Millions of Aussies are being reminded of a little-known road rule that could land drivers with a hefty fine and potential license suspension.
It’s a rule many could be breaking without realising, as authorities warn about the serious consequences of using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
Most drivers know the penalties for using a phone while driving are steep, and the rules apply nationwide with no exceptions. But for restricted drivers, including learners and provisional licence holders, the laws are even tougher.
Typically, fully licenced drivers can use a phone in a mounted holder for things like navigation, music and calls. However, the same does not apply to L and P1 drivers.
Under the law, there is a nationwide ban for all P1 and learner drivers from using a mobile phone in any capacity, even if it’s secured in a mount.
“Under Rule 300-1 of the Road Rules 2014, it is illegal for L and P plate drivers to use a mobile phone even if it is secured in a mount,” lawyer Avinash Singh said citing New South Wales’ road rules.
“The legal reasoning is that L and P plate drivers are inexperienced and more prone to distraction.”
That means not only can they not touch their phone, they also can’t use a car’s Bluetooth system, including Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Which leaves the trusty CD player and sat nav as alternative solutions.
In New South Wales, Avinash says “a learner or provisional driver who uses their mobile phone in a mount will receive a fine of $423 and 5 demerit points.”
“This will cause an L or red P plate driver to exceed their demerit point limit and lose their licence.”
The rule has recently been thrust back into the spotlight after a South Australian police officer went viral on social media, explaining what it actually means.
“Learners and provisional one drivers have a licence condition which means they can’t use any function of their phone. When they say any function, it means just that,” the officer said.
In the video, the officer shows maps displayed on his car’s screen via a Bluetooth connection, pointing out that even though he isn’t touching the phone, it would still be illegal for a learner or red P-plater.
“I can’t use those maps because it’s coming from my phone,” he said.
Here’s everything you need to know about mobile phone laws across Australia.
According to Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) Australian Infrastructure and Transport Statistics Yearbook 2025, there are around 1,264,000 learner permits nationally and about 1,190,000 provisional licenses (P1 and P2) nationally.
New South Wales
According to ServiceNSW’s website “phone holders must be commercially manufactured and fixed to your vehicle and must not obscure your vision.”
Full licence holders are allowed to use and touch their phones while it’s in a phone holder to make and receive calls, play audio, or use them as a driver’s aid, like navigation.
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However, touching a phone while it’s in the holder for texting or watching videos is strictly prohibited.
Learners and P-plate drivers are not allowed to have a phone connected to a vehicle, including while in a cradle while driving.
It’s a $423 fine, or $562 if the offence is detected in a school zone, and five demerit points.
Victoria
The Transport Victoria website states, fully licenced drivers “can use a mobile phone or device to make or receive a phone call, use audio and music functions, use GPS navigation, or use in-built driver assistance or vehicle safety features” if the device is “properly mounted or in-built to the vehicle.”
L and P plate licence holders, including P2 drivers, are not allowed to make or take phone calls while driving.
However, using a commercially designed cradle, learners and probationary drivers can play audio and access GPS with a phone as long as the driver does not touch it while moving.
Drivers holding any licence are not allowed to text, scroll, or watch videos while driving.
The fine for using a phone while driving in Victoria is a $611 fine and 4 demerit points.
Queensland
Transport Queensland says drivers with an open or P2 licence “are allowed to touch their mobile phone for hands-free use if the phone is in a cradle attached to the vehicle.”
Hands-free use includes accepting a call, using navigation apps, skipping a song or accepting/ending a trip as a rideshare driver.
The website also notes, “the position of your mobile phone must not obscure the driver’s view of the road.”
The fine for using a phone while driving in Queensland is $1,251 and have four demerit points.
Western Australia
According to Transport WA, “drivers can only touch a mobile phone to make, receive and terminate calls if the phone is secured in a cradle mounted to the vehicle”.
“It is illegal for all drivers to create, send or look at a text message, video message, email or similar – even if the phone is mounted in a cradle or can be operating without touching it.”
Even if the phone is mounted, dictating a text through Siri could still get you fined.
WA’s laws also prohibit touching your phone to skip a track or adjust navigation, similar to South Australia’s restrictions.
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Drivers can be fined $500 and given three demerit points if they’re caught touching their phone. But if you’re caught creating, sending or viewing a message, email, or social post, the penalty jumps to $1000 and four demerit points.
South Australia
According to the South Australia government, drivers can make and receive phone calls if they phone is secured in a mount fixed to the vehicle.
Drivers can’t touch their phone to skip a song, change a podcast, or adjust navigation, even if it’s sitting in a legal cradle.
Breaking these rules comes with a $573 fine, an additional $105 Victims of Crime Levy, and three demerit points.
Learner’s permit and P1 licence holders cannot use any type of mobile phone function while driving.
Tasmania
According to Transport Tasmania, “using a mobile phone while driving is banned except to make or receive a phone call provided the phone is secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle; or can be operated by the driver without touching any part of the phone”.
“All other functions (including video calls, texting and emailing) are prohibited.”
Accepting, declining, and making a phone call are allowed if the phone is in the cradle, but drivers could be fined for all other actions while driving.
Drivers caught misusing their phone face a $410 and three demerit points.
Australian Capital Territory
Full licence holders can play music, use GPS navigation, and make or receive phone calls, but only if the phone is secured in a cradle mount or connected via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto.
You’re also allowed to make and receive phone calls on your full licence, “if your mobile device is mounted to the vehicle using a mobile phone holder or connected via Bluetooth or wired connection (such as CarPlay or Android Auto), you can touch your device while it is in a mobile phone holder (or use your steering wheel controls or touch the CarPlay or Android Auto screen) to make or receive calls but for no other reason.”
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It is illegal for learner and provisional drivers to text, use social media, use bluetooth, hands-free or speaker mode.
However, there is an exception for using a mobile device for GPS, provided the device is secured in a mounting, fixed to the vehicle.
According to the ACT government, “the penalty for otherwise using a mobile device (for example, making or receiving a call) is three demerit points and either a maximum court fine of 20 penalty units or an infringement notice penalty of $514.”
Northern Territory
Road Safety Northern Territory says “drivers can only use a mobile phone while driving to make or receive an audio phone call or as a driver’s aid. This is only permitted if the phone is secured in a commercially designed mount fixed to the vehicle or can be operated by the driver without touching any part of the phone”.
Drivers can touch their phones when making or receiving a phone call or operating navigation, but texting, watching videos, and video calling are prohibited.
There is a blanket ban for P-platers and learners using a mobile phone in any function while driving unless the vehicle is parked and off the road.
The fine for misuse of mobile phones is $500 and three demerit points.
