Being a parent is hard. You forget about work meetings, appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and sometimes you might even forget to take your L plate or P plate from the car when you jump into it to go to one of those events you forgot.
- If you leave Ls or Ps in the car and you are not an L or P plater, you can be fined
- Rules differ depending on location
- If you get pulled over for doing it, be honest with the officer and you’ll probably get off
Hopefully if that happens to you, you won’t be caught and you won’t be punished. But you should know that in some jurisdictions around the country, it is an offense to display an L or P plate if you are not an L or P plate driver.
Here is an overview of the rules:
Victoria: If you are found “displaying a ‘P’ plate when not required” you can be fined $165 and one demerit point. The same penalty applies for “displaying an ‘L’ plate when not required”.
Tasmania: You can be fined $90 if you are found “Driving with L-plate displayed when not a learner driver”.
ACT: Unauthorized use of L/L-plate and unauthorized use of P-plate/P-plate. $208 fine. No demerits.
S.A: “It is an offense to drive a vehicle with a P plate displayed unless you are a provisional license holder; or a trial license issued subject to the conditions of the alcohol interlock scheme.”
Queensland: In QLD, the document Transport Operations (Management of Road Use–Driver Licensing) 2021 states that “other persons shall not display L plates” and “other persons shall not display P plates”. Only student learners or temporary drivers may display the plates, unless the driver “holds a non-Queensland driver’s license and is authorized to learn to drive a vehicle in the jurisdiction that issued the licence; or a driving instructor”. The fine, if brought to court, can amount to $2875 (20 penalty units).,
New South Wales: There don’t seem to be any laws about driving with plates on a car if you’re not a learner or a temporary driver.
Northern Territory: There is no clear law regarding L or P plates being displayed on cars driven by fully licensed drivers in the NT.
Western Australia: We have not been able to trace any reference to laws or penalties associated with the incorrect display of L or P plates in WA.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authorities in your state or territory.