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NSW learner, P1 and P2 drivers all have zero alcohol, a total mobile phone ban and a speed cap: 90 km/h for learners and P1, 100 km/h for P2. Other rules differ by stage, such as late-night passengers, towing, high-performance cars and where you can drive. This explainer sets out every restriction in the Road User Handbook by licence stage, so you know exactly what applies to you right now.
Every NSW L, P1 and P2 restriction at a glance
| Restriction | Learner | P1 (red P) | P2 (green P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Zero BAC | Zero BAC | Zero BAC |
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Mobile phone | No use, even when stopped | No use, even when stopped | No use, even when stopped |
| Passengers | Only as many as seatbelts and suitable child seats | Same, plus under 25: only one passenger under 21 from 11pm to 5am | Only as many as seatbelts and suitable child seats |
| After a disqualification | Not applicable | One passenger at a time for 12 months | One passenger at a time for 12 months |
| High-performance cars | Allowed while learning | Banned | Banned |
| Plates | L plate front and back (or roof) | Red P plate | Green P plate |
| Location | Not in Parramatta Park, Centennial Park or Moore Park | No restriction | No restriction |
| Supervisor | Full Australian licence holder beside you | Not needed (except manual if you passed in an auto) | Not needed |
| Supervising a learner | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Towing | Not allowed | Light trailers up to 250 kg unladen, red P plate on the trailer | Full licence towing rules, green P plate on the trailer |
| Manual or auto | Either | Auto only if you passed in an auto, unless supervised in a manual | Either |
| Heavy vehicles | Cannot drive or learn | Cannot drive or learn | Can learn LR and MR; HR after 1 year on P2 |
| Car-based motor tricycles | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Demerit point limit | 4 | 4 | 7 |
These restrictions also apply when you drive in another state or territory. Breaking them brings a fine and can bring demerit points or loss of licence.
Alcohol: zero means zero
Learner, P1 and P2 drivers must have a blood alcohol concentration of zero: no alcohol in your system at all when you drive. Full licence holders have an under-0.05 limit. More in zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
Speed caps
Learners and P1 drivers must never exceed 90 km/h, and P2 drivers 100 km/h, even where signs show 100 or 110. Any speeding offence on Ls or P1 means at least 4 demerit points and at least a 3-month suspension. Details: NSW speed limits for learners and P platers.
Mobile phones
No phone use while driving on L, P1 or P2, including calls, music, maps, Bluetooth hands-free and phones in a holder, even when stopped at lights or in traffic. The only exceptions are showing your digital licence to police, and wallet functions while stationary in a car park, driveway or drive-through. When parked out of the line of traffic you can use your phone for anything. Full rules: NSW mobile phone and screen rules for L and P platers.
The P1 late-night passenger rule
If you are a P1 driver under 25, between 11pm and 5am you can carry only one passenger aged under 21. Passengers 21 and over do not count towards the limit. This rule does not apply on P2. Exemptions may be available, for example for work, family or volunteer needs; apply to Transport for NSW and show there is no alternative.
High-performance cars
P1 and P2 drivers must not drive cars with a power to mass ratio over 130 kilowatts per tonne, cars with significant engine modifications, or cars on Transport for NSW’s banned list. Learners can learn in a high-performance car with a supervisor. See banned high-performance cars for NSW P platers.
Displaying L and P plates
- Plates go on the outside of the car, front and back, or on the roof.
- The whole letter must be visible.
- Use a clip or holder so plates do not fall off.
- When towing on Ps, put a plate on the back of the trailer too.
Where learners cannot drive
Learners must not drive in Parramatta Park, Centennial Park or Moore Park in Sydney. Nothing else in the handbook bans learners from roads such as motorways, as long as you keep to 90 km/h. See learners on motorways and freeways.
Towing
- Learner: no trailer or any other vehicle.
- P1: light trailers up to 250 kg when empty, with a red P plate on the back of the trailer.
- P2: normal full licence towing rules, with a green P plate on the trailer.
Compare other states in towing on L or P plates in Australia.
Manual or automatic
Learners can learn in either. If you pass the Driving Test in a manual, you can drive both. Pass in an automatic, and on P1 you can drive a manual only with a supervisor holding a full Australian licence. On P2 the restriction ends.
Trucks, heavy vehicles and motor tricycles
- Learners and P1 drivers cannot drive or learn in vehicles needing another licence class.
- P2 drivers can learn Light Rigid (LR) or Medium Rigid (MR) straight away, and Heavy Rigid (HR) after holding P2 for at least a year.
- No L, P1 or P2 driver may drive a car-based motor tricycle.
Moving up the stages: from P1 to P2 to a full NSW licence. The full journey: learning to drive in NSW.
Common questions
Does the NSW late-night passenger rule apply to green P platers?
No. The one-passenger-under-21 rule between 11pm and 5am applies to P1 drivers under 25 only.
Can I drive at 100 km/h on my red Ps?
No. P1 drivers are capped at 90 km/h. The 100 km/h cap applies on P2.
Can a P2 driver supervise a learner?
No. A supervisor must hold a full (unrestricted) Australian licence. L, P1, P2 and overseas licence holders cannot supervise.
Can I tow a box trailer on my red Ps?
Yes, if the trailer weighs 250 kg or less when empty and you put a red P plate on its back.
Do NSW P plate rules apply when I drive in Queensland or Victoria?
Yes. Your NSW restrictions travel with you, and you must also follow the other state’s road rules. See driving interstate on L or P plates.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
- Transport for NSW, “A Guide to the Driving Test” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Mobile phones, digital screens and GPS” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Learner and provisional driver demerit points” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Provisional P1 licence” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Legislation, “Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017” (legislation.nsw.gov.au)