P-Plate Laws in Australia 2026, What Actually Changed
P-plate rules are still state and territory based. There is no single national P-plate overhaul for Australia in 2026.
Are there new national P-plate laws in 2026?
No. Australia does not have one national P-plate rulebook that applies the same way in every state and territory. Phone rules, passenger limits, curfews, speed limits, vehicle restrictions and licence stages are set by each jurisdiction.
That means a viral post saying "all Australian P-platers now have a 10 pm curfew" or "all P-platers can now use hands-free phones" should be treated with caution. Always check the road authority for your own licence state, and also check the rules where you are driving.
What actually changed for 2026?
Western Australia, current rule
WA's Tom's Law is in force. Red P-plate drivers in Western Australia are limited to one passenger in the vehicle at all times, unless an exemption applies. WA red P-platers also remain subject to the midnight to 5 am driving restriction for the first 6 months of holding a valid provisional licence, unless an exemption applies.
Western Australia, announced reform
In April 2026, the WA Government announced a broader Graduated Licensing System overhaul. The announced changes include increasing the minimum learner period from 6 months to 12 months, increasing supervised driving hours from 50 to 80 hours, extending the provisional period from 2 years to 3 years, and adding stronger mobile phone restrictions for learner and provisional drivers. WA has stated that implementation timeframes are still to be determined, so do not treat every announced measure as active law until the official licensing pages confirm it.
Other states and territories
NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory continue to run their own systems. Their core settings still differ, especially on mobile phone use, passenger limits and whether P1 and P2 are separate stages.
2026 snapshot, state by state
This is a general guide only. Rules change, exemptions exist, and motorcycle rules can be different from car rules.
| State or territory | Phone and device rules | Passenger limits and curfews | Key note for 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Learner, P1 and P2 drivers must not use a mobile phone while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth, loudspeaker, music, maps and navigation. | P1 drivers under 25 must not drive with more than one passenger under 21 between 11 pm and 5 am. | No national change. NSW remains one of the strictest states for P-plate phone use. |
| QLD | Learner and P1 drivers under 25 must not use hands-free, wireless headsets or a mobile phone loudspeaker. P1 drivers also face broader mobile phone restrictions while driving. | P1 drivers under 25 can only carry one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member between 11 pm and 5 am. | P2 drivers generally no longer have the P1 passenger restriction and may use hands-free phone functions, subject to Queensland rules. |
| SA | Learner permit and P1 licence holders are banned from using any mobile phone function while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth, loudspeaker, GPS and texting. | P1 drivers under 25 must not drive between midnight and 5 am, and must not drive with more than one passenger aged 16 to 20, excluding immediate family, unless an exemption applies. | Passenger limits can apply at any time of day for affected P1 drivers, not only late at night. |
| WA | Current general WA mobile phone rules apply. A new learner and provisional driver device restriction has been announced as part of WA's 2026 GLS overhaul, but timing is still to be confirmed. | Red P-platers can only carry one passenger at all times, unless exempt. New P drivers also have a midnight to 5 am restriction for the first 6 months, unless exempt. | Tom's Law is in force. Wider GLS reforms have been announced, but check official timing before relying on them. |
| VIC | Learner, P1 and P2 drivers must not operate portable devices while driving, including for phone calls and navigation. | P1 drivers must not carry more than one peer passenger aged 16 to under 22, with listed exemptions such as spouse, domestic partner, sibling or step-sibling. | Victoria still has P1 and P2 stages, with red plates first and green plates after that. |
| TAS | Learner and P1 drivers are banned from mobile phone use. Music and GPS may be allowed only if set up before the trip and there is no interaction while driving. | P1 drivers must follow peer passenger restrictions if under 25. P1 drivers must not drive faster than 100 km/h, even where a higher posted limit applies. | P2 drivers can drive at the posted speed limit and may use a phone in hands-free or speaker mode, subject to Tasmanian road rules. |
| ACT | Learner and provisional drivers are subject to a full mobile device ban, including texting, social media, Bluetooth, hands-free and speaker mode. | P1 drivers are limited to one peer-aged passenger between 11 pm and 5 am. A peer-aged passenger is aged 16 to 22 and is not a family member. | If you are under 25 when issued a provisional licence, ACT uses P1 for 12 months then P2 for 2 years. If issued at 25 or older, you generally go straight to P2. |
| NT | Learner or provisional drivers using any mobile phone can be fined and receive demerit points. | NT provisional licence holders are restricted to a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The NT uses a single provisional stage rather than separate P1 and P2 stages. | Provisional licence duration is generally 2 years if under 25, or 1 year if 25 or older. |
Fast myth buster for 2026
- "There is a new national P-plate curfew." False. Curfews and passenger limits are state based.
- "All P-platers can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto now." False. Some jurisdictions still restrict learner and provisional drivers from using phone-based navigation or portable devices while driving.
- "WA's announced 2026 reforms are all active right now." Not confirmed. Tom's Law is active, but the wider GLS overhaul still needs official implementation timing.
- "P2 rules are the same everywhere." False. Some states allow more device use or remove passenger limits at P2, while others keep strong restrictions.
What about motorcycle P-platers?
This article mainly covers car P-plate rules. Motorcycle licensing rules can be different, including LAMS requirements, pillion passenger limits, plate display rules, speed restrictions and device restrictions.
WA has also flagged motorcycle Graduated Licensing System reform consultation in 2026. If you ride on Ls or Ps, check your state's motorcycle licence page before assuming the car rules apply to you.
Official sources to check before you drive
- NSW mobile phones, digital screens and GPS
- NSW provisional P1 licence rules
- Queensland provisional licence restrictions
- Queensland driving and mobile phones
- South Australia P1 provisional licence
- South Australia mobile phone rules
- WA Red plate. One mate, Tom's Law
- WA driving on your P plates
- WA 2026 Graduated Licensing System overhaul announcement
- Victoria learner and probationary driver road rules
- Tasmania P1 restrictions
- Tasmania mobile phone ban
- ACT Safe Plates FAQ
- ACT licence classes and conditions
- Northern Territory get your driver licence
- Northern Territory traffic offence fines and demerit points
- Austroads Australian driver licensing overview
FAQs
- Can P-platers use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto?
- It depends on the state and how the system is being used. In NSW, learner, P1 and P2 drivers cannot use a mobile phone in any mode while driving, including maps and hands-free systems. In other states, the answer depends on whether the device is portable, mounted, inbuilt, set before the trip, or interacted with while driving.
- Do passenger limits include family members?
- Often, but not always, immediate family members are treated differently. For example, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT have specific wording around peer-aged passengers, immediate family or listed exemptions. Check the exact state rule before driving.
- Is WA's Tom's Law active in 2026?
- Yes. WA red P-plate drivers are limited to one passenger at all times, unless an exemption applies.
- Are WA's 2026 Graduated Licensing System reforms active now?
- Not all of them. WA announced a wider overhaul in April 2026, but the Government also said implementation timeframes are still to be determined. Treat those as announced reforms until the official WA licensing pages confirm commencement.
- Are motorcycle P-plate rules the same as car P-plate rules?
- No. Motorcycle rules can differ by state and may include LAMS, pillion passenger restrictions, separate plate rules, speed limits and training requirements.
