Last checked: 7 August 2026
Yes, a windscreen phone mount can be legal in Australia. But the rules depend on the state or territory, where the mount is positioned, how the phone is used, and whether the driver is on their Ls, Ps or a full licence.
The biggest trap is assuming that putting a phone in a holder automatically makes it legal to use. It does not. Mounting rules and mobile-phone-use rules are separate, and the restrictions for learner and provisional drivers vary considerably around Australia.
Two questions matter:
- Is the device mounted in an acceptable position?
- Is this driver legally allowed to use the mounted phone?
The Australian Road Rules are model laws, not one national road law applied identically everywhere. See the National Transport Commission's Australian Road Rules overview.
Important: This is general road-rule information, not legal advice. Official government and legislation sources are linked for every jurisdiction below.
How we checked this guide: Each state and territory was checked against current government guidance and legislation on 7 August 2026. Where a future change has been announced but is not yet in force, such as Western Australia's upcoming novice-driver reforms, we say so.
Australian Windscreen Phone Mount Laws at a Glance
Mobile tip: swipe sideways to see the full table.
| State or territory | Can you use a mounted phone for navigation? | What about L and P drivers? | Mounting and positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Full licence: Yes. | L, P1, P2: No. No phone use while driving, including maps/navigation, even in a holder. | Commercially manufactured holder, fixed to vehicle, must not obscure vision. |
| Victoria | Full licence: Yes. | L, P1, P2: Yes, with limits. Navigation/audio may run if set before driving. No touching mounted device or voice controls while driving. | Commercially designed/manufactured holder. Must not obstruct vision. |
| Queensland | Open/P2: Yes. P1 aged 25+: Yes under hands-free rules. | L and P1 under 25: No phone use. A cradle does not create an exception. | Cradle may be attached to vehicle. Phone must not obscure road view. |
| South Australia | Full licence/P2: Yes, with limits. | L/P1: No. No mobile phone function while driving, including GPS. | GPS phone must be in commercially designed/manufactured mounting and not touched. |
| Western Australia | Yes under current rules. GPS allowed when mounted and not touched. | Current general rule applies at last check. Tighter L/P rules have been announced but were not yet implemented. | Mount attached to vehicle. Critical road view must remain clear. |
| Tasmania | Full licence/P2: Yes, with limits. | L/P1: No. | Commercially designed/manufactured mount, affixed as intended. |
| ACT | Full licence: Yes, with limits. | L/provisional: Yes, with strict limits. Pre-set GPS only, with no interaction while driving. | Phone must be mounted or appropriately connected for GPS use. |
| Northern Territory | Full licence: Yes, with limits. | L/provisional: No. Ban includes hands-free use. | Commercially designed mount fixed to vehicle. Keep windscreen unobstructed. |
Important: Where a novice-driver row says No, the restriction is on using the phone while driving. The physical holder is not necessarily prohibited, but placing the phone in it does not make navigation legal.
New South Wales
Full licence: A phone in a holder may be used for permitted functions including maps and navigation. NSW requires the holder to be commercially manufactured, fixed to the vehicle and not obscure vision.
Learner, P1 and P2: No mobile-phone use while driving, including maps/navigation. NSW expressly says this applies when the phone is handheld, in a holder or hands-free.
Sources: NSW Government guidance · NSW Road Rules 2014
Victoria
Full licence: Properly mounted devices can be used for navigation and audio within Victoria's device rules.
Learner, P1 and P2: Mounted navigation or audio may run if it was set before the journey. The driver must not touch the mounted device or use voice controls while driving, including while stopped at traffic lights.
Victoria also warns against obstructing the driver's view, speedometer or airbag deployment area.
Sources: Transport Victoria novice-driver rules · Full-licence rules · VSI 29: equipment within the driver's field of view · Road Safety Road Rules 2017
Queensland
Open and P2 licence holders: A phone in a cradle attached to the vehicle may be used for permitted hands-free functions including navigation. P1 drivers aged 25 or over are also allowed permitted hands-free use.
Learner and P1 drivers under 25: They cannot use any phone function while driving. Queensland's current guidance includes hands-free, Bluetooth, wireless headsets and loudspeaker use in the restriction. A windscreen cradle does not create an exception.
The phone must not obscure the driver's view of the road.
Sources: Queensland Government mobile phone rules · Provisional restrictions · TMR current mobile phone FAQ · Queensland Road Rules
South Australia
Full and P2: Phone GPS may be used if the phone is fixed in a commercially designed and manufactured mounting and is not touched while driving. The destination should be set before the journey.
Learner and P1: No mobile phone function while driving, including GPS, hands-free, Bluetooth and loudspeaker use.
Windscreen-mounted displays must also avoid obstructing the critical frontal road view.
Sources: My Licence SA · SA in-vehicle VDU installation and positioning guide · Australian Road Rules in SA · SA learner/P1 ancillary regulation
Western Australia
Current rule: A phone may be used as a driver's aid such as GPS when it is secured in a mounting attached to the vehicle and the driver does not hold or touch it. Current WA guidance applies this general rule to drivers, and current P-plate information tells provisional drivers to follow the WA road rules.
WA announced tighter learner and provisional phone restrictions in April 2026. However, the Government stated that implementation timeframes were still to be determined. As at 7 August 2026, those announced restrictions were not yet the rule used for this guide.
The windscreen and mirrors must remain unobstructed, and WA's VDU guidance limits suction-mounted displays to non-critical windscreen areas.
Sources: WA Road Safety Commission, updated 24 July 2026 · WA aftermarket in-vehicle VDU installation guide · Current Road Traffic Code 2000 · Transport WA P-plate rules, updated 20 July 2026 · WA 2026 GLS reform announcement
Tasmania
Full and P2: A phone may be used as a driver's aid when it is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle and does not need to be manipulated while being used.
Learner and P1 car drivers: No mobile-phone use while the vehicle is moving or stationary but not parked.
Tasmania defines a compliant mounting as commercially designed and manufactured for the purpose, with the phone and mounting fitted as intended.
Source: Tasmanian Road Rules 2019, rules 299 and 300
Australian Capital Territory
Full licence: GPS may be used when the phone is mounted or appropriately connected, provided the driver does not touch it or change its settings while driving.
Learner and provisional: GPS may also be used if it is mounted or connected and set before driving, but there must be no interaction by any means while driving. That includes touch, voice or changes through CarPlay or Android Auto.
Sources: ACT Government mobile device rules · ACT Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017
Northern Territory
Drivers other than learners and provisional drivers: A phone may be used for an audio call or as a driver's aid when secured in a commercially designed mount fixed to the vehicle, subject to the normal phone rules.
Learner and provisional: No mobile-phone use while driving. Regulation 15A expressly says the prohibition extends to hands-free use.
Keep the windscreen unobstructed.
Sources: Road Safety NT mobile phone and VDU rules · NT Traffic Regulations 1999, regulation 15A
Where Should You Put a Windscreen Phone Mount?
There is no single position that is automatically legal for every vehicle. The strongest common principle is to keep the driver's road view clear.
A sensible setup should also avoid blocking instruments, controls and airbag areas, use only as much arm length as needed, and allow navigation to be set before driving.
Victoria specifically addresses speedometer and airbag obstruction. South Australia and Western Australia publish additional guidance about keeping suction-mounted displays within non-critical windscreen areas.
A lower position may reduce obstruction in some vehicles, but that is practical guidance, not a claim that one particular position is legal nationwide.
RAM Windscreen Phone Mount Options
These products are designed for vehicle mounting, but no particular mount makes every installation position automatically lawful.
- Low profile: RAM X-Grip Phone Mount with Low Profile Suction Base (RAP-B-166-2-A-UN7U) uses a short arm and low-profile Twist-Lock base to keep the setup closer to the windscreen.
- Standard X-Grip: RAM-B-166-UN7U is the classic suction setup for phones that fit the standard X-Grip.
- Large X-Grip: RAM-B-166-UN10U is the larger X-Grip path for compatible larger phones and cases.
- Quick-Grip XL: RAM-B-166-PD4U uses a spring-loaded cradle-style holder for many larger phones and cases.
Browse RAM Phone Holders for Cars or RAM Suction Cup Bases.
Prefer to Keep the Windscreen Clear?
RAM also supports dashboard, cup-holder, seat-rail and other vehicle mounting approaches.
The RAM Dashboard Friction Base (RAP-279B) is compatible with RAM suction cup mounts and allows the suction setup to sit on the dashboard instead of attaching to the windscreen.
You can also browse RAM Car and Vehicle Mounts or read our Quad Lock vs RAM Mounts comparison.
FAQs
Can P platers use a windscreen-mounted phone for GPS?
It depends. NSW P1/P2 cannot use mobile-phone navigation. Victoria P1/P2 may use pre-set mounted navigation without touching or voice control. Queensland P1 under 25 cannot use phone functions, while P1 25+ and P2 can use permitted hands-free navigation. SA P1 cannot use phone GPS, while P2 follows the general mounted-GPS rule. Tasmania P1 cannot use a phone, while P2 follows the general rule. ACT provisional drivers may use pre-set GPS with no interaction. NT provisional drivers cannot use a phone while driving. WA currently uses its general mounted-GPS rule, with tighter novice restrictions announced but not yet implemented at the last check.
Does putting a phone in a holder make it legal for a learner driver?
No. The holder does not override licence-specific phone restrictions. Victoria and the ACT expressly allow limited pre-set mounted navigation for learners, while NSW, SA, Tasmania and the NT impose stronger learner restrictions. Queensland's additional learner restriction applies to learner drivers under 25.
Can I touch a mounted phone at traffic lights?
Do not assume so. A vehicle stopped at traffic lights is generally still being driven rather than parked, and the permitted interaction varies by jurisdiction and licence class.
Are RAM suction mounts automatically legal?
No. They are commercially manufactured vehicle mounting products, but compliance depends on installation position, visibility, licence class and how the phone is used.
Final Takeaway
A windscreen phone mount can be legal in Australia, but the answer depends on where you are driving and what licence you hold.
For most fully licensed drivers, mounted navigation is allowed when the device is properly positioned and used within the local rules. Novice-driver rules vary much more, which is why a state-by-state answer matters.
Keep the road view clear, use a proper mount, set navigation before driving where possible and follow the rule for the licence you actually hold.
Need help choosing a RAM setup for your phone, case and vehicle? Use the RAM Mount Builder guide or contact Modest Mounts.
Last checked against the official sources linked above: 7 August 2026.