After you pass in Victoria: P-plate rules and your licence
Passing your drive test means you can drive solo, but your first year is the riskiest of your driving life. Victoria's probationary licence rules are designed to keep you safe while you build experience.
Victoria handles two things in its own way: the P1 passenger limit only counts peers aged 16 to under 22, and there is no night-time curfew for P drivers, although official advice strongly suggests avoiding late-night driving.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can list the rules that apply on P1 and on P2.
- You can apply the P1 peer passenger restriction correctly.
- You can tell whether a car is a probationary prohibited vehicle.
- You can explain what extends or restarts your P period.
- You can describe how you move to a full licence.
What you need to know and understand
- P1 drivers show red P plates, P2 drivers show green plates, front and back, visible from 20 metres.
- Both P1 and P2 drivers must have a BAC of zero and must carry their licence (card or digital).
- A P1 driver must not carry more than one peer passenger aged 16 to under 22; a spouse or domestic partner and siblings or step-siblings are not counted.
- P drivers must not drive a probationary prohibited vehicle, such as one with a power-to-weight ratio over 130 kW per tonne or a performance-modified engine, unless an exemption applies.
- P1 drivers must not tow a trailer or another vehicle, apart from limited work, farming or supervised exceptions.
- L and P phone rules continue on both P1 and P2: no touching a phone, no voice commands.
- If you passed in an automatic, you may only drive automatics during your probationary period.
- Under-21 starters spend at least 1 year on P1 and 3 years on P2; older starters spend at least 3 years on P2.
P1 compared with P2
- Plates: red on P1, green on P2.
- Alcohol: zero on both.
- Peer passengers: limit of one aged 16 to under 22 on P1 only.
- Towing: not allowed on P1 except for listed work, farming or supervised situations.
- Prohibited vehicles: banned on both, unless an exemption applies.
- Phones: the strict L and P device rules apply on both.
- Demerit limit: 5 points in 12 months, or 12 in 3 years, on both.
Staying safe in your first year
New P drivers have about three times the crash risk of experienced drivers. Official advice is to carry no more than one friend in your first year whatever your licence type, because P drivers are four times more likely to be in a fatal crash when carrying more than one passenger.
Late-night driving between 10 pm and 6 am is another high-risk time, and many first-year P plate drivers in fatal crashes were carrying two or more passengers at night. Victoria does not ban night driving for P platers, but if you can, drive with a supervisor at night early on, or plan another way home.
From Ps to a full licence
A suspension on Ps extends your probationary period, and a cancellation restarts it. Once you hold a full licence you must stay below 0.05 BAC and, if you are under 26, carry your licence whenever you drive. Our Victorian P1 and P2 rules guide and our guide to removing the automatic condition give more detail.
- Keep a good driving record: no suspensions, no cancellations and no drink or drug offences.
- Watch for your renewal notice before your P2 licence expires; it is still your job to renew if no notice arrives.
- Renew and, if required, get a new photo taken.
- Receive your full licence. If you will be under 25 when your Ps expire and had 4 clean years on Ps, you may be offered a free three-year licence.
Common mistakes
- Getting the passenger exemptions wrong. Only a spouse or domestic partner and siblings or step-siblings are excluded; cousins and friends aged 16 to under 22 count.
- Buying a powerful or modified car without checking whether it is a probationary prohibited vehicle.
- Peeling off your P plates for a short trip. Not displaying plates carries 3 demerit points.
- Assuming P2 means phone rules are relaxed. They are the same as on P1.
Test yourself: After you pass in Victoria: P-plate rules and your licence
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Learner and probationary driver road rules, Transport Victoria; Road to Solo Driving handbook, Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria); Free driver's licence scheme, Transport Victoria; Demerit points, Transport Victoria. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your state or territory road authority.