Rules For P1 Drivers NSW
There are specific licence rules for P1 drivers NSW to follow when driving in New South Wales. In addition to complying with the NSW Road Rules, you also must:
- Only drive cars. You cannot apply to upgrade your licence to a higher class
- Have P plates displayed (red P on a white background) clearly on the front and back of the vehicle, on the outside. The letter P on the plate must not be hidden. If you’re towing a trailer, a P plate must be on the back of the trailer
- Observe a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h, and observe the posted speed limit, where it’s below 90 km/h
- Not tow any trailer more than 250 kilograms of unloaded weight. You must display a P plate (red P on a white background) on the back of the trailer while towing
- Not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration. This means you cannot have any alcohol in your system when you drive a vehicle. It’s also illegal to drive under the influence of drugs
- Not supervise a learner driver
- Ensure all occupants, including yourself, are in a seat that has a seatbelt or an approved restraint fitted, and that each passenger is using the seatbelt or restraint
- Not use any mobile phones, including hand free devices or loudspeaker, while driving or while your vehicle is stopped, but not parked
- Only drive automatic transmission vehicles, or clutchless manual vehicles, if you took your driving test in this type of vehicle. Your licence card will show the A034 condition on the front.
Failure to comply to the rules is an offence and carries heavy penalties, including loss of licence.
Demerit points
Demerit points apply to all P1 drivers. Your P1 licence will be suspended or refused if you reach or exceed 4 demerit points.
Speeding offences
If you commit any speeding offence your P1 licence will be suspended for at least three months. An additional suspension or refusal period will apply for any excessive speed offence (more than 30km/h over the speed limit).
Passenger Conditions Rules For P1 Drivers NSW
As a P1 licence holder, there are special conditions regarding the passengers you can carry:
- Peer passenger condition: If you’re under 25 and hold a P1 licence, you must not drive a vehicle with more than one passenger (other than the driver) who is under 21, between 11pm and 5am
- One passenger condition: If you’ve been disqualified for any driving offence committed on or after 11 July 2005, once you return from the disqualification period you must not carry more than one passenger at any time while driving. This condition will apply for 12 months
You may apply for an exemption by attending a registry or service centre in person, completing the P1/P2 passenger or vehicle exemption form (PDF, 305Kb) and paying the application fee.
An exemption from the peer passenger condition may be granted if:
- Your employment requires you to transport passengers between 11pm and 5am, and more than one of these passengers is, or is likely to be, under 21
- You can demonstrate a need to drive certain immediate family members between 11pm and 5am, and there are no alternative options
- You volunteer in community service work (eg Lifeline counselling) that requires the transport of passengers between 11pm and 5am, and more than one of these passengers is, or is likely to be, under 21.
Exemptions from the one passenger condition will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. You must provide reasons why your situation is exceptional.
If an exemption is granted, it will be limited to specific circumstances such as employment, and may also be limited to certain vehicles.
You must notify Roads and Maritime within 14 days if you have changed any circumstances which affect your exemption, including if you no longer require the exemption, or if the exemption letter needs replacing. A further fee may apply.
Prohibited Vehicles Rules For P1 Drivers NSW
Prohibited vehicle conditions apply to provisional licence holders to keep novice drivers safe on our roads.
From 1 August 2014, a high performance vehicle is defined as a vehicle which:
- Has a power to tare mass ratio (PMR) of greater than 130 kilowatts per tonne or
- Has had a significant engine modification, or
- Is listed in the Roads and Maritime Services document Novice Driver- High Performance Vehicle Restrictions as a high-performance vehicle.
Note: An exception from the prohibited vehicles condition is the person:
- Obtained a provisional licence before 1 Aug 2014 and continues to hold that licence, and
- The vehicle they are driving is now prohibited under the above definition, but was not previously prohibited under the previous definition.
You must not drive a banned vehicle unless you have been issued with an exemption.
You may apply for an exemption by attending a registry or service centre in person, completing the P1/P2 passenger or vehicle exemption form and paying the application fee.
An exemption from the prohibited vehicle condition may be granted if:
- A prohibited vehicle needs to be driven for genuine employment purposes
- A 4-wheel-drive vehicle with power to tare mass ratio (PMR) greater than 130 kilowatts per tonne is required by a country driver who has no practical alternative
If an exemption is granted, you must carry the exemption letter issued by Roads and Maritime Services while driving the vehicle.
You must notify Roads and Maritime within 14 days if you have changed any circumstances which affect your exemption, including if you no longer require the exemption, or if the exemption letter needs replacing. A further fee may apply.
Progressing to a P2 licence
Once you’ve held your P1 licence for at least 12 months, you can progress to the next licence stage and apply for a provisional P2 licence.
If your licence is suspended
Any period that your P1 licence is suspended is not counted towards your P2 licence. This means that if your licence is suspended, you must hold your P1 licence for an additional period equal to the suspension, before you can apply for a P2 licence.
Court disqualification
If you’re disqualified from driving by a court while on your P1 licence, the law operates to immediately and permanently cancel your licence. In this case, the time you’ve accumulated is forfeited. This means that when the disqualification period ends, you’ll have to apply for a new P1 licence, and complete the 12 months again before you can apply for a P2 licence.
Liquor Act offences
It’s an offence under section 129 of the Liquor Act 2007 to use false documents to gain access to licensed premises or to purchase alcohol. If you’re convicted of such an offence while holding a P1 licence, you’ll be required to hold your P1 licence for an additional six months, therefore 18 months in total.
