pumpkin blossom

Hi all,

I have noticed that quite a few people when they write their updates say they had to have an ozzie driving licence to buy a car. We are going on a two year student visa and have been told by the course provider that we can use our UK driving licences until we get PR.
So, how do we buy cars? We are only thinking of cheap ones anyway. As we are going to be on a tight budget we would rather not get SA licences when we may end up settling somewhere else after the two years.

Thanks

Buzzy--Bee

You can buy a car on a UK licence. In Victoria, you would be given a "client number" instead of a driving licence number by VICRoads. I don't now how it would work in other states.

I have bought 2 cars here so far on a UK licence.

Buzzy

Wendy

Just get a 2 year SA licence. It's only $65 for a 2 year licence and believe me it will be useful for everything where you need ID

Also we bought our first car with a UK licence, no problems at all.

denkar101

Not sure where you are getting your info from but you do not need a license to buy a car.
I would be more inclined to check and see just how long you are permitted to drive on your UK license in any State in Oz. I seem to think it was for 12 months and then you had to get a local one.
Might be wrong.....
Dennis

Buzzy--Bee

In VIC you can drive on your UK licence indefinitely if you are a Temporary Resident. You have 3 months to change once you get PR.

Buzzy

Wendy

Definitely need a licence to buy a car in South Austalia.

pumpkin blossom

Thanks very much everyone.
I will indeed check when I get there, and if the TAFE need to update their bumf I will let them know. Maybe SA is different to other states?? It didn't state a time, just said you can use your UK licence as long as you are on a tempory visa...
It is just a couple of theads I have read over the last few months where people were saying they had to get their licences before places would sell them a car... there has been more than one saying it.... We will need a car from day one really so would want to avoid having to wait anyway.

pumpkin blossom

Ohhh dear, so how do people who can legally drive on a temp visa buy a car????

Wendy

Yes you are correct, you can drive on your UK licence for the duration of your temporary visa, so long as your licence doesn't expire in the mean time. http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/licen...e_overseas.asp

And yes, it's possible to buy a car with a UK licence, as we did it. If the car yard owner doesn't agree then go to someone else as they probably just don't know.

pumpkin blossom

Fuuuuwwwww, thanks, we may buy privatly, but you never know until you are there.

Nerine

We are on temp visas and bought a car using an overseas licence (NZ) without any problems in QLD. You need something like a Oz bank/credit card, passport and proof of where the car will be garaged - for this we used our rent agreement.

The way I read it if you are a temp resident in QLD there is no requirement to obtain an Oz licence so long as you are from one of the recognised countries - and the UK is.

pumpkin blossom

Mmmmm, we were hoping to buy a car pretty much the day after we arrived, but won't have a rent agreement by then. We might have to go for private sales then.

Wendy

We didn't need proof of address, we were staying in the caravan park so didn't have any either.

They will need an address, but only so the registration papers can come to you - the address can be changed at any time. It will most likely be different from state to state (everything else is )

Hills Boy

I'm in SA. My UK lic. was fine to buy a car, but to register the car you need proof of address. I was in the same position as you'll be, but the car dealership registered the car in their name - most dealerships I went to were used to Brits in this situation - until I had proof of address. Once I had proof of address (Telstra phone bill, etc.) they then transferred the registration to me. Simple. I agree with Wendy for $65 (again this is SA; I don't know about other states/territories) it's worth having local photo ID for other things.

Hills Boy

furkew

I actually bought a car over the internet (second hand) before we even arrived, and they picked us up at the airport when we arrived (saves taxis/rental and time wasted looking for a car the first few days)

We are also in Vic on a 457 temp visa , and still have foreign licences (Dutch) with a client number.

I only found out after nearly 5 months that the dealer had forgotten to register the car in my name. Was still registered in their name until a few weeks ago, so dont stress too much about anything.

Different states have different rules, but definitely look specifically at rules regarding trying to keep your licence. You have paid good money to get it, so try to get your moneys worth.