Driving license information
If you have or are going to emigrate to Australia and you hold a UK driving license,
you are allowed to drive on your existing UK license for the first 3 months that
you are in Australia. After this period you will have to get an Australian
Driving License, which is very straight forward, but DOES require you to be classed
as a resident. The UK is one of a number of countries that Australia
recognise the driving licensing system as similar, which means that you will not
have to take a practical test if you have had your UK license for more than 2 years. However,
Australian Driving Licenses are administered at a state level, so the regulations
governing the driving license can vary. Please check with the
local authority for more details
You are required in Australian to carry your driving license with you at all times. So
please don't forget to do this. If you get pulled over and do
not have your license with you, you will be given a producer which gives you only
24 hours to produce a valid driving license at a police station.
If you have only held your UK driving license for a couple of years or less, you
may have to have probationary restrictions applying to your new Australian Driving
License. Again please check with the
local state authority for more details
Getting your license
For most states you will need the following to get your driving license:
- Passport
- Proof of address
- Other form of identification
Usually any offical letter will suffice for the proof of address (such as your Tax File Number
letter), but if you are are staying with family/friends etc.. you can get them to
sign the form to vouch for you as long as they hold a license for the state in which
you are applying. The other form of identification you will also need
can usually be just a bank card with your name embossed on it, even if it is a UK
bank card
For most the process of getting the license will be a 15-30 minute affair. The
transport departments are very good and will take your photo there and then and
give you your laminated license straight away. Beware though it's not
free!! You can usually specify between 1 and 5 years for your license
with 5 years usually costing around $70, but this will again vary from state to
state
Change of address
You must notify your states transport authority of any change in your details. For
example,
Queensland Transport Authority give you 14 days to notify them and they
offer an online and telephone service for you to change your details. You
will be issued with a sticker that has your new address on it and this usually is
stuck to the back of your existing license.
Traffic Authorities