Obtaining a drivers license in Australia. How do I get an Australian drivers licence? Australian driver licences are administered at state/territory level, and regulations vary as a result. You will normally need to obtain a state licence within 3 months of taking up residence in the state (you can use your overseas licence in the meantime). Generally, you’re allowed to drive in Australia with an overseas drivers license if you’re a temporary visitor. If your license isn’t written in English, you’ll need to carry a formal English translation or an International Driving Permit. That rule doesn’t include New Zealanders. Aug 25, 2015 I just went through this ordeal!! You will have to get a licence if you are a resident. Im on the E3 visa so still not sure about the legalities but essentially I have to get a licence to get insurance, credit cards etc. Our car insurance is sooo.
A driver licence is required in Australia before a person is permitted to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in Australia. The responsibility for the regulation and enforcement of road use, including light vehicle driver licensing is the responsibility of the state and territory governments. In this section: Renew driver's licence, Transfer a driver's licence, Replace a driver's licence, Update registration or licence details, Driver's licence photo point locations, Evidence of identity, Drivers licence and permit fees, South Australians driving interstate or overseas, Driving with an overseas licence, Proof of age card, Driver's licence classes, Licence conditions, restrictions and exemptions, Medical fitness to drive, Checking your driving history, Organ donor option and New. A driver licence is required in Australia before a person is permitted to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in Australia. The responsibility for the regulation and enforcement of road use, including light vehicle driver licensing is the responsibility of the state and territory governments. The rules for the obtaining of licences vary between states and territories, but a driver licence issued in one Australian state or territory is generally recognised and valid in the other st.
Driving in Australia is mostly great fun! We have some great road trips, so it’s worth taking a drive when you visit! But many travelers aren’t sure about the laws. Can you drive in Australia with an overseas license? Is there an Australian drivers license for foreigners? Do you need an International Drivers License in Australia?
This post explains the laws about overseas visitors wanting to drive here, and who can drive in Australia with a foreign license. It will also help new residents wondering whether they can drive in Australia as a foreigner.
For info about general Australian driving rules, see our guide to Australian driving laws for travelers and ex-pats.
Can I drive in Australia with a foreign license?
The laws about driving in Australia with an overseas license are different in different states. Generally, you’re allowed to drive in Australia with an overseas drivers license if you’re a temporary visitor. If your license isn’t written in English, you’ll need to carry a formal English translation or an International Driving Permit.
That rule doesn’t include New Zealanders. Kiwis are treated like interstate visitors and need to apply for a local license after 3 months living in Australia.
Note also that the laws are different in the Northern Territory. Read the Northern Territory section of this page if that’s where you’re headed.
If you’re planning to live in Australia, you can drive with your overseas license for three months (six in Victoria) before you’ll need to have a local license. If you’re in Australia temporarily, but longer than 3 months, some states ask you to apply for a temporary drivers license.
Jump to your state:
International drivers permits and license translations in Australia
If your license is not written in English, you’ll need to carry either an international drivers license (also known as an international drivers permit) or a formal translation of your overseas license. You’ll need to carry the original versions of these documents when you drive, along with your overseas license.
An international drivers permit is a certified document, but not an actual drivers license itself. International driving permits are issued from the same country as your license, normally from official motoring groups. Check with your country’s licensing office on how to obtain one.
Formal license translations need to be done by an approved translator*. They can also come from a consulate office in Australia. Check with your country’s consulate in Australia for more information.
*National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Can I drive a GoGet with an overseas license?
GoGet is a car sharing service that allows you to use a range of cars without owning them. It’s very useful for travellers and expats living in Australia temporarily, who don’t want to bother with the cost or hassle of buying a car.
We don’t mind if you have an overseas license – you can still drive a GoGet and access all of our cars. Of course, you also need to follow the laws of the state you’re driving in, as you won’t be covered if you’re driving illegally.
To find the nearest GoGet car to your Australian home, you can search our entire fleet here.
Driving in Australia with a foreign license – state rules
Here are the rules for each Australian state about driving with a foreign license. No matter what state you’re in, you always need to have a current overseas drivers license with you when you drive. Also, you can only drive the type of vehicles that you’re licensed to drive on your overseas license, and you must always obey the local road rules.
Note: These conditions apply to full license holders, not learner or provisional drivers. Generally, if you have an overseas learner’s permit, you’ll need to re-apply for a local learner’s permit. Contact the state license authority for details on your circumstance.
New South Wales
As a temporary visitor, you can drive on your overseas license as long as:
If you’re an Australian citizen living overseas, you’re still considered a temporary visitor and the above rules apply.
You don’t need an International Driving Permit if your overseas license is written in English. If your overseas license is written in another language, you’ll need to carry a formal translation or International Driving Permit.
If you have a permanent visa you must have a local license by the time you’ve lived in NSW for three months.
Victoria
In Victoria, the conditions around driving on overseas licenses changes based on your visa status.
If you are a temporary visa holder:
If you are a permanent visa holder:
After six months, permanent residents need to apply for a Victorian drivers license.
Queensland
Windows 10 pci serial port driver. In Queensland you can drive with an overseas license as long as your authority to drive in Queensland hasn’t been withdrawn. If your overseas license isn’t written in English, you’ll need to carry a formal English translation of it with you.
Australian Drivers Licenses
Your authority to drive in Queensland on your overseas drivers license will be suspended if:
A permanent resident must have a Queensland drivers license once they’ve been living there for 3 months.
South Australia
The South Australian government says a temporary international visitor can drive in the state, as long as they have:
If your overseas license expires while in South Australia, you must apply for a South Australian license to continue driving.
Canberra
In Canberra/the Australian Capital Territory, you can use your overseas license to drive, as long as your visa remains a temporary visa and your overseas license remains current. However, if you’ve moved to the ACT to live, you need to apply for an ACT license within three months.
Temporary visitors can include:
If you’re driving in Canberra with your foreign license, you always need to have it with you. You also need an International Driving Permit or English translation of your license if it’s not in English.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, temporary visa holders can use an overseas license under a few conditions. Permanent visa holders can use an overseas license under the same conditions for the first 3 months of their visa. After that, they need to have a Tasmanian drivers license.
These are the conditions you need to follow.
Western Australia
Visiting drivers may use a current overseas license when driving in Western Australia, as long as they hold a temporary visa. You are a visiting driver in WA if you are:
If you have an English language license, you only need to carry it with you when you drive. However, if your overseas drivers license is not in English, you must carry a formal English translation of it or an international driving permit.
You also must not have your license suspended or cancelled, nor be disqualified from driving anywhere.
If you’re on a permanent visa, you may use your overseas license for up to three months before you’ll need to apply for a Western Australian license.
The Northern Territory
While most states have similar rules for using an overseas license in Australia, The Northern Territory is an exception. In the Northern Territory, you are not allowed to drive with an overseas license more than 3 months after arriving in the state, regardless of whether you’re a temporary visitor or a permanent resident.
For the first three months, you must carry your license with you. You also need to carry a formal English translation or an international drivers permit if the license is not written in English.
After the first three months, you must apply for a Northern Territory drivers license. You can apply for an exception to this. There are no standard circumstances where an exception will be granted, it’s on a case-by-case basis. The details for how to apply for an exception can be found on this webpage.
Want to read more about driving in Australia?
If you have a valid* overseas driver licence you can convert it to a New Zealand driver licence. You can also convert the classes on your overseas licence to the equivalent classes for your New Zealand licence.
*A valid overseas driver licence means that your licence must not be suspended, disqualified or revoked in the country of issue and must be either current or expired within the last 12 months.
If you've been in New Zealand for more than 12 months, you won't be able to drive on your overseas licence anymore. You must have a New Zealand licence.
How to convert to a New Zealand licence
You must apply at a specialist overseas conversion site.
You'll need to:
You may also need to pass theory and practical tests. If you do, you'll also have to pay the test fees.
You can't convert to a New Zealand licence using only an international driving permit. You must present your physical overseas driver licence.
Theory and practical tests required for drivers from some countries
All drivers must know the road rules, what the road signs mean and how to drive safely. You can find out more in The official New Zealand road code.
To prove that you are familiar with our road rules and can drive safely, some people will need to sit theory tests and practical driving tests. The tests you need to sit depend on the country your licence is from.
Some countries* require similar driving skills and have similar licensing systems to New Zealand’s. These countries are considered exempt countries:
*Hong Kong is recognised as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
If your licence is not from one of the countries above, then your licence is from a non-exempt country.
Non-exempt countries
If your licence is from a non-exempt country, you must pass a theory test and a practical driving test.
You need to make your application at a specialist overseas conversion site first, and sit your theory test. Your application will then be sent to the NZ Transport Agency for your overseas driver licence to be assessed. We’ll check to make sure your driver licence is authentic and hasn’t been tampered with in any way.
Once the assessment is completed and your application has been approved, we’ll send you a New Zealand driver licence with a supervisor condition. This means you can only drive with a supervisor* with you in the car, and you can’t use your overseas driver licence any more.
If you’re converting a motorcycle licence you don’t need to have a supervisor. You’ll be issued with a learner motorcycle licence and will need to comply with the learner conditions until you pass your practical test and are issued with a full licence.
Once you’ve received your New Zealand photo driver licence, you can return to a specialist overseas conversion site and book your practical test. If you’re paying by debit or credit card, you can call us on 0800 822 422 to book your test.
Once you’ve passed your test, we’ll send you a New Zealand driver licence without a supervisor condition.
Exempt countriesCar or motorcycle licence
If you’re converting a car or motorcycle licence (New Zealand class 1 or 6) from an exempt country, you don’t have to sit any theory tests.
If you’ve held your licence for more than two years, you won’t have to sit any practical driving tests either providing your licence clearly shows show an issue date that was more than two years ago. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to get documentation from your licensing authority to confirm you’ve held it more than two years, or you can choose to sit the practical test instead.
Truck licence
If you’re converting a truck licence from an exempt country (New Zealand classes 2-5), you’ll have to pass a theory test.
If you’ve held your licence for more than two years, you won’t have to sit a practical driving test (unless your licence is from Hong Kong or South Korea, in which case you must pass a practical driving test).
Booking your test
If you need to sit tests, you can book them as soon as you’ve made an application at a specialised overseas conversion site.
It's easy to book the practical test online.
Book a practical driver licence test
Once the agent gives you a temporary New Zealand driver licence, this means you can’t use your overseas licence in New Zealand any more.
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If you have to pass a practical test to convert your licence, your temporary driver licence will have a supervisor condition on it. This means you can only drive with a supervisor* with you in the car, and you can’t use your overseas driver licence any more.
If you’re converting a motorcycle licence you don’t need to have a supervisor. You’ll be issued with a learner motorcycle licence and will need to comply with the learner conditions until you pass your practical test and are issued with a full licence.
Application assessed
Your application will then be sent to the NZ Transport Agency for your overseas driver licence to be assessed. We’ll check to make sure your driver licence is authentic and hasn’t been tampered with in any way. We’ll contact you if there are any issues with your driver licence.
Application completed
Once your application is completed and you’ve passed any tests that were required, we’ll send you a New Zealand driver licence.
There's a minimum age
These are the minimum ages you must be before getting each type of driver licence:
This means that if you're under 18 years of age, you can only convert your overseas licence to the equivalent age-related New Zealand licence class.
If you fail the test, you may not be able to drive
Different types of licence require different tests
Different types of vehicles are grouped into classes. There are different theory and practical tests for different classes:
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Please note that New Zealand licence classes are not an exact match to those that apply overseas.
Most people will sit the theory and practical tests for a car licence.
If you want a motorcycle licence as well, you'll have to sit another set of tests. If you also want a truck licence, you'll need to sit a different set of tests.
Make sure you tell the driver licensing agent which types of licence you want to convert.
Overseas driver licence no longer valid in New Zealand
If you've been issued with a New Zealand driver licence, you'll no longer be able to use your overseas driver licence for driving in New Zealand.
Western Australian Driver's LicenseCan I convert to a New Zealand licence using only my international driving permit?Driver's License Sc
No. You must present your physical overseas driver licence at the driver licensing agent when you are applying to convert to a New Zealand licence. You can’t present your international driving permit on its own.
Australian Drivers License RequirementsMore informationComments are closed.
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