Transport for NSW is serious when it comes to getting your own driver licence NSW. Why? Because there are certain stages that you must comply with before you can get your full driver licence. In New South Wales, there are 3 steps before getting the ultimate licence.
First, you must get your learner driver licence. Afterwards, you must comply with the requirements under this licence before you can proceed to the next step. Second, after one year of holding your learner licence, you may now proceed to your P1 licence and P2 licence, successively.
Each stage has its own set of restrictions, but they are all designed to help you gain the experience and skills that you need to be a safe and responsible driver. Thus, before you can get the ultimate driver licence, you have to comply with P1 and P2 requirements.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the P1 and P2 provisional driver licences in NSW, including the requirements for each stage, the restrictions that apply, and how to progress to your full driver licence NSW.
Reason 1: You Can Be Independent With Your P1 Driver Licence NSW
The P1 licence comes with a taste of independence. Independence here means freedom from having a supervisor watch your every move.
The P1 licence is the first provisional driver’s licence that you can apply for. To be eligible, you must have passed your learner’s permit test. Once you have your P1 licence, you can drive without a supervisor, but you must display red P plates on your vehicle.
These are the requirements that you must comply with to apply for the P1 provisional driver licence NSW:
- You must be at least 17 years of age.
- If you’re under 25 – you must also have held your learner drivers licence for at least 12 months and recorded 120 hours of driving time.
- If you’re 25 or over – you can attempt the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and driver knowledge test when you’re ready. You do not need to complete a log book.
- You must have a learner licence for at least 12 months, unless you are 25 years or older
- You must have at least 120 hours driving time in your Learner Driver Log Book, including at least 20 hours of night driving, unless you’re aged 25 years or older
- You must prove your identity.
- You must pass an eyesight test
- You must pay the licence and test fees, unless you’re eligible for a concession
- You must pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
- You must pass the driving test.
Reason 2: You Can Get More Freedom with P2 Provisional Driver Licence NSW
Now, this is the last step towards ultimate freedom. Get a P2 driver licence and comply with its requirements. Then, you can get your full driver licence in no time! After you have held your P1 licence for at least 12 months, you can apply for a P2 licence. To be eligible, you must not have been suspended or disqualified from driving during your P1 period.
The requirements for the P2 provisional driver licence NSW are:
- You must have held your P1 licence for at least 12 months.
- You must prove your identity.
- You must pay the licence and test fees, unless you’re eligible for a concession.
After you have held your P2 licence for at least 24 months, you can apply for your full driver licence NSW. To be eligible, you must not have been suspended or disqualified from driving during your P2 period.
Rules for Provisional P1 and P2 Driver Licence NSW
| Provisional P1 Licence | Provisional P2 Licence |
| When on your red Ps, you must: – only drive cars – display red P plates clearly on the front and back of the car, on the outside3. – only tow trailers up to 250 kilograms of unloaded weight, and you must display your red Ps on the back of the trailer – ensure everyone in the car is in a seat with a seatbelt or approved restraint – each person must use a seatbelt or restraint. – only drive solo in the kind of car you took your driving test in. If you drove an automatic transmission or clutchless manual car in your test, that is the only type of car you may drive on your Ps unsupervised. You must not: – drive above the speed limit of 90 km/h2. – have any alcohol in your system when driving – supervise a learner driver – drive a high-performance vehicle – use any mobile phone while driving, or while your vehicle is stopped but not parked. This includes hands-free devices or loud speakers. | When on your green Ps, you must: – display the correct P plates clearly on the outside of the front and back of the vehicle. If you’re towing a trailer, a P plate must be on the back of the trailer – ensure everyone in the vehicle is in a seat with a seatbelt or an approved restraint fitted. You must not: – drive over the maximum speed limit of 100km/h – have any alcohol in your system when you drive a vehicle – supervise a learner driver – use any mobile phones, including hands-free devices or loudspeaker, while driving or while your vehicle is stopped but not parked – drive a high performance vehicle. |
Passenger Limits for P1 and P2 Provisional NSW Drivers Licence
| Type of provisional licence | Passenger Limit |
| P1 | If you’re aged under 25, you can’t drive with more than one passenger aged under 21 between 11pm and 5am. Moreover, If you’ve been issued with a new licence after a period of being disqualified from driving, you aren’t allowed to drive with more than one passenger for 12 months. |
| P2 | If you’ve been issued with a new licence after a period of being disqualified from driving, you aren’t allowed to drive with more than one passenger for 12 months. |
Reason 3: You Can Progress to Your Full Driver Licence Nsw
The ultimate goal of getting these provisional licences is for you to have your full driver licence NSW. To apply, here’s what you need:
- You must have held your P2 licence for at least 24 months.
- You must prove your identity.
- Pass an eyesight test.
- Pay the licence fee, unless you’re eligible for a concession.
Got Any Questions About Your NSW Driver Licence?
The P1 and P2 provisional driver licences are important steps on your journey to get a full licence driver in NSW. By following the rules and restrictions for each stage, you can gain the experience and skills you need to be a safe and responsible driver.
If you’re a P1 or P2 provisional driver facing a traffic charge, it’s important to hire a traffic lawyer as soon as possible. Our traffic lawyers at JB Solicitors have the experience and knowledge to help you defend your case and minimise the impact on your driving licence NSW.
Last updated: 20 November 2024
