Can a learner driver tow a trailer?

To be or not to be, that is the question, and the answer depends on where you live.

Can a learner driver tow a trailer? As is often the case in Australia, the answer to this question depends on where you live. Generally the answer is no, and yet there are thousands of miles of roads in this country where it is legal if you show an extra L-plate on the vehicle you are towing. 

For example, all roads in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia are all places where L-plate towers can legally tow a trailer.

However, in New South Wales and Victoria it would be fair to say that most Australians in terms of population cannot tow a trailer, caravan, boat or camper while they are learning to drive.

It's no surprise that Australian states don't always agree on what's reasonable, because we live in a country that still has three different rail gauges, the equivalent of three different standardized road gauges. of which are too narrow for out-of-state vehicles to pass through. Madness? Don't force the trainspotter to start this debate.

Can L-plates tow a trailer?

Another way to look at this question, of course, is whether student drivers, faced with all the complexities and stress of learning to drive a car, should worry about learning to tow anything at the same time. .

More cautious states, such as Victoria, clearly believe that this is not the case. And there will certainly be those who will argue that towing a trailer, and in particular learning how to park it in reverse, is a skill that will forever remain out of reach for many fully licensed drivers.

However, in the absence of a set of national traffic rules, young drivers with learner's licenses in some states have the opportunity to double their level of education. 

Let's take a look at the laws state by state so you know what's legal where you live when it comes to driving with a trailer.

NSW

The license conditions for students in New South Wales are very clear: "they must not tow a trailer or any other vehicle" and they are also not allowed to drive a towed vehicle.

Once someone gets their provisional P1 license, the situation only eases up a bit because they don't have to drive a vehicle that tows "any other vehicle with an unladen mass of 250kg". And they must have a P plate on the back of any trailer they tow.

It's also important to note that while Queenslanders with L-plates can tow things, NSWers can't cross the border and try, as the NSW Traffic Safety Center points out: "NSW Learners, P1 and P2 Drivers and Drivers must comply with the same license conditions and restrictions that apply to them in New South Wales when they drive or drive in other Australian states or territories.”

So basically you are not allowed to even try to learn how to tow something as heavy as a caravan or camper until you have a full license.

Victoria

The trailer towing training restrictions on your L license plates are very similar in Victoria to those in place overseas in New South Wales, which should make life easier for people in Albury Wodonga. 

Students and holders of provisional P1 licenses must not tow a trailer or other vehicle, although P2 drivers may. 

However, people on their apprentices can drive any size tractor or even a tractor towing a trailer, and L plates need not be displayed. The tractor must be used for agricultural, horticultural, dairy, grazing or commercial purposes.

South Australia

Step outside of our most populous states and into the vastness of South Australia and the rules for students will change completely, as mylicence.sa.gov.au explains.

“If your permit or license was issued in South Australia, you may drive a vehicle weighing no more than 4.5 tons and tow a trailer, motorhome, boat or wagon, as South Africa does not restrict drivers with training licenses or provisional licenses to tow such vehicles . ”

The ability to do this will also "most of the time" travel with you if you are a student from South Australia towing something between states (although you won't be allowed to do this in Victoria).

Western Australia

Can an L-frame tow a trailer in Western Australia? You can bet that they can, as long as someone is in the car, to teach them complex additional skills.

“L Drivers are not prohibited from towing a trailer while the learner driver is driving in accordance with the terms of their learner permit, and this includes having a supervising driver in their vehicle next to them,” is the official statement from the Washington State Highway Traffic Safety Commission. .

Queensland

Queensland Police also say that L-plates can tow a caravan or trailer, but they must ensure that their L-plate is on the back of the caravan or is visible on the trailer they are towing.

The Queensland Police also said that: “Towing a trailer or caravan requires extra concentration and skill. You need to gain experience before trying to tow at high speed or in tight spaces."

Tasmania

What is unique is that in Tasmania there is not one level of driver training, but two - L1 and L2. 

Fortunately, this does not cause confusion with the towing issue, because neither L1 nor L2 drivers are allowed to tow any other vehicle or trailer. 

This is allowed for temporary P1 drivers.

ACT

Unsurprisingly things are different again in the Australian Capital Territory where learner drivers can tow but only small trailers not exceeding 750kg. Which does sound like a slightly wiser way to find out than just opening a swab.

NT

Learner drivers in the Northern Territory, where the ability to tow things is arguably a more important life skill, can of course tow a trailer as long as an L sign is displayed on the back of said trailer.