Prerequisites:
You must pass both the Hazard Perception Test and Practical Driving Test to progress to your Red Ps (Provisional P1 Licence).
Hazard Perception Test
For people under 25, the learner licence must be held for a minimum of 10 months before you can attempt a Hazard Perception Test.
For people over 25, you can attempt your Hazard Perception Test as soon as you hold a learner licence (there is no requirement for you to have held your licence for a specified time).
Practical Driving Test
For people under 25, the learner licence must be held for a minimum of 12 months and you must have already passed the Hazard Perception Test before you can attempt a practical driving test to move to your Red Ps.
On your learner licence, you must complete 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours of night driving between sunset and sunrise). These hours must be recorded in the Learner Driver Log Book issued to you or via an RMS endorsed logbook app.
You are exempt from completing the log book and required hours if you:
- Are older than 25
- Have previously held a NSW, interstate or overseas driver licence (other than a learner licence)
- Currently hold an overseas licence (other than a learner licence) and are issued with a learner licence because you have failed a practical driving test
- Are specifically exempted by Roads and Maritime Services
Interstate licences:
Hours recorded in an interstate learner driver log book will count towards your NSW supervised hours if you can provide appropriate evidence.
Reducing the required hours:
There are two ways to reduce the hours required to progress to your red Ps.
- Attending a Safer Drivers Course run by Roads and Maritime Services. This course teaches learners vital driving skills with the aim to reduce your crash risk when you are able to drive without supervision. Attending a Safer Drivers Course will count as 20 hours towards your required 120 hours. (You must have 50 hours of supervised driving before you can complete a Safer Drivers Course.)
- Complete professional driving lessons with accredited instructors. For each hour of professional driving lessons (up to a maximum of 10 hours) you receive an additional 2 hours of credit towards the required 120 hours.
These actions will make you a safer driver, increase your chances of passing the practical driving test and significantly reduce the required hours. By completing a Safer Drivers Course and 10 hours of professional driving lessons, you will already have 50 hours towards your 120-hour requirement (20 hours for the course + 10 supervised by instructor + 20 bonus hours for professional lessons). This means you will only need a further 70 hours (including 20 hours of night driving).
Licence features:
When you pass the practical driving test, your red Ps (provisional P1 licence) is valid for 18 months or until you get your green Ps (provisional P2). Your provisional P1 licence can be renewed after 18 months if you haven’t progressed to your provisional P2. If you renew, you will not have to pass the practical driving test again.
In addition to following the road rules like all road users should, there are specific rules associated with a provisional P1 licence. Disobeying these additional rules could result in heavy fines or loss of licence.
| Blood Alcohol Concentration | Zero (no alcohol in your system) |
| Demerit points | 4 points |
| Plate display | Plates must be displayed clearly on the exterior of the front and back of the vehicle |
| Maximum speed limit | 90km/h |
| Towing | Max = trailer of 250kg unloaded weight |
| Supervision | Not allowed to supervise a learner |
| Mobile phone | Not allowed unless vehicle is parked |
| Passenger limits | Drivers under 25 are restricted to one passenger under 21 from 11pm to 5 am |
| Licence class | Only applies to C class (car) |
| Transmission | If tested in automatic, can only drive automatic |
| Vehicles | Must not drive vehicle with:
|
Requirements to progress:
To progress to your green Ps (provisional P2) you must:
- Have held your red Ps (provisional P1) for at least 12 months
- Have a good driving record (no suspensions)
- Apply for your green Ps (provisional P2 licence)
Periods in which your licence has been suspended do not count towards the 12-month requirement.
If you are disqualified from driving on your red Ps, you must reapply and any time accumulated towards the 12-month requirement is void.
An additional 6 months is added to this requirement if you are convicted of using false documents to gain access to licensed premises or to purchase alcohol while on your P1 licence.
Check out the other resources available to help you pass the Hazard Perception Test and Practical Driving Test and get your provisional P1 licence (Red Ps):
Hazard Perception Test
Practical Driving Test
For comprehensive information on the provisional P1 licence and practical driving test, please refer to the Roads and Maritime Services website. The above information is a summary of this content and although current when published may now be outdated. To ensure you are accessing the most current and accurate information, use the RMS website or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.
L Plates (Learners)
Red P Plates (P1)
Green P Plates (P2)
Full Licence