Can an L-plater or P-plater tow a caravan?

If you’re on your P-plates and are keen to trailer a jet ski to the water, need to tow a trailer for work, or tow any other type of trailer including a camper or caravan behind a passenger vehicle, make sure you’re up to date with the law.

You might even find you're not permitted to tow anything at all on a provisional (P-plate) licence in your state...

The good news for those P-plate drivers licensed in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia is that you are good to go towing a trailer up to 4500kg, just like unrestricted car licence holders can. The one catch is you must make sure you have a P-plate visible on the back of the trailer.

In NSW, P1-platers (red Ps) in NSW can tow a trailer, but only if the trailer’s unloaded (tare) weight is 250kg or less. This means that in practice you can tow something like a single jet ski trailer or small box trailer up to 250kg tare, plus any load on it – provided, of course, your load is within the vehicle and trailer’s legal towing capacity.

If you’ve graduated to your green Ps (P2 provisional licence) in NSW, you’re treated to the same trailers that an unrestricted car licence holder can tow (up to 4500kg). You do have to display a P-plate on the back of the trailer though, just like you’d normally do on the back of the car.

For Victoria, if you’re on your red P-plates (P1), you’re not allowed to tow a trailer at all – with the following exceptions. If you need to tow for work purposes in agriculture, horticulture, dairy, pastoral, or commercial fishing and you have a fully licenced driver sitting beside you, then you’re able to tow up to 4500kg.

If you’re on green Ps (P2 provisional licence) you can tow a trailer as a normal full car licence driver can. In those instances where you are allowed to tow, you still need to have a P-plate on the back of the trailer.

For the Australian Capital Territory, a P-plate driver can tow a trailer, but if you’re on your red Ps, the total weight (including any load) must be no more than 750kg and you must have a P-plate on the back of the trailer. There are no trailer weight restrictions on your green Ps, (beyond the maximum 4500kg someone on a full licence can tow) and again you need to have a P plate visible on the back of the trailer.

For those jurisdictions where you can tow on your Ps, be aware that your maximum speed, alcohol, vehicle power-to-weight restrictions and any other licence restrictions still apply regardless of if you’re towing a trailer.

The vehicle and trailer weights also must be within legal limits, as they would if you were on a full car licence.

P-platers can tow up to 4500kg, same as full licence holders, but must display a P-plate on the trailer.

General rules still apply: speed limits, alcohol restrictions, vehicle power-to-weight limits, and legal towing capacities. P-plates must be displayed on the trailer in all jurisdictions where towing is allowed.

Learning to drive a car with a trailer in tow is illegal in some jurisdictions, but in others, there are few restrictions...

Learner drivers might need to tow a trailer. Maybe while on a family holiday or perhaps a job that involves towing a trailer.

This information is to be used as a guide only. Rules can change, and it’s best to enquire with the appropriate jurisdiction for up-to-date information.

States where towing a trailer is not allowed whatsoever for a learner driver include NSW, VIC, and TAS.

In NSW, learners can’t tow any trailer or vehicle. This applies even when travelling interstate on a NSW learner licence, even if the state permits learner drivers to tow.

Similarly, L-plate drivers from any state must not tow a trailer, caravan, or any other vehicle while driving in VIC – regardless of where their learner licence was issued.

There is one exception in Vic which permits learners from any jurisdiction to tow trailers: driving a tractor for work in agriculture, horticulture, dairy, pastoral, or commercial fishing – even without displaying L-plates. However, if you're on an interstate learner licence, you're only permitted to do this for up to three months before needing to transfer to a Vic learner licence.

In Tassie, learners focus on driving a car without the distraction of towing any vehicle, including trailers.

States that allow learner drivers to tow while learning to drive are QLD, SA, WA, and NT with limitations.

Learners may tow trailers up to 4500kg, the same limit as full licence holders. However, a L-plate must be visible on the back of the trailer to ensure other road users know that a learner is driving.

In the ACT, learners can tow but only if the trailer weighs a total (the weight of the trailer plus any load) of up to 750kg. Examples of trailers weighing this could be a box trailer, a teardrop camper, or possibly a single jet ski on a trailer. Learner L-platers must also ensure that their L-plates are clearly visible to other drivers.

Check with your state motoring authority before towing on L-plates.

Related: Why our towing laws are ridiculous