NSW Rider Rules · In force 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, NSW learner riders must wear an approved hi-vis vest or jacket, and every learner, P1 and P2 rider must wear approved gloves. Here is exactly what "approved" means, the standards that count on the tag, and the gear that keeps you legal at a roadside check.
Start here
The two requirements do not hit every rider the same way. Here is who needs what, from 1 July 2026.
The rules apply to NSW-issued learner and provisional licences. Interstate riders follow the licence conditions of their home state, and the requirement is on the rider - a P2 rider's pillion passenger is not covered. NSW introduced these changes because motorcyclists are around 34 times more likely to die in a crash than other road users, with 68 riders and passengers killed on NSW roads in 2024.
Learners only
Learner riders must wear an approved high-visibility vest or jacket, worn over the top of everything else. "Approved" means the tag names one of three prescribed standards.
For the two AS/NZS garments, the tag has to read Class D/N (suitable for day and night). A tag marked Class D only or Class N only is not permitted. And EN 471 - the older European standard that came before ISO 20471:2013 - is not accepted at all. Colour does not matter, and any class or level is fine as long as it meets a prescribed standard.
A work hi-vis shirt counts, as long as it carries one of the prescribed standards. But remember what hi-vis does and does not do: it makes you easier to see, it does not protect you in a crash. NSW is not aware of any protective motorcycle jacket that also meets the hi-vis standards, so the safe setup is a proper vest or jacket worn over a protective riding jacket. Zippered or pull-over styles are best - they stay put and will not flap at speed. Expect to pay around $20 to $30 for a compliant vest.
Learner, P1 and P2
Every learner, P1 and P2 rider must wear approved gloves. Here "approved" means one standard, printed on the tag.
The standard is EN 13594:2015. The glove must be labelled or marked by the manufacturer as complying with European Standard EN 13594:2015. Look for the certification on the tag or packaging.
Level 1 or Level 2 both count. Level 1 gloves are lighter and more flexible; Level 2 adds heavier-duty protection. Both meet the minimum, so pick for your riding, not just the rule.
Keep the tag on. Police may ask to see it. If there is no compliance tag, you can be issued an infringement notice even if the glove would otherwise qualify.
Certified gloves can cut hand and wrist injuries by up to 45%, and hand injuries are among the most disabling for daily life and work. Entry-level compliant gloves start around $50. MotoCAP even publishes a filter for EN 13594 gloves - and we break down how those safety ratings work in the MotoCAP report. Browse our hi-vis range and glove range below.
The 10-second check
Every rule here is decided by a label sewn into the gear. This is what a compliant one looks like, and what an officer will look for.
Compliant gear is labelled with the standard it meets. For gloves that is EN 13594:2015; for a hi-vis vest or jacket it is one of the three prescribed standards. If you cannot find it on the tag or packaging, treat the item as non-compliant.
On an AS/NZS 4602.1 or AS 4602.1 hi-vis garment, the tag must include Class D/N. Class D alone or Class N alone does not meet the rule. ISO 20471:2013 is accepted on its own.
The tag is your proof. NSW Police may ask to see it, and a missing tag can earn an infringement notice on its own. Leave it in place.
The cost of getting it wrong
Each requirement is its own offence, so a learner caught with neither can be hit twice.
The penalty for not wearing approved gloves is two demerit points and a Level 4 fine. The penalty for a learner not wearing an approved hi-vis vest or jacket is the same: two demerit points and a Level 4 fine. It sits alongside the other novice-licence offences like failing to display L or P plates. That matters because of the demerit limits: learner and P1 riders have a 4-point limit, and reaching it means a three-month suspension; P2 riders have a 7-point limit. For a learner, two gear offences in one stop is halfway to a suspension. Officers can ask to see the compliance tag on either item, so the cheapest way to stay on the road is simply to wear compliant gear and leave the tags in.
The rule lives on the tag - no compliant tag, no ride.
Peak Moto - Melbourne & Brisbane
Ready to ride, legally
Approved EN 13594:2015 gloves for every L and P rider, hi-viz options for learners, and the protective layer NSW recommends underneath. Swipe through - prices and stock pull in live.
A CE-certified glove marked KP-1 EN 13594:2015 - the exact standard the NSW rule names. Breathable knit with Knox SPS palm protection and armoured knuckles. Check the tag carries EN 13594:2015 and you are set for the glove rule.
A light summer glove CE-certified to EN 13594:2015, with SEESOFT knuckle and finger protection. One of the easiest, coolest ways to meet the NSW glove rule.
A ventilated summer glove CE-certified to KP-1 EN 13594:2015, with a TPU knuckle and palm slider and a slim wrist to slide under a jacket.
Knox's flagship short-cuff glove, CE-certified to EN 13594:2015 with the Handroid exoskeleton wrist support. Serious protection that still meets the rule.
A fluoro-yellow waterproof over-jacket that lifts your visibility in traffic and rain. Confirm the tag carries AS/NZS 4602.1 Class D/N or ISO 20471:2013 before relying on it for the learner rule - we will check it with you.
A light neon vest to pull over any jacket for extra visibility. As with any hi-viz, confirm the compliance tag meets a prescribed NSW standard before using it for the learner requirement.
Urbane Pro® Mk3 - Women's Body Armoured Shirt
NSW recommends a protective jacket under your hi-vis. This CE AA armoured shirt does the protecting so your vest can do the being-seen. Women's cut.
Urbane Pro® Mk3 - Men's Body Armoured Shirt
The men's CE AA armoured shirt to wear under your hi-vis vest - real impact and abrasion protection beneath the fluoro.
For gloves, check the tag reads EN 13594:2015 - Level 1 or Level 2 both count. For a hi-vis vest or jacket, the tag must read AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 Class D/N, AS 4602.1:2024 Class D/N, or ISO 20471:2013. Class D or Class N on its own does not count, and EN 471 is not accepted. Not sure about a tag? Bring the item into our Melbourne or Brisbane shop, or book a fit consultation, and we will read it with you.
Shop the shortlist
Everything a new NSW rider needs to meet the rules, in one place. Check each item's tag for the prescribed standard, and ask us if you are unsure.
Straight answers
No. The hi-vis vest or jacket requirement applies to learner riders only. Provisional P1 and P2 riders must wear approved gloves, but they are not required to wear hi-vis - though it is still a cheap, effective safety upgrade.
One of three: AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 Class D/N, AS 4602.1:2024 Class D/N, or ISO 20471:2013. EN 471 is not accepted, and for the AS/NZS garments a tag marked Class D only or Class N only does not count - it must read Class D/N.
Yes, as long as it is labelled as meeting one of the prescribed standards. Just remember hi-vis only makes you more visible - it does not protect you in a crash, so wear it over a proper protective motorcycle jacket.
Always over the top of everything, including your protective jacket. Wearing it underneath defeats the purpose. Do it up so the hi-vis material stays visible and does not flap in the wind - zippered or pull-over styles are best.
Two demerit points and a Level 4 fine for each requirement you are missing. Learner and P1 riders have a 4-point demerit limit, with a three-month suspension if it is reached; P2 riders have a 7-point limit.
No. The requirement applies to the rider only, not the passenger. NSW has flagged that a future review may consider extending it.
No. NSW Police may ask to see the tag on your gloves or hi-vis vest or jacket. If there is no tag to demonstrate compliance, you can be issued an infringement notice - even if the item would otherwise qualify.
How we keep this accurate: this page reflects the NSW protective gear requirements for learner and provisional riders in force from 1 July 2026, checked as at 6 August 2026. Source: nsw.gov.au. This is general information, not legal advice - always confirm the current rules with Transport for NSW.
Book a fit consultation or drop into our Melbourne or Brisbane shop. We will kit you out to the letter of the NSW rules - the right vest, compliant gloves and a protective jacket to wear underneath - and check every tag with you.
