Photo: Cuddy Wifter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
On Northern Territory P plates you must keep to 100 km/h, have zero alcohol, display red P plates and use no mobile phone function at all, not even hands-free. You hold your Ps for 2 years if you are under 25, or 1 year if you are 25 or older. This guide covers every provisional condition in the NT, the automatic-only rule, demerit limits and how to get a free 10-year full licence. It is part of the guide to learning to drive in the Northern Territory.
NT provisional licence conditions
| Rule | NT P plater requirement |
|---|---|
| Speed | 100 km/h maximum, even on 110 or 130 km/h roads. Obey lower limits where signed. |
| Alcohol | Zero blood or breath alcohol |
| P plates | Front and rear of the vehicle, with the letter P not hidden. Also on the back of any trailer. |
| Mobile phone | No use of any function of a phone or other communication device, including hands-free and loudspeaker |
| Screens | No TV or visual display unit operating where you or other drivers can see it |
| Seatbelts | You must make sure every passenger is wearing a seatbelt or approved restraint |
| Supervising | You must not supervise a learner driver |
| Licence | Carry your provisional licence every time you drive |
| Towing | Allowed, with a P plate on the back of the trailer |
The NT has one P stage. There is no P1 and P2 split, no passenger limit and no night curfew in the NT handbook or on the NT licence pages. Compare other states in P plate rules in every state.
P plate display rules
- A red letter P on a white background, at least 150 mm by 150 mm.
- Clearly visible at the front and rear (rear only on a motorcycle). Upright mounting is recommended.
- In a window, make sure tint, louvres, spoilers or a load in a ute tray do not hide the plate.
- Remove the plates when someone who is not a provisional driver is driving.
Why 100 km/h matters on NT roads
The NT default limit outside built-up areas is 110 km/h, and some highway sections are 130 km/h. As a P plater you stay at 100 km/h on all of them. Road trains can also travel at up to 100 km/h, so expect to share the road with them at similar speeds. See NT speed limits explained and sharing the road with trucks and road trains.
Passed in an automatic? The A condition
If you pass your test in an automatic, your provisional licence carries an automatic-only condition for the first 12 months. During that time you can drive a manual only if a full licence holder supervises you. After 12 months you can have the condition removed at an MVR office. To drive a manual alone sooner, pass the driving test again in a manual car with a foot-operated clutch.
Demerit points and losing your Ps
Your provisional licence is suspended at 5 or more demerit points in any 12 months, or 12 or more in any 3 years.
| Points reached | Suspension |
|---|---|
| 5 to 8 | 3 months |
| 9 to 12 | 4 months |
| 13 or more | 5 months |
- A suspension is added to the end of your provisional period.
- If your licence is cancelled, the full provisional period starts again when it is reissued.
- A court can order an extra provisional period for some traffic offences.
- Points do not reset when you upgrade. Points from your Ps can still suspend your licence after you go to a full licence.
- Instead of serving a suspension, you may be eligible for a 12-month good driving behaviour option.
Moving to a full licence
When your provisional period ends, you can upgrade to an open C class licence. You pay the full licence fee unless you qualify for the free licence.
Free 10-year licence for safe novice drivers
You can get a free 10-year open licence if you:
- held an NT provisional licence continuously for 12 months or more
- have no traffic infringements or suspensions
- apply in the last six weeks of your provisional licence, or no later than six months after it expires
It is only issued at an MVR office. As of November 2026, a paid 10-year open licence costs $210.
Zero alcohol continues (the Z condition)
After your Ps you must keep to zero alcohol for a further 12 months or until you turn 25, whichever comes first. The condition stays on your licence until you apply to remove it, which you can do once you are 25 or have held your open licence for 12 months. More: zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
Common questions
How long are you on your Ps in the NT?
2 years if you are under 25 when you get them, 1 year if you are 25 or older.
Can NT P platers use a phone for maps?
No. Provisional drivers cannot use any function of a mobile phone while driving, including navigation, hands-free and loudspeaker.
Can I carry passengers on my NT Ps?
The NT handbook and licence pages set no passenger limit for provisional drivers. You must make sure every passenger wears a seatbelt or approved restraint.
Can I teach my sibling to drive on my Ps?
No. Only a full Australian licence holder can supervise a learner.
What does a provisional licence cost in the NT?
As of November 2026: $61 for 2 years (under 25) or $40 for 1 year (25 and over). DriveSafe NT participants do not pay.
Do my NT P plate rules apply interstate?
Rules differ between states. Read driving interstate on L or P plates before a trip.
Sources
- Northern Territory Government, “Get your driver licence” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Fifth Edition, August 2020 (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Demerit points” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Driver and rider licence fees” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Speed limits” (nt.gov.au)
- Motor Vehicle Registry, “A guide to the Driving Test”, 2nd Edition, April 2026 (nt.gov.au)