Licence & State Rules · Victoria

Victoria licence stages and restrictions

L (learner permit)

Minimum time: Continuous permit before applying for Ps: 12 months if under 21; 6 months if 21 to under 25; 3 months if 25 or over. Permit valid 10 years or until Ps.

  • Minimum age 16
  • Supervising driver in the front passenger seat at all times; supervisor must hold a current full (not probationary) licence for that vehicle type, carry it, and complete the log book sections
  • L plates front and back, visible from 20 m
  • Carry digital permit, card or receipt
  • Zero BAC at all times; ordinary supervisor must be below 0.05, driving instructors / 'Z' condition supervisors zero
  • No towing of trailer, caravan or another vehicle
  • Car only (not a bus or truck)
  • Cannot touch a phone or device or use voice commands; navigation / audio only if set up before driving
  • If under 21: 120 hours supervised driving including 20 at night, logged in myLearners or Learner Log Book
  • No speed cap for learners is listed on the official restriction pages

P1 (red P plates)

Minimum time: At least 12 months (applicants under 21)

  • Min age 18 to apply; must pass Hazard Perception Test (from 17y11m) and the drive test (about 30 minutes)
  • Red P plates front and back, visible from 20 m; carry licence
  • Zero BAC
  • No more than one passenger aged 16 to under 22 (peer passenger restriction); exempt: spouse/partner, sibling or step-sibling, immediate family, or with a full-licence supervisor
  • No probationary prohibited vehicle (over 130 kW per tonne, performance-modified engine, or gazetted) unless exempt (employer, ABN business use, police, supervised, VicRoads exemption)
  • No towing except for work at employer's request, agricultural-type use, or with a full licence holder beside you
  • No touching phone/devices or voice commands; set up navigation/audio before driving
  • Automatic-only condition if the test was done in an automatic
  • Demerits: five or more in 12 months or twelve in 3 years may lead to suspension of at least 3 months

P2 (green P plates)

Minimum time: At least 3 years (4 years total probation for under 21s; aged 21 or over start on P2 for 3 years)

  • Green P plates front and back; carry licence
  • Zero BAC
  • No probationary prohibited vehicle unless exempt
  • No touching phone/devices or voice commands
  • Automatic condition continues if tested in an automatic
  • No peer passenger limit on P2 (limit applies to P1 only)

Full licence

Minimum time: Issued after the P2 period if the driving record is good (no cancellation or suspension, no drink/drug-driving offences). Free Licence Scheme may reward a clean 4-year probation (under 25).

  • BAC below 0.05 for most full licence holders (zero for some groups such as bus/taxi drivers, instructors and repeat drink-drivers)
  • Fully licensed drivers may use a phone for calls/voice commands only if securely fixed in a commercial holder or operated through the vehicle's inbuilt system; no texting, social media, video, etc. for anyone
  • Must carry licence if under 26

Rules and conditions are changed from time to time — check the vicroads.vic.gov.au for the current requirements.