Photo: Chris.sherlock2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In NSW you must hold your red P1 licence for at least 12 months before moving to a green P2, and your P2 for at least 24 months before applying for a full licence. Suspensions push those dates back, and a P2 suspension adds an extra 6 months on top. This guide is for P platers and parents who want the exact timings, renewal rules and fees from 1 July 2026.
NSW provisional licence timeline at a glance
| Stage | Minimum time | Licence valid for | Fee (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 (red P) | 12 months | 18 months | $74 |
| P2 (green P) | 24 months | 36 months | $115 |
| Full (unrestricted, gold) | No minimum | 1, 3, 5 or 10 years | $74 / $172 / $234 / $434 |
The 10-year full licence is only for car (C) or rider (R) licence holders aged 21 to 44.
If you are under 25, the full process from learner to full licence takes at least 4 years. If you are 25 or older, it takes at least 3 years, because there is no minimum learner period.
Moving from P1 to P2
- Hold your P1 licence for at least 12 months.
- Apply for your P2 through Service NSW. Most P1 holders can do it online. No further test is needed.
- Swap your red P plates for green P plates.
What a suspension or disqualification does on P1
- Suspended: your 12 months is extended by the length of the suspension. A 3 month suspension means at least 15 months on P1.
- Disqualified: you must reapply for a P1 licence when the disqualification ends. The 12 month P1 period starts again from zero.
P1 drivers have a 4 demerit point limit, and the Road User Handbook warns that any speeding offence takes a learner or P1 driver over that limit. Details: NSW demerit points for learners and P platers.
Moving from P2 to a full licence
- Hold your P2 licence for at least 24 months.
- Apply for your full licence through Service NSW (online for most drivers). No further test is needed.
- Choose a 1, 3 or 5 year licence, or 10 years if you are aged 21 to 44.
The extra 6 months for P2 suspensions
If your P2 licence is suspended, your 24 months is extended by the length of the suspension plus 6 months. The handbook says this applies for every suspension for unsafe driving behaviour.
| Example | Minimum time on P2 |
|---|---|
| No suspension | 24 months |
| One 3 month suspension | 24 + 3 + 6 = 33 months |
| Disqualified | Reapply for P2 after the disqualification. The 24 months restarts. |
P2 drivers have a 7 demerit point limit over a 3 year period. Going over it means a 3 month suspension, which then triggers the extra 6 months above.
Renewing a P1 or P2 that is about to expire
A P1 lasts 18 months and a P2 lasts 36 months. If you have not graduated by then, for example because of a suspension, renew it.
- No knowledge or driving test is needed to renew.
- You may need an eyesight test or a medical report.
- Pay the provisional licence fee again: $74 for P1, $115 for P2 (as of 1 July 2026).
- There is no maximum time limit on the P stages. You can renew as many times as you need.
- Most holders can renew online.
What changes at each step
| Rule | P1 | P2 | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h | 100 km/h | Posted limit |
| Alcohol | Zero | Zero | Under 0.05 |
| Late-night passengers (under 25, 11pm to 5am) | One passenger under 21 | No limit | No limit |
| Towing | Up to 250 kg unladen trailer | Full licence towing rules | Full licence towing rules |
| High performance cars | Banned | Banned | Allowed |
| Demerit limit (3 years) | 4 | 7 | 13 |
| Supervise a learner | No | No | Yes |
| Learn LR or MR trucks | No | Yes, from the start of P2 | Yes |
| Learn HR trucks | No | After 1 year on P2 | Yes |
Full restriction details: NSW learner, P1 and P2 restrictions and banned high performance cars for NSW P platers.
Common questions
Do I have to sit another test to get my green Ps in NSW?
No. Once you have held your P1 for 12 months, you apply for your P2. The same applies to going from P2 to full after 24 months.
Does my P2 time start when I become eligible or when I apply?
The handbook counts the minimum period from when you have held the licence. Your P2 time starts when you get your P2. Applying late means a later full licence date.
What happens if my P1 expires before I move to P2?
Renew it for another 18 months by paying the P1 fee. No test is needed, but you may need an eyesight test or medical report.
Can I skip P2 if I am over 25?
No. The minimum times on P1 and P2 apply at any age. Only the learner minimum and log book hours depend on being under 25.
After a disqualification, can I carry passengers?
If you return to driving after a disqualification, you can carry only one passenger at a time for 12 months.
Can I get a 10 year licence straight off my P2?
Yes, if you are aged 21 to 44 when you apply. Otherwise choose 1, 3 or 5 years.
Back to the main guide: learning to drive in NSW. Compare other states: P plate rules in every Australian state.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Driver and rider licence fees” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Renew learner, P1 and P2 licences” (nsw.gov.au)