New P‑Plate Laws in Australia 2025, what actually changed
Are there new federal P‑plate laws in 2025
No. Australia does not pass a single set of P‑plate laws that apply to every driver. Each state sets phone rules, passenger limits, curfews and licence stages. Our earlier post called out a flood of AI written and overseas content that claimed a national change. That was incorrect, and the official summary from the national road safety office still shows differences by state.
What actually changed in 2024 to 2025
- Western Australia, Tom’s Law: red P drivers can carry only one passenger, curfew remains midnight to 5 am for new P drivers unless exempt.
- Other states and territories: core settings continue, zero BAC for L and P everywhere, phone bans for L and P in NSW, night peer passenger limits in QLD and SA, two stage P1 then P2 in most jurisdictions, NT keeps a single provisional stage.
2025 snapshot, state by state
| State or territory | Phone rules, L and P | Passengers and curfews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | No phone use for L, P1 or P2, this includes hands free and maps | P1 under 25, one passenger under 21 between 11 pm and 5 am | Speed limits apply for learners and P drivers, check P1 and P2 pages |
| QLD | Phone restrictions apply for L and P, check TMR page for details | P1 under 25, one peer passenger under 21 between 11 pm and 5 am | High powered vehicles restricted for provisional drivers |
| SA | P1 no phone use | Under 25, no driving midnight to 5 am, and no more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 | Exemptions exist, read the state page |
| WA | Standard L and P phone restrictions apply | Red P, one passenger limit, curfew midnight to 5 am for new P drivers | Tom’s Law is now in force statewide |
| VIC | Phone bans apply for P drivers, see VicRoads | P1 and P2 stages remain, peer passenger limits apply in specific situations | Victoria requires 18 for P in most cases |
| TAS | Total phone ban for L and P1, music and GPS only if set up before the trip with no interaction | P1 speed limit 100 km/h, other limits apply as posted | See Plates Plus for details |
| ACT | Two stage provisional, phone limits apply, check Access Canberra | P1 has late night peer passenger restrictions, then moves to P2 | Motorcycle provisional plates are red for the full period |
| NT | Phone limits and zero BAC apply | Single provisional stage rather than P1 and P2 | Confirm details with NT Government pages |
Fast myth buster for 2025
- “National curfew from 10 pm” is false, curfew and peer passenger limits are set by states like SA and QLD, WA applies Tom’s Law, NSW does not have a national curfew.
- “Hands free is now legal for all P drivers” is false in NSW, learners and P drivers cannot use a phone in any mode.
- “Commonwealth changed P rules in August” is false, the federal summary still shows state based differences.
We also updated this post to reflect our earlier article that debunked viral claims about a national change. Share accurate info, link your mates to the official pages below.
Official sources to check before a trip
- New South Wales, P1 and P2 rules and phone ban pages
- Queensland, TMR provisional restrictions
- South Australia, MyLicence provisional conditions
- Western Australia, Tom’s Law information page
- Victoria, VicRoads P1 and P2 pages
- Tasmania, Plates Plus phone ban
- ACT, Access Canberra licence stages
- Northern Territory, NT Government licence information
- National summary, Office of Road Safety placemat for quick comparison
FAQs
- Can P‑platers use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- In NSW the answer is no for L, P1 and P2, that includes hands free systems and maps. Other states have their own settings, check your authority if you are unsure.
- Do passenger limits include family members
- Many states exclude immediate family from night passenger caps. Read your state page for the exact definition and exemptions.
- Is Victoria lowering the P‑plate age to 17 in 2025
- Not at the time of writing. There is public discussion, however no confirmed change in law.
