Photo: BlackCab, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Victoria, P1 (red P) drivers must keep a zero BAC, carry no more than one passenger aged 16 to under 22, not touch a phone, not tow and not drive a probationary prohibited vehicle. P2 (green P) drivers keep most of those rules but lose the passenger and towing limits. This explainer covers every P plate rule, how long each stage lasts, and what happens if you break them, for new drivers and their parents.
How long you stay on P plates in Victoria
| Your age when you get your licence | P1 (red) | P2 (green) | Total before a full licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 21 | At least 1 year | At least 3 years | At least 4 years |
| 21 or older | Skipped | At least 3 years | At least 3 years |
You need a good driving record to move from P1 to P2 and from P2 to a full licence. A good record means no licence suspension or cancellation and no drink or drug driving offences. A bad record extends your P1 or P2 period by at least six months.
Victorian P1 and P2 rules compared
| Rule | P1 (red) | P2 (green) |
|---|---|---|
| P plates | Red, front and rear, visible from 20 metres | Green, front and rear, visible from 20 metres |
| Carry your licence | Always | Always |
| Alcohol | Zero BAC | Zero BAC |
| Phones and devices | No touching a phone or other portable, mounted or wearable device, and no voice control. Navigation and audio only if set up before driving; brief adjustments on the car’s inbuilt system allowed | Same as P1 |
| Peer passengers | No more than one aged 16 to under 22 | No peer passenger limit |
| Towing | Not allowed, with limited exemptions | No P2 towing ban listed in the handbook |
| Probationary prohibited vehicles | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Automatic condition | Automatics only if you passed in an automatic | Same as P1 |
| Demerit points | Fewer than 5 in 12 months | Fewer than 5 in 12 months |
The P1 peer passenger rule
On P1 you must not carry more than one passenger aged 16 to under 22, day or night. Automatic exemptions apply for:
- immediate family members
- driving with a fully licensed supervising driver beside you (as for learners)
- driving an emergency vehicle.
Other exemptions can be granted case by case for hardship, applied for in writing with evidence. If your P1 licence is suspended or cancelled, once the ban ends you may carry only one passenger of any age for the rest of your P1 period. Why it matters: P drivers carrying two or more passengers have a much higher fatal crash risk than those driving alone.
Towing on P1
P1 drivers must not tow a caravan, trailer or another vehicle unless:
- it is for work, at your employer’s request
- it is solely for agriculture, horticulture, dairying, pastoral or commercial fishing work, or
- you are supervised by a full licence holder authorised to drive that vehicle, sitting beside you.
Comparison with other states: towing on L and P plates in Australia.
Probationary prohibited vehicles (PPV)
On P1 and P2 you cannot drive a vehicle that has:
- a power to mass ratio greater than 130 kilowatts per tonne, or
- an engine modified to increase performance (other than by the manufacturer during manufacture), or
- been declared a PPV in the Victorian Government Gazette.
Exceptions: driving it in working hours at your employer’s request, a written VicRoads exemption, or (P1) being supervised by a full licence holder beside you. You can apply for an exemption if the rule would cause undue hardship. Check a car before you buy it: managing risk as a new Victorian driver.
Phones and devices on P plates
P1 and P2 drivers must not touch a phone or any other portable, mounted or wearable device, or use voice commands, while driving. Navigation and audio streaming are allowed through a mounted or inbuilt device, but only if set up before you drive. Brief adjustments to audio, climate or navigation settings can be made only through the car’s inbuilt system, and never by entering an address or scrolling. Pull over and park to do anything else. See Victoria phone and device rules for L and P platers.
Demerit points and losing your licence on Ps
- 5 or more demerit points in any 12 months, or 12 or more in 3 years, can mean a suspension of at least three months.
- Most suspensions extend your P period by at least six months on top of the suspension.
- Drink driving on Ps means licence cancellation, and when you are relicensed you must have an alcohol interlock fitted for at least six months.
- Hoon offences such as street racing, deliberate loss of traction and excessive speeding can see your car impounded.
Full detail: Victoria demerit points, penalties and legal responsibilities, and double demerits in Australia.
For parents: what helps most in the first year
- The first year on Ps is the most dangerous. VicRoads asks parents to do two things: encourage their P driver to stick to the P rules, and to avoid situations with a higher crash risk, such as multiple peer passengers and night-time driving.
- Offer alternatives to late night driving: a lift home, sharing a taxi, public transport, or a lift with an experienced driver.
- Help them choose a safer car with airbags, ABS and electronic stability control.
The reward: a free licence
If you are under 25 and complete your full P1 and P2 periods with a good driving record, you may be eligible for a free three year licence under the Free Licence Scheme. Check eligibility with VicRoads.
Common questions
Can P1 drivers have friends in the car in Victoria?
One passenger aged 16 to under 22. Passengers outside that age range, and immediate family, do not count towards the limit.
Is there a night curfew for P platers in Victoria?
No curfew is listed in the Victorian P1 or P2 rules. Late night driving is still high risk, so plan around it.
Can I use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on my Ps?
Only for navigation and audio set up before driving, with simple changes made through the car’s inbuilt screen. No messaging, calls by voice command or touching your phone.
Do P2 drivers need zero alcohol?
Yes. Zero BAC applies for the whole probationary period, P1 and P2.
Can P platers drive turbo cars in Victoria?
Only if the car is not a probationary prohibited vehicle: power to mass ratio of 130 kW per tonne or less, no aftermarket performance modifications, and not declared a PPV.
What colour P plates do I get if I am 23?
Green. Drivers 21 or older when they get their licence go straight to P2.
How do Victoria’s P rules compare with other states?
See P plate rules in Australia compared.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Victoria.
Sources
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook (edge.sitecorecloud.io, transport.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Rules for P drivers” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning, “A parent’s guide to probationary driving” (edge.sitecorecloud.io)
- Transport Victoria, “Learner and probationary driver road rules” (transport.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Driving on your Ps” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Transport Victoria, “Device rules for new and young drivers and motorcyclists” (transport.vic.gov.au)