A guide to learner driver restrictions in Australia

If you’re eager to get your learner’s permit or about to supervise a learner while driving, brush up on your state’s learner driver restrictions.

Have your logbook and learner’s manual at the ready!

Note: All learner drivers must always carry their learners license every time they’re driving or operating a vehicle.

New South Wales

In NSW, learners must follow strict rules and regulations to maintain their learner’s permit.

A guide to learner driver restrictions in Australia — ***Image: NSW Highway Patrol***

These are the restrictions for learner drivers in NSW:

Restriction	Explanation
Age limit	16 or over. You will have to prove your identity, pass an eyesight test, and a knowledge test
Speed limits	90km/h, regardless of the posted speed limit
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times
Supervisors	Must drive with a supervisor in the passenger seat. All passengers, including the supervisor, must wear their seatbelt
Towing	Learner drivers cannot tow any vehicle, including trailers
BAC and drug use	Learners cannot drive with any alcohol or drugs in their system – penalties apply.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using it as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.
Choice of vehicle	Prohibited from driving vehicles outside their licence classification.
Learning hours	Learners must complete 120 hours of documented-driving hours with a supervisor of their choice before taking their driving test.
Hazard Perception Test	Only after holding a learner’s permit for at least 10 months can a learner complete their hazard perception test

Additionally, learner drivers are prohibited from driving in Parramatta Park, Moore Park, and Centennial Park.

Failure to follow these rules will result in serious penalties, like losing your licence.

Victoria

Victoria follows a similar regime to NSW.

A learner must adhere to the following restrictions once they have received their permit:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	16 or over, have a Victorian residential address and proof of identity, be medically fit to drive, pass an eyesight test and hazard perception test
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Supervisors	Learners must drive with a supervisor in the passenger seat at all times. All passengers, including the supervisor, must wear their seatbelt
BAC and drug use	Learners cannot drive with any alcohol or drugs in their system – penalties apply
Driving hours	Learners under 21 must complete 120 hours of driving with a supervisor, including at least 20 hours at night All hours and their conditions must be documented in your logbook.
Towing	Learner drivers cannot tow any kind of vehicle, including trailers and caravans.
Mobile Phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using it as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.

Queensland

These are the learner restrictions for beginner drivers in Queensland

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	16 years or older, and have passed either the online interactive program PrepL or the written road rule test
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times
Supervisors	A learner driver must be supervised when operating a vehicle at all times. The supervisor must have held a full Australian licence for the same type of motor vehicle for at least one year.
BAC and drug use	Learners cannot drive with any alcohol or drugs in their system – penalties apply.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using your mobile phone as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.
Learning hours	Beginner drivers must complete 100 supervised driving hours before attempting their driving test. These 100 hours also comprise 10 hours of supervised driving at night. Ensure all hours are documented in your learner logbook.
Conditional licences	Learners must comply with the conditions of their licence’s condition code.
Hazard Perception Test	Before completing your driving test, learners must complete their hazard perception test. Learners can only take this test after holding their learners permit for at least 6 months.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

In the ACT, you don’t always have to complete the minimum 100 hours of supervised driving.

In the ACT, learner drivers must abide by the following restrictions:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	To be eligible, you must be at least 15 years and 9 months old, and have completed the mandatory pre-learner licence training course and ACT road rules knowledge test.
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Speed limits	Learner drivers in the ACT are allowed to drive the posted speed limit in the territory, but must check the local road rules and regulations before driving interstate.
Learning hours	Learners under the age of 25 must complete minimum of 100 driving hours in their logbook, including 10 hours of night driving. Learners over the age of 25 must complete a minimum of 50 driving hours, including 5 hours of night driving.
Supervisor	A supervisor must always be present when a learner is operating or driving a vehicle and hold a full Australian driver’s licence.
Hazard perception test	Learner drivers must complete the hazard perception test to ensure they’re up-to-date on the safest driving habits.
Demerit points	Learner drivers cannot accrue more than four demerit points in a three-year period.
Zero BAC	Learner drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration.
Mobile phones	It is against the law for learner drivers to use their mobile phones while driving or operating a vehicle. This includes hands-free mobile phones, GPS, loudspeakers, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay.

Western Australia

The rules in WA are very similar to those elsewhere in Australia.

In Western Australia, learner drivers must act in accordance with the following rules:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	16 years or older. Submit a complete driver’s licence application, proof of identity documents, pay theory test fee, and complete a computer theory test. Potential learner drivers will also have to pass an eyesight and medical test.
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Supervisor	Learner driver must have a supervisor with them at all times. This supervisor must have held a valid WA driver’s licence for at least four years, in the correct vehicle class.
Learning hours	Learner drivers must document at least 50 supervised driving hours in their logbook, including 5 hours of night driving. This must be complete before they can take their provisional driving test.
Towing	Learner drivers are allowed to tow a trailer, as long as they follow the conditions of their learner licence.
Zero BAC	All learner drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration.
Demerit Points	Learners cannot accrue three or more demerit points while holding a learners permit.
Speed limits	Learner drivers must follow the posted speed limit and cannot drive more than 100km/h.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using your mobile phone as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.

It is also worth noting that learner drivers cannot drive in Kings Park and other prohibited areas of Western Australia.

South Australia

Like other states, South Australia has strict rules for learners regarding mobile phones and a zero blood alcohol concentration.

In South Australia, learners must respect and adhere to these restrictions:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	Provide evidence of identity, verify your personal details and provide a signature, email and residential address at a South Australian Service centre. You must be at least 16 years old to apply.
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Licence classification	Learner drivers must comply with the rules of their licence classification.
Supervisor	Learner drivers must be supervised by a fully licensed driver when driving a vehicle. This supervisor must sit in the passenger seat and have had a full Australian licence for at least one year in the same class of motor vehicle as the learner’s car.
Learning hours	Complete at least 75 supervised hours of driving, including 15 hours or night deriving. These hours should be documented in their logbook over the course of 12 months.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using your mobile phone as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.
Speed limits	Learners must never exceed the 100km/h speed limit and never travel more than 10km/h over the posted speed limit.
Demerit points	Learners cannot accrue three or more demerit points while holding a learners permit.
Zero BAC and no drug use	Learner drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration and not have any illegal substances in their blood or saliva.

Northern Territory

In the Northern Territory, learner drivers will have their licence suspended if they accrue five or more demerit points in 12 months, or 12 points in a three year period.

All learners in the Northern Territory must comply with the following road rules:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	To obtain a class C learner licence, learners must be at least 16 years old, be an MVR customer, pass an eyesight and knowledge test, and pay the learner licence fee.
Supervisor	Learner drivers must be supervised by a fully licensed driver when operating a vehicle. This supervisor must always sit in the passenger seat and have a full Australian licence, not an overseas or provisional licence.
Licence classifacation	Learner drivers must comply with the rules of their licence classification.
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using your mobile phone as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.
Speed limits	Learner drivers must not drive faster than 80km/h, regardless of the posted speed limit. Make sure to observe the speed limit when it is below 80km/h.
Learning hours	There is no minimum amount of supervised hours required before a learner can attempt their driving test. Learners are encouraged to get as much practice as possible with a supervisor.
Towing	Learner drivers are allowed to tow a trailer as long as their L-plates are visible on the back of the trailer.
Zero BAC and no drug use	Learner drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration and have no illegal substances in their blood or saliva.
Driver Knowledge Test	Learner drivers must pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) before applying and receiving their learners permit. If a learner fails the test, they can reattempt it as many times as they’d like, but cannot take the test more than once a day. Additionally, each attempt increases in fee.

Tasmania

Like all other Australian states, Tasmanian learner drivers must comply to strict driving restrictions:

Restriction	Explanation
Eligibility	You need to be 16 years or over to apply for your learners permit. Additionally, you cannot have any convictions or driving bans that would prevent you from applying.
L-plates	L-plates must be easily visible on your vehicle’s front and rear at all times.
Learning hours	Learner drivers must complete 80-120 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours of night driving. These hours should be documented in their logbook before completing a practical driving test.
Speed limits	Learner drivers cannot travel more than 90km/h regardless of the posted speed limit.
Licence duration	Beginner drivers must hold their L1 licence for at least three continuous months, before acquiring their L2 licence. No driving test is required to transition from L1 to L2 licences.
Mobile phones	Learner drivers are prohibited from using their mobile phones while operating a vehicle. This includes using your mobile phone as a hands-free device, GPS, or via Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth.
Zero BAC and no drug use	Learner drivers must maintain a zero blood alcohol concentration and not have any illegal substances in their blood or saliva.
Hazard perception test	All learner drivers must pass the Hazard Perception Test.
Towing	Learner drivers are prohibited from towing any vehicle, including trailers.
Supervisor	Learners must be accompanied by a supervising driver any time they operate a vehicle.