The rules for Provisional and Learners Permits in WA

To obtain a WA learner’s permit you must be at least 16 years of age, provide proof of identity documents, pass the computerised theory multiple choice test and complete an eyesight test.

These are done at Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre or regional agent.

The learner’s permit is valid for up to three years.

When on a learner’s permit in WA you must display L-plates on the front and rear of the vehicle when you are driving and have a supervising driver.

You cannot exceed 100km/h (or posted speed limits below 100km/h) or drive in areas where learners are not permitted, such as Kings Park. You must have a zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

If you applied to learn to drive automatic vehicles only (C-A class), the learner’s permit will be restricted to driving automatic C-A class vehicles only. With a C class learner’s permit, you can learn in either an automatic or a manual car.

A supervising driver must accompany you and that person must have at least four years’ driving experience in the vehicle type being used for learning. In other words, a supervisor with an automatic licence can’t teach a learner in a manual vehicle.

You can tow a trailer, have passengers in the car (aside from the supervising driver) and drive any Class C licence passenger car (no power-to-weight restriction).

As a ‘Novice driver type 1’, you can have no more than three demerit points recorded against you. If four or more demerit points are recorded, you will be disqualified for at least three months and any driver’s licence held will be cancelled.

You need to do 50 hours of supervised driving with a mandatory five hours of night driving included if you are under 25. You enter the hours in an approved printed logbook or the Learn&Log app. Over 25s do not need to do logbook hours.

You need to pass a hazard perception test (HPT), which you can do any time after obtaining a learner’s permit (but before going for a P1 licence practical test).

To get a provisional licence, you have to be a minimum of 17 years old and book in and do a practical driving assessment, which will take approximately 35 minutes.

Ensure the vehicle you are taking the assessment in has a centrally mounted handbrake accessible to the driving assessor. Learner L-plates must be removed for your scheduled assessment.

You’ll start off with red P-plates and transfer to ‘green Ps’ after six months.

When on a provisional licence in WA you must display P-plates on the front and rear of the vehicle when you are driving.

‘Novice’ drivers are defined as those in their first three years of driving experience, as they transition from their L-plates, red P-plates and green P-plates.

You must display red P-plates for the first six months of your provisional licence and green P-plates for the remaining 18 months or until you turn 19 years of age, whichever period is longer.

A zero BAC applies to novice drivers. If you’re convicted of a drink-driving offence, you may have to use an approved alcohol interlock to drive a car.

You cannot drive between midnight and 5am for the first six months of your provisional licence (that is, when you’re on your red Ps). Exemptions apply, on application to the WA Department of Transport.

You can drive up to the posted speed limit on any gazetted road in WA.

You can use a mobile phone, but can only answer or call someone if the phone is in a mount or if it can be used without touching it when driving.

As with a learner driver in WA, you are considered a ‘Novice driver type 1’ on your provisional licence (until the end of your first year driving unaccompanied) and you will only be able to have three demerit points recorded against you.

If four or more demerit points are recorded, you will be disqualified for at least three months and any driver’s licence held will be cancelled.

You transition to a ‘Novice driver type 2’ after holding a provisional driver’s licence for more than one year but less than two years. Up until the end of the second year of holding a driver’s licence, you will only be able to have seven demerit points recorded against you in total.

If you get eight or more demerit points, you will be disqualified for at least three months and any driver’s licence held will be cancelled.

The provisional licence automatically converts into a full driver’s licence after the two-year probationary period (with no cancellations or suspensions).

Get more information on obtaining a licence in Western Australia 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.