displayed front and rear (plates measuring approximately 150mm square bearing a white letter P on a red background) and must be clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres.

You must also have no alcohol in your bloodstream, not use a mobile phone at all and comply with the limits on passengers. You can only drive with one peer passenger aged between 16 and less than 22 years (inclusive) at any time, unless exempt.

You cannot drive a probationary prohibited vehicle (PPV). This is defined as a vehicle with a power-to-mass ratio of greater than 130kW per tonne, or an engine that has been modified to increase performance (other than a modification made by the car-maker during the vehicle’s manufacture), or has been declared as probationary prohibited in the Victorian Government Gazette.

There are exemptions if you can prove that the restriction would cause you undue hardship because of your essential activities, occupation, employment or family circumstances.

For example, your employer can request an exemption during working hours. Supervision by a full licence holder sitting beside the driver can also enable a person on a probationary licence to drive a PPV.

You also can’t tow a caravan, trailer or another vehicle.

Again, there are some exemptions, such as for work and at the request of your employer, or for driving solely in connection with agriculture, horticulture, dairying, pastoral or commercial fishing or under supervision of a full licence holder who is authorised to drive that vehicle and is sitting beside the driver.

If you did your P1 test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission you can only drive an auto until your probationary period ends. The only way this restriction can be removed earlier is by passing another driving test in a manual-equipped car.

If you hold a probationary licence and you are undergoing instruction or testing in a manual vehicle, you must display a yellow plate measuring approximately 150x150mm inscribed in black letters with the words ‘Driver under instruction’. Your P-plates must also be displayed.

You must also have less than five demerit points over the 12-month period.

Probationary P2 drivers must display green P-plates but are not restricted in terms of peer passengers.

The above-mentioned mobile phone, zero alcohol and vehicle and transmission type restrictions for P1 licence still apply for P2 licence holders.

As with a P1 licence, you must have less than five demerit points in 12 months or face provisional licence extensions or licence cancellation.

A full Victorian driver’s licence is issued after three years (without suspension or cancellation) on a P2 probationary licence.

Get more information on obtaining a licence in Victoria 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.