P plate rules in SA: what applies on P1 and P2

Conditions on P1 and P2

Breach a condition and you lose your licence and are disqualified, on top of any other penalty:

• No alcohol in your blood, and no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in your blood or saliva
• Don’t exceed any speed limit by 10 km/h or more
• Don’t build up four or more demerit points during your provisional licence

Which P plate rules in SA apply only on P1?

These stop when you move to P2:

• Show P plates, a red P on white, clearly visible from the front and rear
• Don’t use any mobile phone function while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth and the phone’s GPS
• If you’re under 25, don’t drive between midnight and 5 am
• If you’re under 25, carry no more than one passenger aged 16 to 20, not counting immediate family

The two under-25 rules don’t apply if a qualified supervising driver sits next to you or you meet the exemption criteria.

On P2 you can use a phone function while driving, such as taking a call through Bluetooth, as long as you follow the road rules.

Getting your P’s

You can apply for your P1 licence once you:

• Are at least 17
• Have held your learner’s permit for 12 months, or 6 months if you’re 25 or over
• Have logged at least 75 hours, 15 of them at night
• Have passed a Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) or a Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) course
• Have passed the hazard perception test

Take your learner’s permit, certificate of competency, The Driving Companion with its completed declaration and an application form to a Service SA centre. The fee is $193, or $106 with a concession, and the card comes in the post within 3 weeks.