Key Changes
Phase 1 reforms to the Novice Licensing System effective 25/08/2008
- P1 and P2 stages
- Driving Reward
- Compulsory P2 stage
- Separate provisional stages for cars and motorcycles
- Licence renewal
- Tougher Penalties
Phase 2 reforms to the Novice Licensing System effective 25/08/2008
Phase 1 reforms to the Novice Licensing System
From 25 August 2008, there will be some changes to the licensing system. The changes affect novices - you're a novice driver if you've never held a full car licence and you're a novice rider if you've never held a full motorcycle licence.
The changes will not make it harder for you to get a licence. there will be tougher penalties if you drive your car or motorcycle in a way that is unsafe and illegal. And for those that don't break the law - there's a driving reward.
Here's what the changes are about:
P1 and P2 stages
The existing 'first year' provisional period will become the 'P1 stage', and a subsequent provisional period will become the 'P2 stage'
If you already hold a provisional licence on 25 August 2008, then you'll automatically be treated as being in either the P1 or P2 stage and all of the new changes will apply to you
Driving Reward
Obey the road rules and you may get a financial reward.
The reward is a refund of your money that you paid to have your P1 and P2 licence issues. (excludes and driving assessment fees). This is around $50 (or $35 for concession holders).
If your provisional licence was issued on or after 25 August 2008 and you don't commit a driving offence in your P1 and P2 stages, then you can apply to get the refund. To see if you are eligible for the reward read the Offence Free Reward Application form below.
Offence Free Reward Application Form 
(48.7KB)
Compulsory P2 stage
As well as holding a P1 licence for at least 12 months, every novice driver and novice rider must hold a P2 licence for a minimum period:
| Age when get | Minimum time must |
| 18 - under 23 | 2 years |
| 23 - under 25 | 12 months or until 25 |
| Over 25 | 12 months |
Separate provisional stages for cars and motorcycles
If you want both a car and a motorcycle licence you will have to complete P1 and P2 stages for a car, and P1 and P2 stages for a motorcycle.
Licence renewal
Learner licences will now be renewable. However, if you fail to renew the licence within 28 days, then the earliest you can do your practical driving assessment will change (for car drivers) and you'll have to re-do the Pre-Learner Motorcycle Training Course (for motorcycle riders).
Tougher Penalties
1. Learner without appropriate supervising driver
- If you're a learner and you drive without a supervising driver, or your supervising driver is not an appropriate person, then you will lose your licence and pay a fine
- Check out who qualifies as an appropriate person to supervise your driving.
2. Fail to display L or P plates
- If you don't display your L or P plates on both the front and back of your car (or the back of your motorcycle), then you will lose demerit points and pay a fine, for a P1 licence holder your P1 period will also start again
- Remember, if you lose 4 demerit points you lose your novice licence and you won't be allowed to drive
3. Regression to previous licensing Stage
- If you lose your licence twice in the same licensing stage or twice within six months, then you will be sent back to the previous licensing stage
- This means
- if you're in the L1 stage you go back to not holding a licence and you must wait 3 months before you're eligible to apply for another learner licence
- if you're in the L2 stage you go back to the L1 stage and must hold the licence for at least 28 days and re-sit the L2 practical driving assessment
- if you're in the P1 stage you go back to the L2 stage and you must hold a learner licence for at least 28 days and re-sit the P1 practical driving assessment
- if you're in the P2 stage you go back to the P1 stage and you must hold a P1 provisional licence again for a continuous 12-month period
- You'll have to spend a set amount of time in the lower licensing stage before you can progress further in the licensing system, AND when you do come back up to the higher licensing stage, you'll have to pay the usual licence and assessment fees again
4. Restart
If you commit any of the these offences while you're in the P1 stage, then you will have to start that stage all over again (as well as incur the usual penalty for the specific offence, eg pay a fine and lose demerit points):
- failing to wear seatbelt
- using a mobile phone while driving
- speeding 10 km/h or more over the speed limit
- failing to ride only a learner approved motorcycle (LAM)
- failing to display P plates (starts in phase 2, 27/04/2009)
- failing to wear an approved helmet (motorcycle only) (starts in phase, 2 27/04/2009)
If you commit one of these offences during the P1 stage, but you have moved on to the P2 stage by the time you are convicted for the offence, then you'll have to stay in the P2 stage for a longer period
Phase 2 reforms to the Novice Licensing System
From April 2009, there will be some more changes to the licensing system for car drivers. These changes aim to improve the learning experience for new drivers, so that when they become solo drivers they are safer drivers, and the chances of them being killed or seriously injured in a crash are significantly reduced.
There's still no need to rush in and get your licence or book a driving assessment. Remember, the more practice you have as a learner the safer you will be when you drive solo.
Here's what the changes are about:
12 month learner stage for car drivers
- If you're a learner you must complete a total of 12 months in the learner stage
- The learner stage will be divided into an L1 stage and an L2 stage
- You must do 3-months in the L1 stage and 9-months in the L2 stage
L1 stage (3 months)
- In the L1 stage, you'll learn basic car handling skills.
- You must only drive with an appropriate supervising driver, but you don't have to record hours in your L1 Learner Driver Logbook.
- You must pass a practical on-road assessment at the end of the L1 stage, before moving on to the L2 stage.
L2 stage (9 months)
- In the L2 stage, you'll gain greater experience and learn more advanced driving skills, such as being aware of hazards and avoiding risks.
- You must drive for a total of at least 50 supervised driving hours, and record these hours in your L2 Learner Driver Logbook
- You must pass another practical driving assessment at the end of the L2 stage, before moving on to the provisional stages.
