killamarsh

Do you have to make sure you have an international liscence when you move to OZ? Or is a uk liscece sufficient?

Does there have to be a number of years left on a driving liscene in order to get an Australian liscence?

Any hints or tips would be most welcome - please state which state you are in as I think laws may be different in each state.

thanks

Wendy

In south australia you just have to swap your UK license for a Oz one within 3 months of arriving

h2oskineil

In WA you just swap your licence, but you have to do it within 3 months. Also if you have a WA licence, you will get cheaper car insurance.... so pay's to do it straight away.
Neil.

deanmhunt

We have been told you have to take a theory test. Is this correct? We are going to Perth & have full UK licence.

mand8002

We are in Qld and had to take and pass a theory test before we were issued with our Australian licence. We just showed the plastic part of the licence, they weren't interested in the paper part of it. It is supposed to be done within 3 months of arriving.

Ceri

International licences - It does not matter a hoot, the rules are still the same . You do not need one if you have got a Brit licence, old paper one, the new plastic, it does not matter - I hold the old paper British licence and had no prob getting a driving licence here

You can drive on your British licence in Qld if you are on a temp visa and not a PR or citizen. The Qld driving licence is optional for temp visa holders - The three month rule does not apply to temp visa holders.

You can apply for a licence years and years down the track - you don't have to do it within three months - I didn't . I took my theory test and got my Qld licence years down the track of being here - This was after I was driving quite legally on a Brit licence here for years ( when I was on a 4 year temp visa) .Then I was knowingly illegally driving on my Brit licence for years ( when I was PR and then citizen) - It's just that you are legally required to get one if you are a PR or citizen to have a Qld licence within three months of residing here if you are to legally drive - in other words , you can still apply for one years after the three months and still only do the theory.

For the rules, it is really best to check out the official transport/licencing website for the state that you're interested in , and get the info from the horses mouth so to speak. It's easy enough to find the websites on the net with a google search

Good luck

ABCDiamond

For UK full driving licence holders (UK does NOT include Isle of Man)

NSW No theory test required
ACT No theory test required
QLD Theory Test is required.
SA No Theory Test required.
TAS Theory Test is required.
VIC No theory test required
WA No theory test required
NT I dont know

An International licence is only needed, in Australia, when your own driving licence is NOT in the English language. An IDP is NOT a licence in itself, but effectively just a Translation of your licence.

http://www.britzinoz.com/info/driving.htm

sasbear

Yes in ACT Canberra we swapped but still had to do the theory test - but dont worry it is easy and you have upto 3 months of driving on your old UK one before exchanging and sitting the test

sasbear

Just checked the link above and the rules have changed in ACT - we had to do them in 2004 - ah well

zx10r_aus

How long ago did you swap your license over sas? Cas Wendy went down to motor registry a couple of months ago and just swapped her UK for ACT license.

ZX....

Mandy&Cliff

We did ours in WA in 2001 and had to take the theory test, so I suppose it has changed.

ABCDiamond

The changes happened in 2005.

TillyG

Just to clarify, does that mean, then, as I am in Oz on a 4yr visa (457) that I don't need to change my licence over?

I tried to get a straight answer out of the Aussie DVLA (can't remember the name!).

Also, the UK DVLA told me that I would have to change my address on my UK licence, but they only accept UK addresses... so I was flummoxed!

If I did change to an Aussie licence and then come back to the UK, will the DVLA just swap it back?

Sorry for the questions and hijack!

Mandy&Cliff

I dont know if anyone agrees but I thought it was worded something like " up to 3 months from the date that you take up permanent residency" If your visa is for 4 years could you not argue that you are not a permanent resident especially if you are going back to the UK.

Mandy&Cliff

Taken from www.transport.qld.gov.au
"How long do I have to change over? (overseas licence)
You must change the licence to a Queensland driver licence when all of the following apply:
You obtain resident/immigrant status in Australia.
You take up permanent residence in Queensland.


Once these apply, you need to change the licence over within three months.
If you do not have resident/immigrant status, and are visiting Queensland on a visa, there is no requirement for you to change over your licence.

As long as your licence is current, it clearly states the type of vehicle you can drive and it is in English, or you have an authorised translation, you can drive on Queensland roads using that licence".