Photo: Orderinchaos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Western Australia you move from red to green P plates after your first 6 months on a provisional licence. You keep them for the remaining 18 months, or until you turn 19 if that is later. On green Ps the curfew and one passenger limit no longer apply, but zero alcohol does, and so does a novice demerit limit. This guide explains how green Ps work, when and how you get your full licence, and the free renewal you earn by staying offence-free.
Key facts
- Provisional licence: 2 years or until age 19, whichever is longer.
- Red P plates for the first 6 months, green for the rest.
- Green P: 0.00 BAC. No curfew. No passenger limit.
- Demerit limit: 8 points in total by the end of your second year.
- No traffic offences on your Ps earns a free 1-year licence renewal. Another clean year can earn up to $100 off the next renewal.
Red versus green P plates in WA
| Rule | Red P (first 6 months) | Green P (rest of the period) |
|---|---|---|
| Plates | Red, front and rear | Green, front and rear |
| Blood alcohol | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Midnight to 5am curfew | Yes (work and school exemptions) | No |
| Passenger limit | 1 passenger (exemptions apply) | No limit beyond seatbelts |
| Maximum speed | Posted limit, up to 110 km/h | Posted limit, up to 110 km/h |
| Demerit limit | 4 points (first licence year) | 4 in year 1, 8 in total by the end of year 2 |
Drive Safe says provisional drivers can drive up to 110 km/h where that is the limit, but should remember they are still gaining experience. Full details of the red P rules are in WA red P plate rules.
How long will I be on green Ps?
The provisional period is 2 years or until you turn 19, whichever is longer. Only time when your licence is current and valid counts. For a car licence, the earliest you can pass the PDA is 17, so 2 years usually takes you to 19 or later.
Worked examples
| Pass the PDA at | Red Ps until | Green Ps until (full licence) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 years 0 months | 17 years 6 months | 19 years 0 months |
| 18 years 4 months | 18 years 10 months | 20 years 4 months |
| 26 years 0 months | 26 years 6 months | 28 years 0 months |
These are worked from DTMI’s 2-years-or-19 rule and assume the licence stays valid throughout. Check your own dates in DoTDirect, with DTMI’s Driver’s Licence Status Enquiry tool or on 13 11 56.
Displaying green P plates
- Show them in a visible spot on the front and back of the car (or motorcycle) whenever you drive.
- DTMI has printable red and green plates on its Driving on your P plates page.
Demerit points on green Ps
You stay a novice until you have held a licence for 2 years. In your second year the limit rises to 8 points, but that is a running total that includes points from your Ls and first year. Reaching it means at least 3 months’ disqualification and cancellation of your provisional licence. See WA novice demerit points.
Getting your full WA licence
- Near the end of your provisional period, DTMI sends you a renewal notice.
- Pay the renewal fee, or take the free reward option if you are eligible.
- Your full licence takes effect once the provisional period ends. There is no extra test.
The Safe Driver Reward Scheme
Stage 1: free 1-year renewal
If you commit no traffic offences during your provisional licence, your first full licence renewal notice offers a 1-year renewal for $0. You still have to process it: online, through DoTDirect, by post, by phone on 13 11 56, or in person.
Stage 2: up to $100 off
Drive offence-free for a further year (3 years in a row in total) and you can get either:
- a one-off discount of up to $100 on a renewal longer than 1 year, or
- another 1-year free renewal.
Stage 2 applies only if your provisional period ended on or after 1 December 2024. The first rewards were paid from 1 December 2025.
One catch: if you renew for longer than 1 year the first time you leave your provisional period, you lose both the discount on that renewal and Stage 2.
Common questions
Can green P platers carry more than one passenger in WA?
Yes. The one passenger limit only applies on red Ps. Everyone must still be properly restrained.
Can I drive at night on green Ps?
Yes. The midnight to 5am restriction ends with your red plates.
Can I drink any alcohol on green Ps?
No. All novice drivers must have a BAC of 0.00. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
Do I have to sit another test to get my full licence?
No. You renew when the notice arrives, and the full licence starts when your provisional period ends.
Do I lose the safe driver reward for a parking fine?
DTMI’s wording is “any traffic offences”. Ask DTMI whether a particular fine counts before assuming you are still eligible.
I am moving to WA on green Ps from another state. Which rules apply?
Once you are on a WA licence, WA rules apply. See driving interstate on L or P plates.
For the full licence path, see learning to drive in Western Australia.
Sources
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving on your P plates” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get your provisional licence” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Red plate. One mate | New rules for red P-platers” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)