Is It Legal to Touch Your Phone While Driving in Victoria, Australia?

Quick Summary

In Victoria (VIC), Australia, the law on mobile phones while driving is strict: touching your phone when driving is generally illegal and can lead to fines, demerit points, or even loss of licence. The rules vary significantly depending on your licence type — Learner (L), P-Plate (P1/P2), or Full Licence — and misuse includes holding, touching, scrolling, looking at the screen, or even plugging in a phone while driving.
This blog explains what you can and can’t do, plus legal ways to use navigation or music through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without risking a penalty.

1. Victorian Law on Mobile Phone Use While Driving

Under Victorian road rules, it’s illegal to use a mobile phone while driving, including when your vehicle is stopped at traffic lights or in traffic. Use means:

• Holding or resting the phone against your body

• Touching the phone (even if off)

• Sending or reading texts, checking social media

• Turning it on or off

• Using the camera, internet or any app

• Using voice controls on the phone itself
  Driving includes stationary but not parked positions.

⚖️ Penalty: On-the-spot fines and 4 demerit points apply for illegal mobile phone use.

🎓 2. Licence-Specific Rules in Victoria

🟢 Full Licence Drivers

If you hold a full open licence, some limited phone use is legal as long as you follow strict conditions:

✔️ Allowed (if all below are true):

• Phone is properly mounted in a commercial holder

• You are making/receiving a call or using GPS/navigation/audio

• You are not touching the phone during the trip

• You are using a hands-free setup (e.g. Bluetooth) or voice control

❌ Prohibited even if mounted:

• Scrolling through apps

• Reading messages

• Taking photos/videos

• Typing or entering text / numbers

• Video calls

📌 Important: Even for permitted uses, the phone must not be touched while driving; touch-to-accept calls or change music is generally not allowed without a full licence and a properly mounted device.

🔰 Learner (L) & P-Plate (P1/P2) Drivers

Learners and probationary drivers face the strictest rules:

🚫 No phone use at all while driving, including:

• Phone calls

• Music playback triggered by phone

• Navigation on the phone screen

• Voice control interactions

• Bluetooth connectivity for media

• Any phone use, even if mounted

📍 You must pull over and park before touching or using your phone or device.

👉 Exception: Inbuilt car controls like radio, climate, or navigation (if non-phone) can be adjusted briefly, but interacting with the phone itself is not permitted.