From L's to full licence: the complete SA roadmap

Study guide · 30 May 2026 · 6 min read

Quick read

South Australia uses a graduated licensing system with four stages: Learner (L) → P1 → P2 → Full. Each stage has its own age, time and skill requirements.

Total time from L's to full licence is at least 4 years if you are under 25 (12 months on L + 12 months on P1 + 24 months on P2), or at least 3.5 years if you are 25 or older (6 months on L + 12 months on P1 + 24 months on P2).

Important: The age-based shortcut only applies at the Learner stage. Once you progress to P1, the holding periods are the same for everyone regardless of age: 12 months on P1, then 24 months on P2.

This guide walks through every stage with the exact requirements, conditions, and tests at each step.

The big picture

South Australia follows the national Graduated Licensing System (GLS), designed to phase young drivers into solo driving gradually. Each stage builds on the last. You cannot skip stages.

The journey looks like this:

Learner's permit (L's), age 16 minimum, valid 2 years
P1 Provisional licence, valid 1 year
P2 Provisional licence, valid 2 years
Full licence (open), no expiry except renewal

Below is every stage in detail.

Stage 1 Learner's permit (L's)

Driving on Adelaide roads under supervision

To get your L's, you need to:

Be at least 16 years old (you can start the myLs course at 15 years and 9 months)
Pass the Theory Test, either online via the myLs course or in person at Service SA
Provide full evidence of identity and residential address
Pay the test fee plus the learner's permit fee

While on your L's, you must:

Have a qualified supervising driver next to you whenever you drive (someone who has held a full Australian licence for at least 2 years)
Display L plates clearly on the front and rear of the vehicle
Maintain zero blood alcohol and no presence of THC, methylamphetamine, or MDMA
Not exceed 100 km/h at any time, regardless of the posted speed limit
Not use a mobile phone in any form, including hands-free and Bluetooth
Carry your learner's permit at all times when driving
Not accumulate 4 or more demerit points during the permit period

To progress to P1, you need to:

Hold the L's permit for at least 12 months if under 25, or 6 months if 25 or older
Log at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 15 hours at night, in your Driving Companion logbook
Pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
Pass either the Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) or complete a Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) with a qualified instructor
Be at least 17 years old

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Stage 2 P1 Provisional licence

Driving alone for the first time

What changes on P1:

You can now drive without a supervisor
Your licence card is issued for 3 years (covers P1 and P2 combined)
You must display red P plates on the front and rear of the vehicle

P1 conditions still apply:

Zero blood alcohol and no drugs in your system
Maximum 100 km/h, regardless of the road's speed limit
No mobile phone use of any kind (including hands-free)
No accumulating 4 or more demerit points
If you exceed any speed limit by 10 km/h or more, you breach your licence conditions

P1 conditions for drivers under 25:

No driving between midnight and 5am, unless travelling for work, study, family emergency or other approved reason
No more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 (excluding immediate family members)
No driving a high-powered vehicle (unless you have an exemption)

How long P1 lasts:

P1 lasts 12 months minimum. After 12 months without a disqualification or licence breach, your P1 automatically upgrades to P2. No re-test required to make this transition.

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Stage 3 P2 Provisional licence

More freedom, fewer restrictions

What changes on P2:

The midnight to 5am curfew is removed
The passenger restriction is removed
You can now use a mobile phone in hands-free or Bluetooth mode (still no holding the phone, no texting)
You no longer need to display P plates

P2 conditions still in place:

Zero blood alcohol and no drugs in your system
Maximum 100 km/h regardless of the posted speed limit
No accumulating 4 or more demerit points
No driving a high-powered vehicle if under 25 (unless exempt)

How long P2 lasts:

P2 lasts 24 months minimum for everyone, regardless of age. The age-based shortcut only applies at the L stage; once you reach P1, you and a 22-year-old face the same holding periods. After two years on P2 without a disqualification, you become eligible for a full licence. Service SA will post you a renewal notice when the time is up.

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Stage 4 Full licence

All the rules of a normal SA driver

To get your full licence, you need to:

Have held a provisional licence for at least 3 years in total (at least 12 months on P1 and at least 2 years on P2)
Be at least 20 years old if you started at 16
Not be under any disqualification

What changes on a full licence:

Standard blood alcohol limit of 0.05 (still 0.00 if driving a heavy vehicle, taxi, or rideshare professionally)
No more speed cap, you can drive at the posted speed limit
Standard demerit point system (12 points across 3 years)
No vehicle power restrictions
Full use of mobile phone in hands-free mode

Renewal: every 1, 5 or 10 years depending on what you choose. Renewal can be done online via mySAGOV or at any Service SA centre.

Costs along the way

The cost of progressing from learner to full licence adds up. Each stage has separate fees:

Theory Test fee
Learner's permit fee
myLs subscription (if you go that route)
The Driving Companion logbook
Driving lessons (variable, depending on how many)
VORT or CBT&A test fee (paid to your driving instructor)
Hazard Perception Test fee
P1 provisional licence fee
Full licence renewal fee at the end

For the most current fees, check sa.gov.au's licence fees page. Fees change each financial year (usually 1 July).

The biggest mistake at each stage

The most common reason people lose time on their journey to a full licence is a demerit point breach during P1 or P2. Four points or more triggers a suspension, and once you have served the suspension, your provisional period extends. The clock resets. Be especially careful with phone use, speeding, and the 10 km/h-over rule, which carries an automatic breach.

Where lessons fit in

Driving lessons are not legally required, but they save time and money in three ways:

Logbook hours. Every hour you spend in a lesson with us counts as supervised driving time in your logbook, and the logbook is signed on the spot.
VORT or CBT&A. The practical assessment is harder if you have only driven with family. We know what the examiners look for and we prepare you for it.
P1 confidence. The most dangerous time for new drivers is the first six months on P1. The more proper coaching you have during L's, the lower your crash risk on P1.

See what we offer for learners.

Bottom line

The SA licensing system is designed to take time. There are no shortcuts. But knowing the requirements at each stage means you can plan, save the right amounts, and avoid the small mistakes that cost months. Use this guide as a checklist. Tick stages off as you go.

Keep learning

More free guides: SA Theory Test complete guide, Give-way rules cheat sheet, Study materials index. Practical articles: SA licence conditions, phone fines, VORT test prep.

Useful resources and official links

All requirements, ages, fees, and time periods in this article are verified against official South Australian government sources. Always check the latest at:

sa.gov.au: Steps to getting a driver's licence (Department for Infrastructure and Transport)
sa.gov.au: Driver's licences (full topic index)
mylicence.sa.gov.au: Pre-learner stage
mylicence.sa.gov.au: Learner's stage (L)
dit.sa.gov.au: P1 Provisional licence (On The Right Track)
sa.gov.au: Current driver licence and permit fees
Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA): the underlying legislation. Available via legislation.sa.gov.au

Disclaimer: This article is general guidance for South Australian drivers. It is not legal advice. Licence requirements, fees, ages, hours, conditions, and the rules of the Graduated Licensing System are set by the South Australian government and can change at any time. Always confirm the current requirements with sa.gov.au or by phoning Service SA on 13 10 84 before making decisions. Article last verified 30 May 2026.