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Australian Learner Driver Passenger Rules 2026

By Gabrielle
Driver Safety
Driver Safety Updated July 2026

Learner driver passenger rules in Australia

The short answer: while you are on your Ls, your supervisor has to be with you, and most states set no limit on how many passengers you carry. The stricter passenger rules start once you are on your Ps, and they are different in every state.

M Metro Driving School Updated 12 July 2026 6 min read

Passenger rules confuse a lot of learners and parents, mostly because two different sets of rules get muddled together. There are the rules that apply while you are learning on your Ls, and the tighter rules that apply once you pass and move onto your provisional Ps. This guide keeps them separate, then lets you check your own state.

On this page

Learners and P-platers follow different rules

The passenger limits people worry about, such as "can I drive my mates", almost always refer to P1 drivers, not learners. On your Ls the main rule is simply that a qualified supervisor sits beside you.

On your Ls Learner

A fully licensed supervisor must be beside you at all times. Beyond seatbelts, most states place no limit on passengers. The focus is supervised practice, not who is in the back seat.

On your Ps Provisional (P1)

Once you pass, you drive alone, so states step in with peer-passenger limits, usually capping young passengers and, in some states, late-night driving. This is where the well-known restrictions live.

Check your state or territory

Rules are set by each state and territory, not nationally. Pick yours below. If you drive across a border, the rules of the state you are in apply.

Queensland Metro's home state

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in QLD.

SupervisorOpen licence for the vehicle class, held at least 1 year, sitting beside you.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts for everyone.
Logbook100 hours supervised, including 10 at night, if you are under 25.
Phone & alcoholUnder-25 learners cannot touch a phone, even hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesIf you are under 25, between 11pm and 5am you can carry only one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family. See the full QLD L & P plate restrictions.

New South Wales

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in NSW.

SupervisorA full (unrestricted) Australian licence holder, sitting next to you.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook120 hours, including 20 at night, if you are under 25.
Phone & alcoholNo phone use at all, including hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesIf you are under 25, you cannot carry more than one passenger under 21 between 11pm and 5am. Exemptions can be applied for.

Victoria

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in VIC.

SupervisorA full (non-probationary) licence holder in the front passenger seat.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook120 hours, including 10 at night, if you are under 21.
Phone & alcoholNo phone use, including hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesYou can carry only one peer passenger aged 16 to under 22, at any time of day, not just at night. Family and some other exemptions apply.

Western Australia

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in WA.

SupervisorSomeone who has held a licence for at least 4 years, sitting beside you.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook50 hours supervised, including 5 at night (25 and over are exempt).
Phone & alcoholHand-held phones banned; a mounted or hands-free phone may be used. Zero alcohol.
On your P plates (first 6 months)All red P-platers, whatever their age, may carry only one passenger and cannot drive between midnight and 5am. This started on 1 December 2024. Work and family exemptions apply.

South Australia

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in SA.

SupervisorA qualified supervising driver who has held a full licence for at least 2 years.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook75 hours, including 15 at night, if you are under 25.
Phone & alcoholNo phone use, including hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesIf you are under 25, no more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 at any time, and no driving between midnight and 5am unless a qualified supervisor is with you. Immediate family are exempt.

Tasmania

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in TAS.

SupervisorA full licence holder, sitting next to you at all times.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook80 hours, including 15 at night, across the L1 and L2 stages.
Phone & alcoholNo phone use, including hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesIf you are under 25, you may carry only one peer passenger aged 16 to 21, at any time of day. Some family and work exemptions apply.

Australian Capital Territory

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in the ACT.

SupervisorA full Australian licence holder with zero alcohol, sitting next to you.
Passengers on LsNo limit beyond seatbelts.
Logbook100 hours, including 10 at night, if under 25 (50 including 5 if 25 or over).
Phone & alcoholNo phone use, including hands-free. Zero alcohol.
On your P1 platesIf you are under 25, only one non-family passenger aged 16 to 22 between 11pm and 5am.

Northern Territory

Learner passenger and supervisor rules in the NT.

SupervisorA fully licensed driver in the front passenger seat (a paid instructor must have zero alcohol).
Passengers on LsNo passenger restrictions beyond seatbelts.
LogbookNone required. The NT is the only place with no minimum supervised hours, though practice is still strongly encouraged.
Phone & alcoholNo phone use for learners. Zero alcohol.
On your P platesThe NT has no peer-passenger limit and no night-driving restriction for provisional drivers.

The rules every learner shares

Wherever you are learning, a handful of rules apply to all of us.

🅛

Display your L plates

Clearly at the front and rear, whenever you are driving.

0.00

Zero alcohol

Every state requires a 0.00 reading for learners, no exceptions.

👤

Supervisor beside you

A qualified, licensed driver must supervise every drive.

📵

Phone away

Most states ban all phone use for learners, including hands-free.

🔒

Everyone belted

You are responsible for making sure every passenger is buckled up.

📓

Log your hours

Record supervised driving accurately (the NT is the exception).

P1 passenger limits, side by side

This is where states differ most. Some limit young passengers only late at night, others at all hours, and a couple take a different approach again.
State Applies to Passenger limit When
QLD P1, under 25 1 passenger under 21 (non-family) 11pm to 5am
NSW P1, under 25 1 passenger under 21 11pm to 5am
VIC All P1 1 peer passenger aged 16 to 21 Any time
WA All red P, first 6 months 1 passenger (any), plus night ban All hours; night ban midnight to 5am
SA P1, under 25 1 passenger aged 16 to 20 Any time; plus night ban midnight to 5am
TAS P1, under 25 1 peer passenger aged 16 to 21 Any time
ACT P1, under 25 1 non-family passenger aged 16 to 22 11pm to 5am
NT Provisional No restriction —

Common questions from Queensland learners

Yes. In Queensland there is no limit on passengers while you are on your Ls, as long as your supervising driver is beside you and everyone is belted. Many instructors still suggest keeping the car quiet in the early lessons, so you can concentrate while the basics become second nature.

On a Queensland P1 licence, if they are under 25 they can carry only one passenger under 21 who is not immediate family, and only between 11pm and 5am. Outside those hours there is no passenger limit. Other states word this differently, so check the selector above if they drive interstate.

In Queensland, a driver who holds an open licence for that class of vehicle, has held it for at least a year, is under the alcohol limit, and sits in the front passenger seat. A professional instructor also qualifies, and in Queensland the first 10 hours of paid lessons each count as three hours in your logbook.

Yes. Road rules are set by each state and territory, and the rules of the state you are driving in apply. A Queensland learner driving in New South Wales follows the NSW rules for that trip.

Usually not. Extra passengers add noise and pressure, which is the last thing a nervous learner needs early on. Building confidence on quieter Brisbane streets first, then adding passengers later, tends to work better. A patient local instructor can make those first drives far less daunting.

These rules were checked against official state and territory transport sources in July 2026. Road rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with your state's transport authority before relying on them. This article is general information, not legal advice.

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Queensland guideFull QLD L & P plate restrictionsEvery restriction by licence stage, for Queensland drivers. LessonsDriving lesson packagesStructured lessons with a patient local instructor. Get startedBook a lessonFind a time that suits, across Brisbane and beyond.

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