Getting P's Licence in Queensland 2026

By Justin

Getting your licence

Getting your Ps in Queensland.

Four steps stand between your Ls and your Ps: time, logbook hours, the hazard perception test, and the practical. Here's exactly what each one takes, and how to get there faster.

R RAC School of Motoring Updated Jul 2026 5 min read

Start on your Ls

You can get your learner licence in Queensland from 16, and go for your Ps from 17. Before you can sit the practical driving test, there are three things Transport and Main Roads needs to see.

📅

1 year on your Ls

You must hold your learner licence for at least 12 months (if you're under 25).

📓

100 logged hours

Supervised driving recorded in your logbook, submitted and approved.

🌙

10 at night

Ten of those hours have to be after dark, so you're ready for anything.

Over 25? You don't need the 100 hours or the 12-month wait, so you can sit your test as soon as you're ready.

3× logbook hours

Every lesson with an accredited instructor counts triple.

In Queensland, one hour with an accredited instructor like RAC logs as three hours in your logbook, up to 10 lessons. That's a full 30 hours knocked off your 100, and you learn faster doing it.

Two tests to pass

Once your logbook's done, there are two tests between you and your Ps. Knock them over in order.

🧠

Hazard Perception Test

An online test you take through the TMR website, once you've held your Ls for six months. It checks how you spot and respond to hazards. Free practice tests are on the TMR site, so there's no excuse to walk in cold.

🚗

Practical Driving Test

About 45 minutes on real roads with an examiner, marking your car control and decisions. Book it through TMR or an accredited driving school. A mock test beforehand means nothing on the day is a surprise.

P1 to P2: what changes

Pass the practical and you're on your P1 (red plates). After that you move to P2 (green plates), then your open licence. The restrictions ease as you go.

Rule	P1 · red plates	P2 · green plates
Alcohol	Zero (0.00)	Zero (0.00)
Passengers	Under 25: only 1 passenger under 21 (not immediate family) between 11pm and 5am	No passenger limit
Mobile phone	No use at all, even hands-free	Hands-free allowed
Hold it for	At least 1 year	At least 2 years

So the well-known "you can't drive your mates around" rule is a P1, late-night thing, not a learner thing, and it eases the moment you reach your green Ps.

Common questions

How long does it take to get my Ps in Queensland?

If you're under 25, the minimum is 12 months on your Ls while you build your 100 logbook hours. Most learners take a bit longer to feel test-ready. Over 25, there's no minimum wait or logbook, so it comes down to how quickly you get confident.

Do driving lessons count toward my 100 hours?

Yes, and they count for more. Each hour with an accredited instructor logs as three hours, up to a maximum of 10 lessons (30 hours). It's the fastest legal way to fill your logbook, and you actually learn to drive while you do it.

What if I'm over 25?

Queensland drops the 100-hour logbook and the 12-month learner period for over-25s. You still need to pass the hazard perception test and the practical, but you can sit them as soon as you're ready.

What if I don't pass the practical first go?

You can rebook and sit it again, usually after a short wait. A pretest lesson to learn exactly how the examiner marks you, plus a mock test, makes a big difference the second time. Most learners who prepare properly pass.

These steps and figures reflect Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) requirements current in July 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; check qld.gov.au for the current rules before you rely on them.

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