To get your provisional P1 car licence (red Ps) you must pass a Q-SAFE Practical Driving Test. The resources on this site should help you achieve this. To attempt the test you must:
Log book details (for learners under 25):
On your learner licence, you must complete 100 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours of night driving between sunset and sunrise). These hours must be recorded in the Learner Log Book issued to you.
Interstate and foreign learner licences
Driving experience in Australia or New Zealand on an Australian or New Zealand learner licence can count towards your 100-hour requirement if you fill in a Prior Driving Experience Declaration (Form F4450).
Driving experience gained in a recognised country on a foreign learner licence can also count towards your 100-hour requirement if you fill in a Prior Driving Experience Declaration (form F4450). This experience can count as no more than 50 hours as it is a requirement to progress that at least 50 hours (including the required 10 hours of night driving) must have been gained on Australian roads and recorded in your logbook.
Reducing the required hours
To reduce the hours required to progress to your Red Ps, you can c omplete 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 100 hours.
These hours with an accredited instructor will make you a safer driver, increase your chances of passing the practical driving test and significantly reduce the required hours. By completing 10 hours of professional driving lessons, you will already have 30 hours towards your 100 hour requirement (10 supervised by instructor + 20 bonus hours for professional lessons). This means you will only need a further 70 hours (including 10 hours of night driving).
Licence features:
When you pass the Q-SAFE Practical Driving Test, your red Ps (provisional P1 licence) is valid for up to 5 years or until you get your green Ps (provisional P2) or open licence (if you were 24 when you got your P1 licence). Your provisional P1 licence can be renewed if you haven’t progressed.
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 in a 1-year period |
| Plate display | Plates must be displayed clearly on the exterior of the front and back of the vehicle |
| Maximum speed limit | The limit as signed (no provisional limit) |
| Supervision | Not allowed to supervise a learner |
| Mobile phone | Not allowed unless vehicle is parked Passengers of a provisional P1 driver under 25 are not allowed to use loudspeaker function |
| Passenger limits | Drivers under 25 are restricted to 1 passenger under 21 from 11pm-5am (unless they are members of your direct family) |
| Licence class | Only applies to C class (car) |
| Transmission | If tested in automatic, can only drive automatic |
| Vehicles | Drivers under 25 must not drive: |
Requirements to progress:
To progress from your red Ps you must h ave held your red Ps (provisional P1) for at least 12 months. Then:
Periods in which your licence has been expired, suspended or you are disqualified do not count towards the stated time requirements.
Check out the other QLD Driving Test resources available to help you pass the Q-SAFE Practical Driving Test and get your provisional P1 licence (Red Ps) or, if 25 or over, P2 provisional licence (Green Ps):
For comprehensive information on the provisional P1 licence and Q-SAFE Practical Driving Test, please refer to the Department of Transport and Main Roads 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 Department of Transport and Main Roads website or visit your nearest Transport and Motoring Service Centre.
