Where to study

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

Western Australia · Theory test

P plater rules in WA, red and green

Red P plates for 6 months, then green for the next 18 months or until you turn 19, whichever is longer. On red Ps you can carry only one passenger and you can’t drive between midnight and 5 am, with some exceptions. The P plater rules in WA also mean a 0.00% alcohol limit the whole time. The government has announced a longer, 3-year P period, with no start date yet.

  • 6 monthsOn red P plates
  • 18 monthsOn green P plates, at least
  • 1Passenger allowed on red Ps
Where to study

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

Which P plater rules apply in WA?

  • Display P plates on the front and back at all times
  • Keep your blood alcohol at 0.00%
  • Red Ps: no driving between midnight and 5 am
  • Red Ps: only one passenger in a car, or on a motorbike
  • Follow the WA road rules and the novice demerit limits

The red P plate passenger limit

This is Tom’s Law, in force since 1 December 2024. Breaking it costs a $200 fine and 2 demerit points. You can carry more than one passenger if:

  • one of them has held a full C class licence for at least 4 years
  • the others are immediate family, such as a partner, child, sibling, parent or grandparent
  • your job needs you to carry them, and you carry a letter from your employer

You don’t apply for these exemptions, but you must be able to show WA Police you meet them.

Night driving on red Ps

You can drive between midnight and 5 am only to, from or for work, or to or from school, by the shortest practical route. Carry proof, such as a letter from your employer or school, in case police stop you.

Do P plates apply if you’re over 25?

Yes. Drive Safe says a provisional licence goes to anyone who hasn’t held a licence for a total of two years, or who is under 19. Being over 25 only changes the learner stage: you don’t need to log supervised hours.

Demerit points and the safe driver reward

As a novice, you can be suspended at 4 demerit points from your learner’s permit to the end of your first year on Ps, and 8 points by the end of your second year. Finish your P plates without a traffic offence and the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) gives you a free 1-year licence renewal.

Checking your licence and points →

Changes announced for P platers

The April 2026 overhaul would make the P period 3 years, 1 year on red P plates and 2 on green, and ban phone use for P platers except for hands-free navigation and audio set up before you drive. No start date has been set.

All the announced changes →
Sources: Transport WA · WA Government and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

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

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewWhere to learnBook a PDAFeesID to bringOnlineDriving testRoad rules quizTest centres

Licence steps

Driver’s licenceL platesP platesCar licence classesRenewing your permitLicence check

Other licences

Motorcycle testHR licence