Photo: Alan Levine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After 12 months on P1, South Australian drivers move automatically to a P2 provisional licence and hold it for 2 years. P2 drops the P plates, the total phone ban, the late-night limit and the passenger limit. Zero alcohol, the 100 km/h cap and the 4-point limit all stay. This guide sets out what changes, what does not and how you reach a full licence.
What changes from P1 to P2 in SA
| Rule | P1 | P2 |
|---|---|---|
| P plates | Required, front and rear | Not required |
| Mobile phone | No function at all, including hands-free and GPS | General rules for all drivers apply |
| Midnight to 5am (under 25) | Not allowed without a supervising driver or exemption | No restriction |
| Passengers aged 16 to 20 (under 25) | One at most, family excluded | No restriction |
| Alcohol and drugs | Zero | Zero |
| Speeding 10 km/h or more over | Condition breach | Condition breach |
| Demerit points | Fewer than 4 | Fewer than 4 |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| High-powered vehicles (under 25) | Not allowed without exemption | Not allowed without exemption |
| Carry licence | Yes | Yes |
P2 conditions in South Australia
Breaching any of these means losing your licence and being disqualified:
- no alcohol at all in your blood, and no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in your blood or saliva
- not exceeding any speed limit by 10 km/h or more
- not reaching 4 or more demerit points during the provisional period
Other P2 laws
- Never drive over 100 km/h, even on roads signed 110 km/h.
- If you are under 25, do not drive a high-powered vehicle unless you hold an exemption certificate. See high-powered vehicles and the U class licence.
- Drive only the class of vehicle on your licence, and carry your licence.
Phones on P2
The P1 total ban no longer applies. You follow the rules for all SA drivers:
- No hand-held phone while moving or stopped in traffic, including at traffic lights.
- To make or take an audio call by touching the phone, it must be in a commercially made mounting.
- Using Bluetooth or a headset without touching or holding the phone is allowed.
- GPS is allowed only with the phone in a commercial mounting, set before you leave, and not touched while driving.
- Never create, send or look at texts, video messages or emails, and never make video calls while driving, even with a mounted phone.
Getting your full licence
You become eligible for a full licence once you are at least 20 and have held P2 for 2 years. Once you have it:
- the blood alcohol limit becomes under 0.05
- the 100 km/h cap goes, and you can drive at a signed 110 km/h
- the high-powered vehicle restriction no longer applies, even if you are under 25
- the general demerit limit applies: 12 or more points in 3 years leads to disqualification
Even on a full licence, an offence you committed while on your Ps can catch up with you. If you are disqualified for it, your full licence can be cancelled and replaced with a new P2 for 2 years.
What resets your P2 time?
- Disqualified for a P2 offence and you sit it out: you are issued a P2 licence for 2 years.
- Safer Driver Agreement or a successful court appeal: your P2 is cancelled and a new P2 is issued for 2 years.
Either way, the 2-year clock starts again. See losing your licence in SA.
Common questions
Do P2 drivers in SA have to display P plates?
No. The plate requirement is for P1 only.
Can P2 drivers drive after midnight in SA?
Yes. The midnight to 5am restriction applies only to P1 drivers under 25.
Can I carry more than one friend on my P2?
Yes. The peer passenger limit is a P1 rule. You still need a seatbelt or restraint for every passenger.
Can I use hands-free on my P2s?
Yes, under the general rules: Bluetooth or a headset without touching the phone, or a phone in a commercial mounting. Texting is never allowed.
Can a P2 driver have one drink?
No. P2 drivers must have zero alcohol.
Can I drive at 110 km/h on my P2?
No. The 100 km/h cap applies until you hold a full licence.
Related: SA P1 rules, zero alcohol for learners and P platers, 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)