Probationary licence

Exemptions to drive a prohibited vehicle

Find out what exemptions are available to drive probationary prohibited vehicle (PPV) while on your Ps.

How to apply for an exemption

Complete the probationary prohibited vehicle exemption application form

When you’re ready, submit the paperwork by uploading your form and supporting documents online. 

You'll need to pay $66.10 (VISA or MasterCard) plus a card payment fee (0.54%) when you submit your application.

We’ll contact you within 15 days of receiving your paperwork and will notify you in writing the outcome of your application.

Exemption rules

Undue hardship

VicRoads can exempt you from the probationary prohibited vehicle restriction if you can prove that the restriction would cause you undue hardship because of your essential activities, occupation, employment or family circumstances.

Supercharged or turbocharged vehicles

VicRoads can only consider:

  • turbocharged or supercharged vehicles with a power to weight ratio of less than 100kW per tonne
  • turbocharged or supercharged family-type vehicles (4 or more seats) with a power to weight ratio between 100kW and 125 kW per tonne.

Processing applications

When processing an application, VicRoads considers: 

  • the effect on safe, efficient and equitable road use in Victoria, and
  • your driving history.

What documentation do I provide?

To support your application, you can provide:

  • education: a letter from an educational institution or course coordinator verifying your student status, dates and times of your attendance
  • employment: a letter from your employer verifying your employment
  • family circumstances: a letter from a relevant authority (medical practitioner, parish priest etc) describing the impact on your family.

When an exemption isn't required

In some circumstances, probationary drivers are automatically exempted from the PPV restriction (meaning they can drive a prohibited vehicle without needing to apply to VicRoads for an exemption). 

In these circumstances, they need to provide adequate proof to Victoria Police (or any other enforcement agency) if requested. 

A probationary driver without an exemption can drive a PPV if they're: 

  • driving in the course of their employment and at their employer’s request or 
  • self-employed, have an ABN and is driving in the course of their employment or 
  • driving with a person who holds a full driver licence sitting beside them and is supervising the driver or
  • a police officer who, in the course of duty, is driving a probationary prohibited vehicle or
  • a person who is driving a probationary prohibited vehicle that is also a heavy vehicle if:
    • that person does not hold a driver licence that authorises the holder to drive that motor vehicle; and 
    • the person is the holder of a driver licence of another category; and 
    • a person who holds an Australian driver licence which is appropriate for the category of vehicle that is being driven is sitting beside the driver and is supervising the driver; and 
    • there is a driver under instruction plate affixed to, and facing out from, the front and rear of the vehicle.

View the probationary vehicle database.