driving in australia
 

can anyone tell me if we will have to re-take our driving tests when we emmigrate? i can drive anything from a motorbike to a 44tonne hgv and my wife has motorbike & car?... this is going to be expensive if i have to re-take them all? - i read it somewhere that after 3 months we cant drive on the u.k licences in oz? - thanks
nctattoo :confused:

Re: driving in australia
 

Might find some info here. It depends on what state you are going to as well.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=driving+tests

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=driving+tests

Hope this helps

Cheers

Ginny

Re: driving in australia
 

One of the first things you will do is convert your licences to Aussie ones as the photo ID is invaluable proof of who you are for many things. For most states you don't even need to do a written test. I think we paid something like $100 each to convert. They defaulted us to car and heavy (up to 8 tonnes) but I think you can tick boxes like bike and get them included at the same time.

Re: driving in australia
 

Hi
We came over on Permanent Visa's and you do need to pass your Aussie test within three months.Luckily it was only the written test tho not the practical. A word of advice tho - you need to buy their version of the Highway Code but make sure you really read it. We thought we knew most of it from having driven in the UK for such a long time. Wrong! We got caught out on some of the questions.

Re: driving in australia
 

Hi,

We were both exactly the same - we both had car+bike and I (Mr Ann) also had my Class 1 - or C+E as it is now lol. The car and bike were both written tests - pretty easy but as someone has already said - definitely worth getting the local 'Highway Code' for the differences. We are in Qld so not sure how it applies to rest of Aus, but the Qld written test for the car has a big emphasis towards give way rules. The bike written was a bit of a joke in reality - 5 questions of stuff like - when should you wear a helmet? The HGV part was a further 10 questions - things like driving hours and load restraint - not hard, but again it was worth having the book. Test only cost about 16 quid (UK) to do and if you fail any part you just keep taking it 'till you pass. Now the downside - in Qld for your HGV you'll have to take a practical as well. Not sure how this varies state to state but I'm sure someone will know. One of those things which, if you've been driving for a while, you'll find out just how many bad habits you have ;) I went with Ian Watsons Training - I can definitely recommend them if you're moving anywhere Northside of Brisbane. A couple of us have used them and they have been excellent. To get my HGV converted and to upgrade to an MC licence (roadtrain) cost me $1800, which although not cheap I didn't think was too bad, plus, as it's work related you can claim some of it back on your tax return.

Hope this helps

Re: driving in australia
 

There is also the online driving test quiz page for QLD to swot on, but only problem is often in your first 3 months you don't have internet.

Re: driving in australia
 

Good morning NCTATTOO34 and HAPPY NEW YEAR .

My wife found this web site which she has found invaluable to say the least. Obviously she needs it more than me (ya know, being a woman and all that) LOL.

Seriously tho' its a damn good starter to prepare you. We both were surprised how bad we were and at this moment it looks like we will be doing a hell of a lot of commuting when we get over there. (Or wait till one of the kids pass their test to chauffeur us around!!)

http://www.raa.net/page.asp?TerID=192&rnd=0.7577293

Good luck

BRICKY ADE and Family

Re: driving in australia
 

You being a bricky with a builders je*ns are obviously a sexist and can't help it so will let that pass...LOL... :D .

The test wasn't to bad and the fact that you can go back every day till you pass for only 8 quid means you are on a winner in the long run as after a few days in QLD you will have had every paper they do... :p .

thanks
 

thank you to all who have replied... it was most kind of you and a very happy new year to you all.... this advise has been invaluable...
nick :)

Re: driving in australia
 

Bricky Ade and Family I would just like to say bloody fantastic website! Me and hubbie have both tried to pass our tests online and have both failed miserably twice, third time lucky for both of us though! (although hubbie beat me by two points on the multiple choice questions!!!!
I wonder how many BE are on this website right now trying to do the same!!!!
Thanks again, I think we have a lot of bedtime reading to do before we hit the roads in Oz!!

Re: driving in australia
 

Just have to hope that where you end up just gives you the straight license swop over without any questions.