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Western Australia · Theory test

L plates in WA: the rules for learner drivers

You get them when you pass the theory test, and they go on the front and back of the car every time you drive. With L plates in WA you must have a supervising driver with you, stay at or under 100 km/h, keep your blood alcohol at 0.00%, and stay out of Kings Park. If you’re under 25, you also log at least 50 supervised hours, 5 of them at night. The government has announced 80 hours and a 12-month learner period, without a start date.

  • 100 km/hTop speed for learners
  • 50 hoursLogged hours if under 25, 5 at night
  • 4 yearsTime your supervisor has held a car licence
Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What are the L plates rules in WA?

  • Drive only with a supervising driver
  • Show L plates on the front and back
  • Never go over the speed limit, or over 100 km/h
  • Blood alcohol of 0.00%
  • Stay out of areas where learners aren’t allowed, such as Kings Park
  • Four demerit points can mean suspension or disqualification

How many passengers can a learner driver have in WA?

The Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) doesn’t set a passenger limit for learners. Its guide for remote learners says that while learning you may drive at night, tow a trailer and carry passengers. The one-passenger rule starts on red P plates.

Red P plate passenger rules →

Who can supervise you

  • A licensed driving instructor, family member or friend
  • For a car, someone who has held a current licence for at least 4 years
  • Licensed for the type of car: a manual-licence holder for a manual

Supervisors must follow the same alcohol and drug rules as if they were driving, make sure the L plates are on and the car is licensed and roadworthy, and sign off the log book after each drive.

Choosing a driving instructor →

Logging your hours: 50 required, and why Drive Safe points to 100

If you’re under 25, you need at least 50 supervised hours, including 5 between sunset and sunrise, before the practical driving assessment. You can log them in the printed Learner Log Book, which costs $10.70, in the free Learn&Log app in ServiceWA, or in both. If you’re 25 or older you don’t log hours for a car licence.

Drive Safe says research shows young drivers with 100 to 120 hours of supervised driving are better prepared and less likely to crash, and it suggests driving on freeways and highways, at night, and at 80 to 100 km/h. Only hours recorded in an approved log book count, and if you lose a paper log book, the hours in it have to be done again.

What the driving test checks →

Changes announced for learners

The April 2026 overhaul would raise the minimum learner period from 6 to 12 months, raise the hours to 80 with 10 at night, ban learners from using phones except for hands-free navigation and audio set up before driving, and set a zero alcohol limit for supervisors. No start date has been set.

All the announced changes →
Sources: Transport WA · WA Government and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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