VIC P Plate Restrictions: The P plate rules for Victoria
Your guide to P Plate rules in Victoria
Life as a young person is supposed to be easy going and relaxing. But when it comes to driving, it sometimes seems to be the opposite! If you’re on your P plates and working on getting your full license, there are a series of P plate rules you need be aware of and follow. That’s along with the general Victorian road rules.
But there’s a reason for those P plate rules. Young and inexperienced drivers in Melbourne and Victoria are vastly over-represented in accidents and fatalities on our roads. So the Victorian P plate restrictions are there for a reason, but that doesn’t mean they’re not confusing.
This article will outline all the Victoria P plate restrictions that apply to young drivers in Melbourne or in regional Victoria.
Getting your Driver’s License in Victoria
In Victoria the first license you’ll need to get is your learners. This lets you learn to drive when there’s an experienced, fully licensed driver in the passenger seat. After you’ve passed the requirements, you can then do your driving test and apply for a provisional license (your red P plates). After a few years on a provisional license, you can apply for a full Victorian license.
To get your learner license, you need to;
Be at least 16 years old
Pass the learner permit knowledge test (you’ll need to get 25 out of 32 questions right – so study hard!)
Good news for learner drivers: GoGet has a learner’s programme!
To get your P plates, you need to:
Be at least 18 years old
If you’re under 21, you must have completed a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving as a learner, including 20 hours of night driving*
If you’re under 21 years old, you need to have had your learners permit for at least 12 months
When you’re aged 21 to 25 years old, you need to have had your learners permit for at least 6 months
When you’re 25 years old or more, you need to have had your learners permit for at least 3 months
You must pass the Hazard Perception Test, which you can take from the age of 17 years and 11 months
You must pass the drive test
After passing the drive test, you’ll either get your red P plates or your green P plates. If you’re under 21 you’ll be given your P1 license, or your red P plates. You’ll need to stay on red P plates for a year before you can apply for your green P’s, which you’ll need to have for three years before applying for a full license.
If you’re over 21 years old when you pass your drive test, you’ll go straight to your green P plates, which you’ll need to hold for 3 years before applying for a full license.
*If you got your learner license before November 1st 2017, you only need to do 10 hours of night driving. But 20 hours won’t hurt!
P Plate Restrictions in Victoria
Here are all the P plate restrictions in Victoria, organised by both red and green P plate rules. It’s worth noting that if you break any of the P plate restrictions or other road rules, you could increase the amount of time you have to hold your provisional license so it really is best to take the time to understand the rules. If your license is suspended, that period won’t count towards your minimum license term!
Victoria Red P plate Restrictions
Victorian red P plate rules do not set a special speed limit on Red P drivers. P platers can drive at the signposted speed.
Red P platers must have a 0.00% blood alcohol content. You cannot have any alcohol in your system while driving a vehicle.
No mobile phone use is allowed at all. That includes hands free or speaker phone.
Red P platers can’t have more than one passenger aged between 16 and 22, though there are some dispensations for family members. You are able to carry more than one passenger if that passenger is the driver’s spouse/live-in partner, sibling, or step-sibling. For example, you can have a 20 year old friend along with your 21 year old sister, but not two 19 year old friends. Exceptions apply, including for drivers of emergency vehicles – click here for details.
If your license is cancelled or suspended, you won’t be able to carry more than one passenger for the rest of your time on your red P’s, no matter their age or relation.
Victorian Red P platers cannot tow another motor vehicle or trailer. A few exceptions include when it’s required in your work, if the tow is being used for agriculture, or if there’s an experienced driver in the passenger seat, and a ‘driver under instruction’ plate is displayed on the front or rear of the car.
You’re allowed to display red P plates from inside your car, but they must be clearly visible. There are some fairly strict rules around the colour and size of P plates, which you can find here.
Red P platers must not drive a prohibited vehicle. VicRoads have a database of prohibited vehicles here.
If you completed your drive test on an automatic car, you can only drive an automatic on your red P plates.
Victoria Green P plate Restrictions
Victorian green P plate rules do not set a special speed limit on drivers. P platers can drive at the signposted speed.
Green P platers must have a 0.00% blood alcohol content. You cannot have any alcohol in your system.
No mobile phone use is allowed, including speaker phone or hands-free.
You are allowed to display red P plates from inside your car, but they must be clearly visible. There are some fairly strict rules around the colour and size of P plates, which you can find here.
Green P platers must not drive a prohibited vehicle – VicRoads have a database of prohibited vehicles here.
If you completed your drive test on an automatic car, you can only drive an automatic on your green P plates.
FAQs
How many passengers can a Victorian P Plater have?
In Victoria Red P Platers (P1 drivers) are limited to one peer passenger. A peer passenger is someone who is at least 16 but less than 22 years of age. This doesn’t include spouse/domestic partner or driver siblings.
Do Victorian P Platers have a curfew?
There is no curfew for Victorian P Platers, though Victorian P Platers are encouraged to reduce their crash risk by limiting night time driving.
What is the KW limit for P Platers in Victoria?
P Platers are restricted from driving high powered vehicles. Unless you have an exemption, P Platers in Victoria are limited to a power to mass ratio of 130KW or lower. VicRoads have a database of prohibited vehicles here.
Can Victorian P Platers use GoGet?
You betcha! read on for more.
GoGet P Plate Restrictions
Let’s get this out of the way first. There’s only one P plate restriction if you want to use GoGet, we require drivers to have had at least one year’s solo driving experience. That means that no matter what age you are, if you’ve been on your P plates for 12 months you can join and drive a GoGet vehicle.
Car share is an awesome way to get around Melbourne, and GoGet is Melbourne and Australia’s O.G. car share. With around 1000 cars and vans parked all over Melbourne, you’ll be able to find a car when and where you need one, while avoiding the cost and hassles of owning a car.
As a bonus, you’re not restricted to just one car! With GoGet, you can jump in a Corolla hybrid, a Hiace van, or an SUV – whatever kind of car you need! If you happen to be a student, we’ve got great student rates that make it even cheaper. Better than a car rental, it’s the best way to hire a car or van in Melbourne, especially for young drivers.
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.
P Plate Restrictions: There to keep you safe!
With ignorance no excuse in the eyes of the law, there’s a lot for Victorian P plate drivers to remember, we understand that! The P plate restrictions are confusing at first, but you’ll get used to them, and you’ll get used to driving with them.
But with P plate rules changing from state to state, calling them confusing is totally reasonable. That’s why we wrote this guide, and it’s why we’re writing a P plate restrictions guide for every state we have cars in – you can find the links below.
This post shouldn’t be regarded as legal advice. Check your local road authority for up to date advice.
