Driving on your P plates

Driving or riding solo is a new skill and comes with responsibilities.

While driving or riding on your provisional licence you must display P plates.

You must display:

• red P plates for the first 6 months your provisional licence
• green P plates for the remaining 18 months until you have upgraded to a full licence.

Under the demerit point system, a person is considered a novice driver until they have held a driver's licence for at least 2 years.

As a novice driver, you can only accrue a total of:

• 4 demerit points from the issue of your learner’s permit until the end first year of your provisional licence
• 8 demerit points until the end of your second year of your provisional licence.

If you accrue more demerit points than this, your learner’s permit or provisional licence may be suspended or disqualified.

Check your demerit points

You can check how many demerit points you have using our online demerit point tool.

The first few years of driving solo as a new driver or rider is the time you are most at risk of having a crash.  While you are still gaining experience as a solo driver it is important to limit the risks you take.

Always abide by the rules for novice drivers as well as the general road rules:

• Never drive after drinking or taking drugs or medication that may affect your driving.
• Avoid driving tired.
• Don't use your mobile phone while driving.
• Ask passengers to be quiet if you’re having difficulty concentrating while driving.
• Keep up your good habits, like scanning for potential hazards and leaving a safe distance when following another car.

When your provisional licence period is almost complete, you will be sent a renewal notice with the option to renew your licence.

After paying the renewal, you will be issued with your full licence which will come into effect once your provisional licence period is complete.

Safe driver reward (free licence renewal)

If you do not commit any traffic offences while on your provisional licence, you will be rewarded with a free licence renewal for one year.

When you receive your first full licence renewal notice it will offer a one-year free renewal option or a 5-year option for the price of 4 years.

You must validate the renewal using one of the following payment methods.

• using our online payment system
• BPAY®
• by post
• in person, at a Driver and Vehicle Services centre, regional agent or photopoint location. If you choose this option a photograph and signature will be required.