Getting your P-plates is awesome, finding out the car of your dreams is prohibited isn't

Before you set your heart on a quad-pipe V8 that can blitz the quarter-mile, make sure the car you want is a car you can legally drive.

As we’ve covered in our Learner and P-plate story, each state differs in their approach to provisional licence restrictions: how fast you can drive, when you can drive, with whom, and in some cases what vehicle you can drive. High-performance vehicles pose a problem in some states.

As if the licensing laws in Australia aren’t complicated enough, figuring out which car you can drive is just as confusing. With no national regulations when it comes to P-plate laws, each state and territory is left to establish and enforce its own rules, which generally results in widespread confusion.

But ignorance is no excuse.

Before we point you in the right direction, it’s worth noting that while each state and territory enforces its own restrictions on P-platers, there are some rules that every state and territory has in common:

– P-platers are not allowed to have any alcohol or drugs in their system while driving.

– Like all motorists, P-platers cannot use a phone or mobile device while operating a motor vehicle.

Them’s the rules

But what is a considered a high-performance vehicle? We’re glad you asked.

An ever-changing auto industry means that the landscape is constantly changing for P-platers, too. While some states adopt a common power-to-weight calculation (130kW/tonne), others go further.

But there are grounds for exemption. Club cars, cars built before a certain year, and other special circumstances are taken into account on a state by state basis. So there is a little bit of wriggle room.

The end goal is the important one: to combat the over-representation of young drivers in vehicle crashes. Safety is key.

Depending on where you live, you may now take the time to mourn accordingly. Follow the links to find out which cars you can drive in your home town.

NT, ACT, Tasmania & Western Australia – no vehicle restrictions

Clear as mud, right?

This advice should serve as a guide as to just how many different rules apply to P-plate drivers across the nation – it can get very confusing. If you have any doubts or concerns, you should always contact your local traffic authority.