It's only 2 years in NSW:
Long explanation below, don't read if you get bored by rules and regulations. Also, this is NSW only, other states differ.
- 120 hours (min 20 hours at night) on your learner's licence. Must drive with a fully licenced supervising driver, 80km/h speed limit, 0 BAC, etc. Take a basic road rules computer test to get this. Display Black L on yellow background on the car.
- P1 licence- min 1 year, can drive unsupervised, 90km/h speed limit, 0 BAC, passenger limits between certain hours and limits on what cars you can drive (so no Astons
). Take a practical driving test to get this, about a 45% fail rate from what I've researched. Display a red P on a white background. Also, any speeding offence (even 1 km/h over) and you get an immediate 3 month suspension and a massive fine.
- P2 licence- min 2 years, but you can now go 100km/h, use a phone in handsfree, no passenger restrictions and you get more demerit points so you don't lose you licence on the first offence. Still restricted to 0 BAC and limited as to what cars you can drive. Take a computer based simulated driving test for this (i.e. tap when you would slow down for a hazard, turn right, overtake, etc). Display a dark green P on a white background
Finally, your black (i.e. full licence). Bugger all restrictions, nothing to display, etc. Also can supervise learner drivers. Take another hazard perception test and a harder version of the learner road rules test to get this.
I got my L's 1st time (most people do), P1's 2nd time (1st time nearly crashed into another car in the first 2 minutes of the test I was that nervous :lol
and P2's 1st time (today!). So this time in 2 years I am eligible for a full licence, when I am 20.