Photo: Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A P1 provisional licence is your first solo licence in South Australia, and it comes with the strictest provisional rules. If you are under 25, you cannot drive between midnight and 5am, and you can carry only one passenger aged 16 to 20 unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you. This guide covers every P1 condition and law, the high-powered vehicle ban and how you move to P2.
SA P1 rules at a glance
| Rule | Who it applies to | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Zero alcohol, no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine | All P1 and P2 | Condition |
| Not 10 km/h or more over any limit | All P1 and P2 | Condition |
| Fewer than 4 demerit points | All P1 and P2 | Condition |
| Maximum 100 km/h | All P1 and P2 | Law |
| No high-powered vehicles (unless exempt) | P1 and P2 under 25 | Law |
| Carry your licence | All P1 and P2 | Law |
| Display P plates front and rear | P1 only | Law |
| No mobile phone function at all | P1 only | Law |
| No driving midnight to 5am | P1 under 25 | Law (exemptions apply) |
| No more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 (excluding immediate family) | P1 under 25 | Law (exemptions apply) |
Breaching a condition means losing your licence and a disqualification. Breaking a law brings fines, demerit points or loss of licence.
The midnight to 5am rule for P1 drivers under 25
If you are under 25 on your P1, you must not drive between midnight and 5am unless a qualified supervising driver is seated next to you or you meet the exemption criteria. The handbook explains why: many crashes that kill young drivers happen late at night, especially on weekends and with more than one passenger, and P1 drivers are over-represented in late-night crashes. Exemption details are on mylicence.sa.gov.au.
What the exemptions cover
Official SA information sheets describe the two exemptions differently. The night exemption covers driving between home and work or in the course of your job; travel to, from or during school, university, TAFE, an apprenticeship or other formal training you are enrolled in; formal volunteer work; and organised sports, artistic, charitable, religious or scientific activities run by an organisation, association or club. You must take the shortest practicable route. On-duty police and emergency service members, paid or volunteer, are also covered. The passenger exemption is narrower: apart from on-duty police and emergency service members, it applies only when your job requires you to carry more than one passenger aged 16 to 20. Education, training, volunteering and organised activities do not count for the passenger limit. You do not apply for either exemption in advance, but you must be able to satisfy police that you meet the criteria every time you drive. The optional P1 driver exemption form, filled in by your employer or activity organiser, can help. Breaking these rules can mean an expiation and 3 demerit points.
The peer passenger rule
If you are a P1 driver under 25, you must not carry more than one passenger aged 16 to 20, unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you or an exemption applies. Immediate family members do not count towards the limit. The handbook says carrying two or three similar-aged passengers under 21 who are not family members makes a young driver four to five times more likely to crash than driving alone.
Scenarios
- Two friends aged 17 and 19: not allowed, because that is two passengers aged 16 to 20.
- One friend aged 18 plus your 16-year-old brother: allowed. Your brother is immediate family, so he does not count.
- Three friends aged 21 or older: the peer passenger rule does not cover them, because it only counts passengers aged 16 to 20.
- Two friends aged 18 with your mum (who qualifies as a supervising driver) in the front seat: allowed.
Phones on P1
P1 drivers of any age must not use any mobile phone function while driving. That includes hands-free, Bluetooth, loudspeaker, GPS and text messaging. You may use the phone while stopped in a road-related area to pay for goods and services, to show a digital licence, or where it is needed to enter or leave that area. P2 drivers follow the general phone rules instead.
P plates
A red P on a white background, at least the minimum size, clearly visible from the front and rear (rear only on a motor bike). P plates are required on P1 only.
High-powered vehicles
Provisional drivers under 25 must not drive a high-powered vehicle unless they hold an exemption certificate. For vehicles built in 2010 or later, that means a power-to-weight ratio above 130 kW per tonne, or any engine performance modification. For older vehicles, it includes 8 or more cylinders, turbocharged or supercharged petrol engines, performance modifications and nominated high-performance models. Check a car before you buy it: see high-powered vehicles and the U class licence.
Getting your P1 licence
You need to:
- be at least 17
- pass the Hazard Perception Test
- have held your learner’s permit for 12 full calendar months (6 if 25 or over)
- have logged 75 hours, including 15 at night
- pass a VORT or complete CBT&A
See VORT or CBT&A. The provisional licence is issued for 3 years: 1 year on P1 and 2 years on P2.
Moving to P2
You move to P2 automatically after holding your P1 for 12 months. The plates, the total phone ban, the curfew and the passenger limit then drop away. See SA P2 licence rules.
Common questions
What time is the P1 curfew in SA?
Midnight to 5am, for P1 drivers under 25, unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you or an exemption applies.
Does the curfew apply if I am 25 or older?
No. The night and passenger restrictions apply only to P1 drivers under 25. Every other P1 rule still applies.
Can I use Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth on my P1s?
No. The P1 ban covers every phone function while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth and GPS.
Can I drive at 110 km/h on my Ps?
No. P1 and P2 drivers must not exceed 100 km/h.
How many demerit points can P1 drivers have in SA?
Fewer than 4. Reaching 4 or more breaches your conditions and normally means a six-month disqualification. See losing your licence in SA.
Do I need to do anything to move from P1 to P2?
No. It happens automatically after 12 months on P1.
Compare other states: P plate rules in every Australian state. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.
Sources
- Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “My Licence: GLS exemptions”, night driving and passenger restriction exemption criteria, read 6 November 2026 (mylicence.sa.gov.au, GLS, Exemptions)
- Government of South Australia, “Applying for a provisional licence”, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, last updated 5 November 2026 (sa.gov.au)