QLD P Plate Restrictions: The P plate rules for Queensland
Your guide to P Plate rules in QLD
Queensland is a great state to live in, and driving a car is a great way to see more of it. So, getting your Queensland P plates is a big step! But before you set out on any Queensland P plate adventures, you’ll need to be aware of the P plate rules in Queensland, which place extra restrictions on you.
Read on for a comprehensive guide on how to get your P plates in Queensland, as well as all the extra restrictions that apply to you as a Queensland provisional driver.
Getting your License in Queensland
The first step to getting your driver license in Queensland is, of course, to get a learner driver license.
To get your Queensland learner license you must:
Be at least 16 years old, AND
Pass the written road rules test, OR
Pass the PrepL course.
The PrepL is a 4 to 6 hour long online course that you can complete when you turn 15 years and 11 months old, so you can get your L plates right on your 16th birthday. It’s a great way to learn the rules of the road interactively, and ends with a 30 question test that you must get 90% correct. The written test is the older process (and will eventually be phased out), and involves completing a test at a license issuing centre after you turn 16. You’ll want to study for the test and practice online before you go.
To get your P1 license (red P plates) in Queensland you must:
Have had your L plates for at least 12 months,
Be at least 17 years old,
Complete the hazard perception test (which checks whether or not you can recognise and respond to potentially dangerous or hazardous situations).
Have recorded 100 hours of driving, including 10 hours of night driving, in your QLD learner log book, and
Submit your logbook, book a practical test, then pass the practical test.
If you’re aged 25 years or older, you don’t need to complete a logbook, and you’ll get your P2 license upon passing the practical test. Otherwise, all the other steps are the same.
Once you’ve had your P1 license (your red P plates) you can drive unsupervised, subject to the QLD P plate rules we’ve outlined below.
To get your P2 license (green P plates) in Queensland you must:
Be 18 years old and:
have had your P1 license for at least 12 months, and
pass the Hazard Perception Test, OR
Be 25 years or older and:
have had your learner license for at least 12 months, and
have been at least 25 years old when you passed your practical test.
P2 drivers are also subject to a range of restrictions that are slightly different to P1 restrictions in Queensland. We’ve outlined green P plate restrictions below as well.
P plate restrictions in Queensland
In Queensland there are two sets of P plate restrictions, depending on whether you’re on your P1 or your P2 license.
QLD Red P Plate Rules:
When driving as a red P plater you must:
Display red P plates on the front and back of your vehicle (you can buy or print them),
Not have any alcohol in your system,
Not use use a mobile phone, even hands-free or with Bluetooth (passengers cannot use the loudspeakers of their phones),
Only drive cars that are not high-powered or high-performance (here are the guidelines), and
Not drive with more than 1 passenger under 21 years old who isn’t an immediate family member between 11pm and 5am.
Drive under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs
If you lose 4 or more demerit points you’ll lose you’re P1 license. You also cannot supervise a learner driver.
QLD Green P Plate Rules:
When driving as a green P plater you must:
Display green P plates on the front and back of your vehicle,
Not have any alcohol in your system, and
Only drive cars that are not high-powered or high-performance.
The main difference between the red and green p plate driving restrictions in Queensland are that green P platers don’t have any passenger restrictions and can use a phone hands-free.
Unlike some other Australian states, there are no reduced speed limits for provisional drivers in Queensland. However, when driving in other states you’ll be required to comply with reduced speed limit laws in those states.
GoGet P Plate Restrictions
Now you’ve got your license, it’s time to get behind the wheel. If you want to get by without owning a car, GoGet welcomes P Plate drivers once they’ve had a year’s solo driving experience. It’s one of the best ways for P Platers to hire a car or van in Brisbane. Regardless of how old you are, you can join GoGet if you’ve had a provisional license for at least 12 months. GoGet car share is an easy option for you if you don’t need the hassle or expense of owning your own car. We also have great student carshare rates!
It goes without saying, of course, that GoGet members must comply with any road rules in the state they’re driving in. While we allow P Platers to drive any GoGet car or van, the vehicle restrictions of various states may prohibit their use by P Platers. It’s member’s responsibility to check these rules.
