Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
On a Queensland learner licence you can only drive with a qualified supervisor beside you, L plates showing front and back, and zero alcohol. If you are under 25 you cannot touch a phone at all while driving, and your passengers cannot use one on loudspeaker. Four demerit points in a year suspends your licence. This page lists each rule with what it means in practice.
Queensland learner conditions at a glance
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Supervisor | Holds an open licence for the vehicle and has held it for at least 1 year; sits next to you |
| L plates | Black L on yellow, at least 146 mm square, clearly legible from 20 m in front and 20 m behind |
| Alcohol | Zero blood or breath alcohol for you; your supervisor must be under 0.05 |
| Phones (under 25) | No use at all while moving or stopped in traffic, including hands-free, Bluetooth and maps |
| Passengers’ phones (under 25) | No passenger can use a phone on loudspeaker |
| Demerit points | 4 or more in any 1-year period means a 3-month suspension |
| Speed | Posted limits; Queensland sets no separate learner speed cap |
| Towed vehicles | You cannot steer a car that is being towed |
Who can supervise a learner driver in Queensland?
Under the Driver Licensing Regulation, your supervisor must:
- hold an open licence that covers the car (not a learner, P1 or P2 licence)
- have held that open licence for at least 1 year
- sit in the seat next to you
- have a blood alcohol concentration under 0.05
Breaking the supervision rule is an offence for both of you: up to 20 penalty units for the learner and 60 for the supervisor. Driving unsupervised also carries 4 demerit points. A driving instructor can supervise and earns you 3-for-1 logbook hours; see the Queensland learner logbook.
If you are learning on an interstate learner licence, the regulation lets you follow your home state’s supervision rules instead.
L plate rules
- A black capital L on a yellow background, at least 146 mm by 146 mm.
- Displayed so the L can be clearly read from 20 m in front of and 20 m behind the car.
- The supervisor commits an offence too if the plates are missing.
- Take them off when a fully licensed driver is driving: displaying L plates when you are not a learner or driving instructor is an offence.
- Failing to display clear L plates carries 2 demerit points.
Mobile phone rules for Queensland learners
If you are under 25 and hold a learner licence, the regulation bans any “use” of a phone while the car is moving or stopped but not parked (for example at traffic lights). Use includes:
- operating any function, including navigation, music and hands-free calls
- holding the phone or resting it on your body, even if it is switched off
Narrow exceptions apply: a phone in a pocket or pouch that you cannot operate, or, when stopped, using it as a digital licence, to pay at a drive-through or to open a gate or car park. Parked means pulled over out of the line of traffic with the intention of staying there; a red light or a queue does not count. If the route needs changing or a call needs answering, park first. Your passengers cannot use a phone in loudspeaker mode while you are driving. That includes your supervisor, so agree the route before you set off. Each offence can bring a fine and demerit points: 4 points for the learner phone offence.
Learners aged 25 and over follow the general Queensland phone rules for all drivers.
Alcohol and drugs
Learners must have a zero blood alcohol concentration. That rules out a drink with dinner before a lesson, and some medicines and foods contain alcohol, so check labels. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
Demerit points on your Ls
If you get 4 or more demerit points in any 1-year period while on your Ls, TMR suspends your licence for 3 months. Unlike P platers, learners do not get the option of a good driving behaviour period. Details: Queensland demerit points and licence sanctions.
Common questions
Can my parent on P plates supervise me?
No. Your supervisor needs an open licence held for at least 1 year.
Can I use Google Maps on my Ls?
Not if you are under 25, even mounted and hands-free. Get your supervisor to navigate.
Is there a learner speed limit in Queensland?
No separate one. You drive to the posted limit, and the default is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h elsewhere. Some other states do cap learners, so check before driving interstate: driving interstate on L or P plates.
Can I drive on motorways on my Ls?
Queensland’s rules do not ban it. Build up to it with your supervisor. See learners on motorways and freeways and Brisbane tunnels.
Can I have passengers on my Ls?
The regulation does not set a learner passenger limit, but everyone must wear a seatbelt. See seatbelts and child car seats.
How long do I stay on my Ls?
At least 1 year before your practical test. See learning to drive in Queensland.
Sources
- Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, current as at 21 September 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Road Rules) Regulation 2009”, current as at 31 August 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland”, Queensland licensing section (publications.qld.gov.au)
- Street Smarts, Queensland Government, “Drink driving: Get the facts” (streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au)