Portable, mounted and wearable devices

Such as: unmounted or loose mobile phones, tablets, media players and game consoles.

Fully licenced drivers can connect their unmounted portable device to Bluetooth and place it out of sight and reach, provided it is set up before a journey commences.

Fully licenced drivers can also use a portable phone or their device to pay at a drive-through.

When driving, fully licenced drivers are not permitted to:

• Touch an unmounted portable device in any way and regardless of whether the device is on or off, even when stationary but not parked*.
• Allow a portable device to be in their lap or resting on any part of their body or clothes (unless it is in a pocket or a holding pouch attached to their clothes e.g. to their belt).
• Look at the display of a portable device being operated by another person.
• Use an unmounted device for reading or entering text, scrolling, or viewing images, social media, websites, or videos. 

^{* For a vehicle to be parked the vehicle must be positioned in a legal parking location and in neutral/gear (manual transmission) or park gear (automatic transmissions) with the handbrake on.}

Such as: mounted mobile phones and tablets, inbuilt navigation/entertainment systems

(Note: For mobile phones and tablets, the mounting must be commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose, and the device must be secured in the mounting.)

As a general rule, fully licenced drivers are not permitted to use mounted and inbuilt devices for reading or entering text, scrolling or viewing images, social media, websites, or video.

As a fully licenced driver, you can:

• Use mounted devices for navigation, audio calls, and playing audio (such as music or podcasts). 
• Briefly touch your inbuilt device to adjust navigation settings, climate controls and audio functions (such as adjusting the volume or selecting a song).

Such as: smart watches, smart glasses, motorbike helmets, and wearable heads‐up displays.

When driving, fully licenced drivers must not:

• Touch the device (other than by incidental contact caused by wearing the device). 
• Look at the display of a wearable device being operated by another person in the motor vehicle. 
• Use a wearable device for navigation (except when wearing a motorbike helmet device), reading or entering text, scrolling, or viewing images, social media, websites, or video.

As a fully licenced driver, you can:

• Use wearable devices for audio calls and playing audio (such as radio, music, or podcasts). 
• If you drive for work and need to interact with a device to do certain tasks, some professional driving tasks are permitted. See the VicRoads website for further details.

See FAQs for fully licenced drivers.

Such as: unmounted or loose mobile phones, tablets, media players and game consoles.

If an L- or P-plate driver wants to operate a portable device in a motor vehicle for any function, they must be parked^.

When driving, L and P plate drivers are not permitted to:

• Touch or operate a non‐mounted portable device in any way when driving; not even by using voice controls and regardless of whether the device is on or off, even when stationary but not parked^.
• Allow a portable device to be in their lap or resting on any part of their body or clothes (unless it is in a pocket or a holding pouch attached to their clothes e.g. to their belt).
• Look at the display of a portable device being operated by another person. 
• Have any ongoing activity on a portable device while driving (such as audio or navigation setup prior to driving).

^{^ For a vehicle to be parked the vehicle must be positioned in a legal parking location and in neutral/gear (manual transmission) or park gear (automatic transmissions) with the handbrake on.}

Such as: mounted mobile phones and tablets, inbuilt navigation/entertainment systems

(Note: For mobile phones and tablets, the mounting must be commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose, and the device must be secured in the mounting)

As a general rule, L and P plate drivers are not permitted to use mounted and inbuilt devices for video or audio calls, reading or entering text, scrolling or viewing images, social media, websites, or video.

As an L or P plater you can:

• Use mounted devices for navigation and playing audio (such as radio, music, or podcasts) providing it is set up before a journey commences. You must pull over and be parked^ to change a song, adjust the volume, or enter a different address. You are not permitted to touch a mounted device for any purpose during a drive.
• Briefly touch your inbuilt device to adjust navigation settings, climate controls and audio functions (such as adjusting the volume).

^{^ For a vehicle to be parked the vehicle must be positioned in a legal parking location and in neutral/gear (manual transmission) or park gear (automatic transmissions) with the handbrake on.}

Such as: smart watches, smart glasses, motorbike helmets, and wearable heads‐up displays.

When driving, L- and P-plate drivers must not:

• Touch the device (other than by incidental contact caused by wearing the device).
• Operate the device using voice controls.
• Look at the display of a wearable device being operated by another person in the motor vehicle.

They can:

• Play or stream audio material on a wearable device, provided it is set up before they begin driving or by pulling over and parking first. They must be parked^ before they can touch the device or use voice controls to adjust the volume or change what audio is playing. 

See FAQs for L- and P-plate drivers.

^{^ For a vehicle to be parked the vehicle must be positioned in a legal parking location and in neutral/gear (manual transmission) or park gear (automatic transmissions) with the handbrake on.}

Can I set up my mobile phone with navigation and then put it in the glove box out of my reach while I am driving?

You can connect your unmounted portable device to Bluetooth and place it out of sight and reach, provided it is set up before a journey commences.

If my unmounted mobile phone rings while I am driving, can I pick it up to put it on silent or turn it off?

You must not touch an unmounted portable device in any way, including when stationary but not parked (e.g. while waiting at traffic lights).

While I am driving if my mobile phone is switched off, can I pick it up and pass it to a passenger?

You must not touch an unmounted portable device in any way, regardless of whether the device is on or off. This rule also applies when stationary but not parked (e.g. while waiting at traffic lights).

If a passenger shows me something on their mobile phone or tablet which they are holding while I am driving, can I have a brief look at it?

You must not look at the display of a portable or wearable device being operated by another person while you are driving or riding.

Can I briefly touch my mounted mobile phone to select the next song in a playlist?

You can briefly touch a mounted device to select the next song in a playlist. 

Can I use my mounted mobile phone to display a video while I am driving?

You must not use a mounted or inbuilt device for displaying a video.

Can I use voice controls to answer a call on my mounted mobile phone?

You can use voice controls to answer a call on a mounted mobile phone, but not an unmounted mobile phone.

Can I use voice controls to get my vehicle’s inbuilt navigation system to start navigating me while I am driving?

You can use voice control to get your vehicle’s inbuilt navigation system to start navigating you when driving or riding.

Can I briefly touch my vehicle’s inbuilt entertainment system while driving to adjust audio settings?

You can briefly touch your vehicle’s inbuilt entertainment system while driving to adjust audio settings.

Can I use my smart watch to navigate if I set it up before I drive?

You must not use a smart watch for navigation in any way. 

Can I use voice controls on my smart watch to start playing a song while I am driving?

You can use voice controls on your smart watch to start playing a song when driving, but you cannot touch it.

Can I set up my mobile phone with navigation and then put it in the glove box out of my reach while I am driving?

You must not operate a portable device in a motor vehicle for any function unless you are parked.

If my unmounted mobile phone rings while I am driving, can I pick it up to put it on silent or turn it off?

You must not touch or operate an unmounted portable device in any way when driving or riding, not even by using voice controls and regardless of whether the device is on or off. This rule applies when stationary but not parked (e.g. while waiting at traffic lights).

While I am driving, if my mobile phone is switched off, can I pick it up and pass it to a passenger?

You must not touch or operate an unmounted portable device in any way when driving, regardless of whether the device is on or off. This rule applies when stationary but not parked (e.g. while waiting at traffic lights).

If a passenger shows me something on their mobile phone or tablet while I am driving, can I have a brief look at it?

You must not look at the display of a portable or wearable device being operated by another person while you are driving, even if the other person is holding it.

Can I set up my mobile phone with navigation or audio before I drive and then mount it to use while I am driving?

Mounted devices can be used for navigation or audio (such as music or podcasts) providing it is set up before a journey commences. You are not permitted to touch a mounted device for any purpose during a drive and must pull over if you wish to change a song or enter a different address.

Can I briefly touch my mounted mobile phone to select the next song in a playlist?

You are not permitted to touch a mounted device for any purpose during a drive and must pull over if you wish to change a song or enter a different address.

Can I use my mounted mobile phone to display a video while I am driving?

You must not use any device in your vehicle while you are driving for video or audio calls, reading or entering text, scrolling or viewing images, social media, websites, or video.

Can I use voice controls to answer a call on my mounted mobile phone?

You must not use any device in your vehicle while you are driving for video or audio calls.

Can I use voice controls to get my vehicle’s in‐built navigation system to start navigating me while I am driving?

You must not use voice controls to operate any mounted or inbuilt devices.

Can I briefly touch my vehicles inbuilt entertainment system while driving to adjust audio settings?

You can briefly touch your inbuilt device to adjust navigation settings, climate controls and audio functions (such as adjusting the volume). You must not scroll or enter information.

Can I use voice controls on my smart watch to start playing a song while I am driving?

You must not operate a wearable device such as a smart watch using voice controls. 

Can I touch my smart watch while I am driving?

You must not touch a wearable device (other than by incidental contact with the device caused by the driver wearing the device).

Can I use my smart watch to play music if I set it up before I drive?

You can play or stream audio material on a wearable device, provided it is set up before you begin driving, or by pulling over and parking first.