With a P1 provisional licence you can drive independently, without a qualified supervising driver or driving instructor.

But remember, your P-plates must be on, your licence handy, and the road rules and P licence rules must be followed.

Driving on your own can test all the skills you learned on your L’s without having the safety net of a qualified supervising driver with you.

Speeding, driving at night, or when tired or distracted are dangerous mistakes to be avoided.

Stay safe. Always wear your seatbelt and stay focused on driving.

P-platers need to follow these P1 provisional licence conditions

Provisional licence conditions
You can only drive the class of vehicle stated on your provisional licence, under the following conditions:

• You must not drive a motor vehicle with any concentration of alcohol in your blood or the presence of cannabis, speed or MDMA (ecstasy) in your blood or oral saliva.
• You must display P-plates so that they’re clearly visible from the front & rear of the car. (P2 drivers do not need to display P-plates) Motorcycles, back only.
• A speeding offence of 10 km/h or more over the speed limit is a breach of your provisional licence conditions.

Other rules…

• You must carry your provisional licence at all times whilst driving.
• You must not drive over 100 km/h even if the local speed limit exceeds 100 km/h.
• You must not accumulate four or more demerit points during the provisional licence period.
• You must not drive a high-powered vehicle while you are under the age of 25 until you get your full driver’s licence (unless you have an exemption certificate).
• You must not use any mobile phone function while driving, including:
  • Hands-free mode and Bluetooth technology
  • Loud speaker operation
  • Text messaging.

Breaking the rules
If you break any of the P-rules you could get a fine, demerit points, be disqualified from driving and have to go to court.

If you get any demerit points while under 19 years of age, you’ll need to hold the provisional licence until you’re at least 20.

If you are disqualified while you hold a P1 licence you’ll lose your licence for at least six months… and when you return to driving you’ll have to go back to:

• Re-apply for a learner’s permit and
• Pass a practical driving test again (VORT or CBT or Advanced RiderSafe for motorbikes)
• Curfew and passenger restrictions may apply if you have committed a for serious disqualification.

Safer Driver Agreement
If you are disqualified you may be able to elect to enter into a Safer Driver Agreement instead of serving the 6 month disqualification period (unless it was a serious disqualification offence or within the last 5 years you have either successfully appealed a disqualification or entered into a Safer Driver Agreement).

The Safer Driver Agreement will apply for the duration of your provisional licence.
Serious disqualification offences

You’ll get a curfew condition for 12 months with your next licence. No driving from 12:00 am to 5:00 am without a Qualified Supervising Driver seated beside you and it will also mean no other passengers can travel with you.

Serious disqualification offences include:

• criminal driving offences e.g. causing death by dangerous driving
• an offence that incurs four or more demerit points
• a second speeding offence that incurs three or more demerit points
• a red light offence and a speeding offence from the same incident
• any offence committed by a person previously disqualified from driving.

More about driving laws, offences and penalties

High-powered vehicle restrictions apply:

• if you hold a provisional licence and are under the age of 25
• if you obtained your P1 on or after 4 September 2010
• if you were disqualified and returned to driving on a P1 licence on or after 4 September 2010.

High-powered vehicle restrictions do not apply:

• if you are 25 years of age or older
• if you obtained your P1 or P2 licence before 4 September 2010
• if you have an exemption certificate.

Exemptions may be approved in special circumstances by completing the Application for Exemption from High-Powered Vehicle Restrictions. Your driving offence history, the availability of public transport and of other vehicles that may be available to you will be taken into account when determining your application.

Breaking the rules

The penalty for driving a high-powered vehicle includes paying an expiation fine and you will incur demerit points.

High-powered vehicles

A high powered vehicle is a light vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Mass of less than 4500 kgs that has:

• 8 or more cylinders
• a turbocharged or supercharged engines(except diesel powered vehicles with less than 8 cylinders)
• been modified to increase engine performance (link to vehicle modifications section below)
• been nominated high performance vehicles - refer to the list of Included Vehicles in the High-powered vehicles notice below.

Excluded vehicles - vehicles listed under the list of Vehicles Excluded in the High-powered vehicles notice below have turbo charged or supercharged engines for fuel efficiency improvements and therefore are not classifiied as high performance vehicles.

High-powered vehicles notice (PDF 1Mb) (updated 16 May 2013)

Vehicle modifications to increase engine performance

High-powered vehicle restrictions apply to vehicles that have been modified to increase engine performance. The following information may help to determine the type of modifcations that may be included in this defiinition but may not be exhaustive and should not be taken as a precise interpretation of the law.

Vehicle attributes include:

• Induction system
• Fuel system
• Engine
• Exhaust system

Note: under no circumstances should any of the above be modified or replaced with parts or components unapproved by the vehicle manufacturer, unless it is deemed essential during routine maintenance or failure rectification, see examples below:

Essential modifications
There may be instances when something fails during the course of its operational life. In these instances the affected parts or systems will need to be modified. Examples:

Allowed	An engine cylinder head with a damaged head gasket will require skimming and the intake and exhaust valves potentially replaced or re-seated. In this instance the cylinder head may be skimmed to the minimum required to provide a flat surface for sealing purposes only, and if valves are replaced they must be of the same diameter and shape as the original part.
	Camshafts can wear out prematurely if the lubrication system fails or the incorrect engine oil is used. They may be replaced with original camshafts from the vehicle manufacturer or camshaft that have the same profile i.e. lift and duration as the original design for that vehicle.
Prohibited	Any unnecessary removal or polishing of material either from the cylinder head sealing surface or intake and/or exhaust tracks.
	Camshafts that have a higher lift, longer duration (aggressive profile) than the original fitted to the vehicle at the time of manufacture.
	Any modifications to the vehicles computer system with regards to airflow rates, fuel delivery rates or ignition timing etc.

Essential replacements
There may be instances when something fails during the course of its operational life. In these instances the affected part or system will need to be replaced. If a non-original (aftermarket) part is used then it must be a direct replacement for the original and designed to fit within the current housing and/or mounting system and operate within the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Examples:

Allowed	An exhaust system that is corroded beyond repair must be replaced with either a new original replacement from the vehicle manufacturer or an equivalent non-original (aftermarket) system that meets approval standards for emissions and noise.
	Replacing the air filter with a non-original (aftermarket) equivalent is acceptable as long as designed to be a direct replacement and fits correctly within the original air filter housing.
Prohibited	Free flow extractors and/or mufflers and/or the removal of the catalyst (if originally fitted with one).
	Any type of induction kit that will increase airflow to the engine above that of the original system.
	Replacing the vehicle's computer system with anything other than the original specified by the vehicle manufacturer for that engine.

Go to all P rules

If you’re driving with a P1 provisional licence you need P-plates on the vehicle so other drivers know you’re an inexperienced driver. P-plates must meet these requirements:

• The minimum size is shown in the diagram below. P-plates must have the letter P printed in red on a white background.
• P-plates must be clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motor bikes).

Other styles of plates are not acceptable in South Australia. Buy your P-plates at Service SA customer service centres, at Service SA’s online shop or retail outlets.

What you need to do
To apply for your P2 licence , you must:

• have held a P1 for a minimum of 12 months demerit point free AND
• pass a Hazard Perception Test (unless you live over 100 km from a Service SA customer service centre or on Kangaroo Island).

The Hazard Perception Test is a computer-based ability test to recognise dangerous situations when driving and to react safely.

If you’ve incurred 1-3 demerit points, you must either:

• be demerit point free for a full 12 months at the time of application for P2 OR
• have held a P1, without disqualification, for a minimum of 2 years.

For example, if a person is issued with a P1 licence on 12 November 2011 but incurs a demerit point on 12 December 2011 then they will be eligible to apply for a P2 licence on 12 December 2012.

If you have gained 1, 2 or 3 demerit points before turning 19 you’ll need to:

• wait until you have no demerit points on P1 for 12 months, or
• hold a P1 for at least two years.
• pass a Hazard Perception Test (unless you live over 100 km from a Service SA customer service centre or on Kangaroo Island).

If you have any questions on exactly where you sit with your P1 licence and want to upgrade to P2, call customer service on 13 10 84, as each individual may have different circumstances.

Applying for your P2 provisional licence
Book a Hazard Perception Test at a Service SA customer service centre.

You’ll need:

• to take your P1 licence.
• Your Hazard Perception Test certificate (given to you when you pass the test).
• The fees for the Hazard Perception Test and for the P2 licence.

You must pass the Hazard Perception Test before progressing from P1 to P2.

The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) is a computer-based ability test to recognise dangerous situations while driving and to react safely.

Booking a test
Do the Hazard Perception Test at a Service SA customer service centre.
Call 13 10 84 for appointments.