Getting your provisional P1 or P2 driver’s licence in New South Wales requires completing a minimum number of supervised driving hours. The specific requirements depend on your age and experience level.
How many hours for a P1 licence?
To get your P1 licence in NSW, you’ll need to complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving, including:
- 20 hours of night driving
- 10 hours of motorway driving
- 20 hours of country driving
The remaining 70 hours can be done at any time of day, on any roads.
Learner drivers under 25 years old must record their 120 hours in a logbook. You’ll need to get your supervisor to sign off after each drive. Logbooks are available from the RMS, driving schools or the Service NSW website.
If you’re 25 or over, you don’t need to record your hours in a logbook. But it’s still a good idea to track your progress.
What is included in the driving hours?
The 120 hours includes time spent driving the car. It doesn’t include time spent:
- Parked or stationary
- Observing as a passenger
- Receiving driving lessons
Your supervisor must sit beside you in the front passenger seat while you drive. You can’t log hours if your supervisor is in the back seat or in another car.
How long will it take?
Completing 120 hours of driving practice takes most learners at least 6 months. Here’s a breakdown of how long it may take:
- Driving 1 hour per week: 2 years
- Driving 2 hours per week: 1 year
- Driving 4 hours per week: 6 months
- Driving 6 hours per week: 4 months
You could get your 120 hours done more quickly if you can drive almost daily. But it’s recommended you spread out your practice over at least 6 months.
Driving regularly allows you to gradually improve your skills. Concentrating too many lessons together can lead to fatigue and bad habits.
Booking your P1 driving test
Once you’ve reached 120 hours, you can book and sit your P1 driving test. This is a computer-based touch screen test you do at an RMS centre. It covers:
- Road safety
- Road signs
- Road rules
You must pass this test before you can get your P1 licence. There is no practical driving assessment at this stage.
How many hours for a P2 licence?
After holding your P1 for at least 12 months, you can progress to a P2 licence. You’ll first need to complete an additional 120 hours of driving practice, including:
- 20 hours of night driving
- 10 hours of motorway driving
- 20 hours of country driving
The same logging requirements apply as for the P1. You also need to pass a computerised licence test.
Once you’ve got your P2, you can book a practical driving test. This involves:
- Vehicle safety checks
- Basic driving maneuvers
- Driving on public roads
If you pass the test, you’ll be issued your unrestricted full NSW driver licence.
Total hours required
Adding up the minimum hours for the P1 and P2 licences, you need:
- 120 hours – For your P1 licence
- 120 hours – For your P2 licence
- Total: 240 hours of supervised driving to progress through to your full licence
Do I need more hours?
240 hours is the legal minimum. But most learner drivers actually need more supervised practice.
In a 2019 survey by the NRMA, learners reported driving an average of:
- 149 hours before their P1 test
- 119 hours between their P1 and P2 tests
- Total: 268 hours on average
It’s also recommended you get about 50 hours of professional driving lessons. So you could expect to spend over 300 hours learning to drive in total.
Some people feel ready sooner, while others take longer. Go at your own pace and focus on quality practice rather than rushing to tick off hours.
Factors that affect how long it takes
The time it takes you to reach the required driving hours depends on a few factors:
- Practice frequency – Regular short drives are best
- Supervisor availability – Weekends and holidays suit some families better
- Access to a suitable car – Using the family car or sharing may restrict practice
- Where you live – Easy access to varied conditions is helpful
- Self-confidence – Being nervous can delay progress
Be patient, practice often, and don’t compare yourself to other learners. Focus on building your abilities and experiencing different conditions.
Tips for reaching the required hours
Here are some tips for learner drivers to help complete the mandatory driving hours:
- Drive at least 1-2 hours per week, even if it’s just short local trips
- Schedule regular weekend and holiday driving sessions
- Drive in a wide range of road conditions – wet weather, night, motorway etc
- Vary your routes – repeat good practice areas but expand your experiences
- Track your hours accurately – don’t estimate or overstate
- Stay motivated – measure progress and celebrate milestones
The hours will add up over time so long as you concentrate on steady practice. Gaining broad experience is just as important as logging miles.
Maximum driving hours
While there is a minimum number of hours required, is there a maximum limit?
There are no laws in NSW restricting the maximum driving hours for learners. You can complete as many supervised hours as you want.
However, safety should be your priority. Avoid excessive long drives or hours that leave you fatigued. Quality practice is more beneficial than quantity.
Can I get an exemption from the 120 hour rule?
It is possible to apply for an exemption from completing the full 120 mandatory driving hours for your P1 or P2 licence. This involves demonstrating to the RMS that you would face undue hardship in meeting the standard requirements.
Valid reasons for exemption may include:
- Medical conditions preventing sufficient practice
- Disability or learning difficulties
- Limited access to supervisors and vehicles
- Employment requiring a quick transition from L’s to P’s
If granted an exemption, you may still need to complete a minimum number of hours determined by the RMS based on your circumstances.
Should I get my hours signed off earlier?
Somelearner drivers make the mistake of asking their supervisor to sign off their logbook hours before they have actually driven them.
This is known as “frontloading” hours and is strictly prohibited. Getting caught frontloading hours can lead to:
- Loss of your learner licence for 3 months
- Having to restart the 120 hour process
- Fines over $2000
Only sign off hours you have genuinely completed. Don’t rush the process or break the law.
Conclusion
Gaining a NSW provisional licence requires completing at least 120 hours of supervised driving for your P1, and an additional 120 hours minimum for your P2.
This equates to 240 hours total over at least 2 years before you can take your driving test.
Most learners need more time and practice than the legal minimums. Be patient, drive regularly in different conditions, and don’t take shortcuts.
Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your supervised driving hours.
