Learner Licence Help Line
1800 680 015
Frequently Asked Questions - The Graduated Licensing System
At what age can I get my learner licence?
The minimum age for obtaining a learner licence is 16 years old.
At what age can I get my provisional licence?
The minimum age for obtaining your provisional licence is 17 years old.
What do I have to do to get my provisional licence?
Upon obtaining your learner licence, you must gain 100 hours of supervised on-road driving, including 10 hours of night driving (if you are under 25). You must record these drives in an approved Department of Transport and Main Roads logbook, and have them signed off by your supervisor. A learner licence must be held for a minimum of 12 months in a three year period.
How long is my learner licence valid for?
Learner licences are valid for three years.
Why does Queensland require learner drivers under the age of 25 to gain 100 hours of driving experience before being eligible to apply for a provisional licence? Other states have fewer hours.
International research shows there is a significant link between the level of on-road supervised driving experience for new drivers and improved road safety.
What information is required in the logbook?
Learner licence holders are required to accrue and record their supervised driving experience, including at least 10 hours of mandatory night driving, in the logbook. Each entry must be verified by the supervising driver.
How is the logbook assessed?
Following completion, the logbook will be checked carefully by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This must be completed before a learner can undertake a practical driving test. The logbook will be stored by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and may be used for research and evaluation purposes.
Can I get an exemption from gaining 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience?
In some cases exemptions may apply, however you will need to contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80 or by email at www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Contact-us
Where do I get an approved learner logbook from and how much will it cost?
After successfully completing your written road rules test and obtaining a learner licence, you will receive a learner driver kit. The learner driver kit contains a learner logbook to record your supervised on-road driving.
What happens if I lose my logbook?
You will be required to re-enter the details in a new logbook and have each entry certified by the supervising driver or driver trainer. Replacement learner logbooks are available for a fee from the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
To avoid this problem, use the RACQ Online Learner Logbook to keep a back up copy of your drives as well. All the drives are saved under your unique username so you will never lose these details.
What happens if the information in the logbook is falsified by either the learner driver or the supervisor?
Penalties apply for falsifying logbooks – Contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
What happens if I can’t access a supervisor and / or a vehicle?
You may be eligible for an exemption from completing 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience. You will need to contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Applications for exemptions are assessed on a case-by-case basis and strict guidelines apply.
What if I use a driver trainer?
Each one hour of on-road experience with an accredited driver trainer will count as three hours of on-road experience in your logbook, up to a maximum of 10 actual hours (30 logbook hours). Learners may undertake more than 10 hours with an accredited trainer however any accredited driver training over the initial 10 hours will be counted hour for hour towards the required logged hours. For example, three hours with an accredited trainer will count as nine hours supervised training and an additional 91 hours will be required with a supervisor. Twelve hours with an accredited trainer will count for 32 hours (30 + 2) and an additional 68 hours will be required with a supervisor.
What happens if I’m a learner driver aged over 25 years of age?
It is not mandatory for you to complete the logbook, however you are still encouraged to gain 100 hours of on-road experience. A learner licence must be held for a minimum of 12 months in a three year period.
Am I required to display L plates?
Yes. All learner licence holders must display an L plate on the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for a motorbike) or risk incurring two demerit points and a $160 fine.
The L plate should measure at least 146mm by 146mm and show a black upper case letter ‘L’ clearly marked on a yellow background. There is no requirement for the sign to be reflective. L Plates are available free from RACQ offices upon presentation of a learner licence. Alternatively L plates can be purchased from service stations, major retailers, automotive outlets, or downloaded from www.tmr.qld.gov.au.
What are the restrictions to mobile phone use?
Learner licence holders under 25 years of age can not use a mobile phone at any time while driving, including the use of hands free kits, wireless headsets and loud speaker functions.
Can supervisors or passengers use a mobile phone?
Supervisors and passengers of learner drivers under 25 years of age are prohibited from using a phone that is on loudspeaker, but can use a hand held or hands free mobile phone where only a one-way conversation can occur and not distract the driver.
Are all provisional licence holders required to undergo P1 and P2 stages?
The graduated licensing system applies to drivers who were issued with a learner or provisional licence, or renewed their Queensland learner licence on or after 1 July 2007.
If your provisional licence was issued before 1 July 2007, you will continue under the previous provisional licensing system rules.
What happens if my licence is suspended, cancelled or disqualified?
Periods of licence suspension, cancellation or disqualification will not contribute to the time required for learner, P1 or P2 stages.
What if I transfer from interstate?
When you transfer your provisional licence from interstate, the P1 and P2 rules and restrictions will apply to you. However, if your provisional or probationary licence was first issued prior to 1 July 2007, you will continue under the previous provisional licensing system rules.
What is a P Plate?
A P plate is a plate that displays a red (for P1) or green (for P2) P with a white background and measures at least 146mm x 146mm, with the character on the plate visible from 20 metres away at any point within an arc of 45 degrees.
Where do I display the P plates?
The plates must be conspicuously displayed on both the front and rear of a vehicle (rear only for a motorbike). The plate/s cannot obstruct the vision of the driver.
When do I display my P plates?
You are required to display your P plates once your provisional P1 or P2 licence has been issued and when driving any vehicle. If you intend to drive away when you pass your practical driving test, you will be required to attach P plates.
Are all provisional licence holders required to display P plates?
Provisional licence holders (classes C, CA) licensed after 1 July 2007 are required to display red P plates during the P1 phase and display green P plates (when they progress to the P2 stage). Those licensed before 1 July 2007 are not required to display P plates.
Are there any exemptions for displaying P Plates?
Drivers are not able to apply for an exemption. Exemptions have been granted for emergency service workers and Queensland Police Service officers while driving in the course of their employment.
What happens if I don’t display my P plates?
A penalty of two demerit points and a fine of $160 applies for failing to display the correct P plates while driving on a P1 or P2 type provisional drivers licence.
Can I use my interstate P plates?
Yes, as long as they comply with Queensland requirements.
How much do P plates cost and where can I purchase them?
P Plates are available from RACQ branches for free upon presentation of a licence. Alternatively P plates can be purchased from service stations, major retailers, and automotive outlets at market rates. P plates are not available for sale through the Department of Transport and Main Roads, but a template is available to download and print from the department’s website at www.tmr.qld.gov.au.
Why were peer passenger restrictions introduced?
Young drivers are at greater risk of distraction than more experienced drivers. Research shows that the risk of a crash is higher when young drivers have more than one peer passenger in the vehicle.
Who do peer passenger restrictions apply to?
P1 type provisional licence holders under 25 years of age can only carry one passenger under the age of 21 years who is not an immediate family member, when driving between 11pm and 5am.
Peer passenger restrictions do not apply to those licensed before 1 July 2007, or to drivers who hold a P2 type licence.
When do peer passenger restrictions apply?
The restrictions apply from 11pm to 5am every day.
How do police enforce the peer passenger restrictions?
The driver must establish the relationship of an immediate family member, should they have more than two passengers between the restricted hours. The driver and passenger of a vehicle may choose only to answer questions that they are statutorily required to answer, for example, name, address and date of birth. The passenger will need to provide evidence of the correctness thereof.
How long do the peer passenger restrictions apply?
Peer passenger restrictions apply in the P1 stage of the provisional licence period, the same period required to display red P plates (a minimum cumulative 12 month period). Periods of licence suspension or cancellation will not count towards the 12 months, for example a 3-month suspension will mean a total restricted period of 15 months.
Are there exemptions from peer passenger restrictions?
Exemptions for immediate family members to be carried as passengers apply. No other exemptions are allowed, for example, for work purposes. Exemptions have been granted for emergency service workers and Queensland Police Service officers while driving in the course of their employment.
What about when I am driving interstate?
If you are driving interstate, you need to adhere to the conditions of your Queensland licence. You will also have to obey the other state's road rules. To find out if any special road rules or licensing requirements will apply to you when travelling interstate, it is best to contact the transport authority for the state that you will be driving in.
What are the high-powered vehicle restrictions?
Provisional P1 and P2 type licence holders are restricted from driving:
- vehicles with eight or more cylinders;
- turbocharged vehicles (except diesel);
- supercharged vehicles (except diesel);
- vehicles with an engine output of more than 200kw;
- vehicles with a rotary engine above 1146cc; and
- vehicles with an engine performance modification that is not standard to the original manufacturers vehicle specifications and requires approval from an Approved Person
If you are unsure whether a vehicle is restricted, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads at website www.tmr.gov.au.