Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Is it possible to receive demerit points on an overseas licence? I'm asking this question from the point of view of a temporary resident i.e. no requirement to get an Aussie licence within three months. I understand offences on your overseas licence go on your record but can you get/lose points?

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

If you have a UK license in Oz, the two are not linked at all, so you'll be fine. If you drive on your UK license in Oz, and get a speeding fine, you'll points will be lost (they will not go on your UK license) and you'll just have the fine to pay.

As for getting an Oz license, I had one for 2.5 years back in 2002 and never had a problem with it at all - plus no point on the license...

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Thanks for that. Just to be clear I'm not concerned about getting Irish/UK points on an Irish/UK licence, rather that Aussie points will be recorded against the UK/Irish licence and the licence will be suspended.

I got hit twice in the one holiday weekend by the same camera so am looking at a possible suspension. Silly, I know.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

They definitely cannot put points on your licence, so no worries. I'm still on my UK licence and am not going to rush to get an Australian one for the same reason (mind you an Aussie licence would come in really handy to drive around the UK when I go back for holidays :thumbup:)

One question on getting an Aus licence - do you have to surrender your UK licence? Cos they can think again if they reckon I'm giving it up....

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

As a temporary resident you are not required to surrender your Irish/UK licence. As a permanent resident they will punch a great big hole in it rendering it useless. I believe they link the two licences though when they issue an Aussie one? i.e. If you have a Aussie licence as a temporary resident you can't dodge points by declaring your UK licence number when you get a fine.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Yes you do have to surrender your UK one, they punch a hole in it to invalidate it and then give it to you back. I don't know whether they inform the UK though I suspect not, so you could always ask for a new one when you go back. Useful tip when you have visitors is that any points don't count, although if they are driving your car make them aware that you will still get letters assuming you are driving and trying to put the points on your license by the hidden cameras. It will be up to you to prove that it wasn't you at the wheel.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Each state must have their own rules as there was no requirement to surrender my UK licence in WA - it was handed back intact.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

They don't punch a hole in it in NSW. Why would they? it is still a legal driving licence in the UK.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Well, they can **** off if they think they're punching any holes in my licence. I'll give them a certified copy and somehow "lose" my original...

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

They are definitely linked. I had to surrender my previous Victorian license to get a UK license. I then rang the Victorian license people to try and get a new one issued and they informed me I couldn't until I had surrendered my UK one - DVLA had sent my Victorian license back to Australia.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Didn't have to do any of that when I got my NSW licence.

I still have my UK licence.

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Me too, they gave it back to me intact, I always drive on the ozzie one in UK though, incase I do get a fine!

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Many years ago... (2000?ish) I got my Australian licence and my UK licence was barely glanced at - certainly wasnt defaced or invalidated...

HOWEVER, - I did discover some months later that the driving offences I'd accrued on my UK licence had been recorded against my name, and when I picked up my first 3 points on my Qld licence I had to take a 3 month ban because of the 9 points I'd accrued on my UK licence (that I'd assumed were irrelevant). :mad:

Moral of the story? Dont take anyones word for it (specialy from dodgy internet forums) - Ask the licencing authority in your state to verify how many points you have once you get your licence!!

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

Indeed my dad's been sent a couple of photos of me drivig his car back in the UK. He fills in the statutory declaration saying it was driven by me and we never hear anythign else....

By contrast, when my sister picked up a photo in Qld driving my car, I filled in a stat. dec and expected that to be the end of it - but she received the fine notice in the UK!! (and PAID it)... She had heard of a friend who's entry to Australia was held up until she paid an outstanding fine from a previous visit - so decided to pay up anyway. (I suspect this is an urban myth story - but hey you never know do ya?)

Re: Demerit points on overseas licence?
 

It's certainly not an urban myth, the police fine gets registered with the magistrates court in Victoria, it's certainly not forgotten about and I can see no reason why you wouldn't be stopped and asked to pay it.