Main Index
Related pages on this website:
Cars
Car Insurance
Driving in QLD
Car Rental
Buying
Importing
Licences
Child Seats
Statistics
|
In Australia they drive on the LEFT, at least the majority of the time! If
there are two lanes going in the same direction, a lot of drivers will use the
right hand lane, and it can be quite annoying at times to the British who
learned to never overtake on the inside, as you now have to learn to do just
that, or just follow the driver in front.
When those two lanes come to an end, and become just one lane, it is more often
than not the left lane that must give way to the right lane. In many
areas, the drivers in the right lane will also try close the gap, to block those in
the left lane from getting in. I think that is a partial reason for people
driving in the right hand lane all the time.
UK petrol prices
for comparison can be found at:
http://www.petrolprices.com
DRIVING LICENCES
Info and links for the relevant States on the transferring your UK Car licence to an Australian one.
A Permanent Resident is normally allowed to drive for 3 months before needing an Australian Licence, after that period
they would be classed as driving without a valid licence.
A person on a Visitors Visa does not have to abide
by the same rules. Most States allow visitors to continue driving on a valid
CURRENT driving licence from their own country indefinitely, however, WA states
only 12 months.
ACT -
NSW -
NT - QLD -
SA -
TAS - VIC -
WA
ACT Australian Capital Territory
No theory test required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
If you hold a current driver licence from an
approved country,(PDF 15.8Kb)
(This includes the UK), you will not be required to pass a practical driving assessment or a Road Rules Knowledge test.
Source: http://www.rego.act.gov.au/licensing/licenceoverseas.htm
ACT
Driving Licence Fees
Minimum driving age in ACT, Australia:
To obtain your ACT Learner Licence you must be at least 15
years and nine months old. You must be at least 17 years old and have held a
Learner Licence for at least six months before you can obtain a Provisional
Licence.
http://www.rego.act.gov.au/licensing/licencelearner.htm
- ACT Registration and Licensing
-
Visiting drivers
are not required to obtain an ACT Driver Licence providing their overseas licence
and International Driving Permit are current. A visiting driver is a person from
overseas who arrives in the ACT with no intention of becoming a permanent resident.
This includes:
- business people
- people on working holiday visas
- people studying or working temporarily in the ACT who intend to return to their
home countries when they finish their courses or jobs.
NSW
New South Wales
NO Theory Test is now required for
Car Drivers from Selected Countries of which the UK is one.
NSW RTA Recognised countries
As from 20 May 2002 customers are exempt the car driver knowledge
test if they hold an acceptable car licence from the UK or one of the other
recognised countries.
The RTA reserves the right to require customers to undertake a knowledge test
or driving test, and may not issue a licence until it is satisfied that the
overseas licence is valid.
If you have held your driver licence for
less than 12 months, you will be issued a NSW provisional P1 licence. If you
have held your driver licence for more than 12 months but less than three years,
a provisional P2 licence will be issued.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_drivers.html
If you hold a Learners Licence, you will need to take a Knowledge Test
and pay a licensing fee.
New South Wales Car Driving Licence Fees Jul 2008
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
- Licence fee - 1 year = $ 46.00
- Licence fee - 3 year = $ 108.00
- Licence fee - 5 year = $ 145.00
Motorcycle Rider Training Scheme
- Pre-learner course $73
- Pre-provisional course $110
Minimum driving age in New South Wales, Australia:
To get your New South Wales learner licence you need to be 16 years of age
or older. You will have to log at least 120 hours of supervised driving
(which includes 20 hours of night driving) before you can attempt the
Driving Test to move to a provisional licence.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/.../car/learners/index.html?llid=1
-
If you intend to stay in NSW and you hold a permanent
visa under the Commonwealth Migration Act 1958, you are no longer considered to
be a visitor. You are allowed to drive or ride in NSW on a current overseas licence
for a maximum of three months after arriving in Australia.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/.../international_drivers.html 28/9/04
Visitors: As a visitor, can I get a NSW
licence as soon as I arrive in Australia? source:
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
From 18 April 2008:
If you are a new NSW licence applicant and are identified by the RTA as a
temporary overseas visitor, you will only be eligible to convert your
overseas licence to a NSW licence once you have been in Australia for a
continuous period of at least six months immediately prior to applying for a
licence.
Learner drivers must:
Be supervised at all times by the holder of a full Australian driver
licence.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/.../car/learners/index.html
QLD
Queensland New Link -
Driving in QLD
NO Theory Test is now required, for UK Full Licence
Holders..
SA
South Australia -
No Theory Test required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
As of the 31st October 2005 The holder of a current overseas Driver's Licence
and from certain recognised countries do not have to now undertake a theory
test, The UK is one of these countries.
An applicant obtaining a Provisional Licence
is required to hold the Provisional Licence until they turn 19 years of age
or for two years, whichever period is longer.
http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/.../overseas_residents.asp
Driving Licence Fees Jan 2006
SA
Licence fee - 1 year = $ 39.00
Licence fee - 5 year = $ 135.00
Licence fee - 10 year = $ 255.00
Minimum driving age in South Australia:
You must be 16 years or older before you can apply for a South Australian
learner's permit. Before you can take a practical driving test you must be
at least 16 years and 6 months of age, have held a Learner's Permit for a
total period of at least 6 months or an interstate or overseas Driver's
Licence (with similar conditions).
http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/.../obtain_provisional.asp
TAS
Tasmania
No Theory Test required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
If an applicant for a Tasmanian licence holds
an overseas provisional licence, the Tasmanian
provisional conditions will apply. If the overseas licence is non provisional,
the applicant will be issued with a non provisional Tasmanian licence
http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/.../transferring_an_overseas_licence
Tasmana Driving Licence Fees Jan 2006
TAS
Licence fee - 1 year = $23.95
Licence fee - 5 year = $83.65 (2,3 & 4 year licences are available)
Minimum driving age in Tasmania, Australia:
You must be 15 years and 11 months old before you can sit the knowledge
test, and be 16 years or over to hold a learner licence.
You must be 16 years and 11 months old before you can undertake the
practical test for a provisional licence, and 17 years to hold a provisional
driver licence.
http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/../car_learner_licence
-
Permanent visa holders may drive in Tasmania for
up to 3 months if their foreign licence is current and they carry their driver
licence while driving.
-
Persons holding a temporary visa, ie student/working/holiday
visas, do not need to obtain a Tasmanian Licence for the duration of their visa
provided their foreign driver licence remains current
-
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may authorise an
extension of the 3 month period. An application for an extension must be made
in writing to the
Registration and Licensing Branch.
VIC
Victoria -
No theory test is required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your
overseas licence (provided it is a current, valid licence) for an indefinite
period provided your overseas licence is in English, or you have an
International Driving Permit.
If you are in Victoria on a permanent visa, you can drive on your
overseas licence for only three months from the date you entered Victoria or
from the time a permanent visa was issued to you. If you want to continue to
drive in Victoria after that time you must apply for a Victorian driver
licence.
If you are an existing licence holder from the
UK and some other recognised countries, no tests are
required to apply for a car or a motorcycle licence in Victoria.
When you are issued with a Victorian driver licence you do not need to
surrender your overseas licence or permit. The overseas licence or permit
will be returned to you.
To obtain a Full Victorian driver licence you must have held, and provide
evidence that you have held, a licence for at least three years from your
18th birthday.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/.../OverseasDriversLicences.htm
The probationary period is 3 years. This may be reduced if you have held an interstate or overseas licence after your 18th birthday.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/
Driving Licence Fees Jun 2008
VIC
Licence fee - 3 year = $45.30
Licence fee - 10 year = $154.00
Minimum driving age in Victoria, Australia:
To get your Victoria learner permit you must be at least 16 years of age for
a car and 18 years of age for a motorcycle
To apply for your provisional licence in Victoria you must be at least 18
years of age.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/GettingYourLs
-
VicRoads
- http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
-
Victoria Driving Theory Tests -
http://clt.vicroads.vic.gov.au/
You need 24 correct out of 32 questions in Victoria
-
Info from:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au as
at 23/9/04
As the following countries have similar licence standards to Australia, current
overseas holders of licences from the recognised countries listed below are
only required to pass the knowledge test on the Victorian road law.
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
UK, USA
If your licence is not from one of the countries listed above, you will need to
undergo a knowledge test of Victorian road law as well as a driving test.
Turning Right in Melbourne, Victoria (the Hook Turn)
In Melbourne, at some intersections where trams operate, you
must do a 'hook turn' to turn right.
There will be a sign hanging overhead or on the side of the road for the
intersections that this applies to.
Instructions on turning right using the Hook Turn from Vic Roads:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/.../InformationForTourists.htm
To do a hook turn a driver must:
-
Approach and enter the intersection from, as near as
practicable, to the far left side of the road.
-
Move forward, keeping to the left of the intersection and
clear of any marked foot crossing until the driver is as near as practicable
to the far side of the road the driver is entering.
-
Then wait until the traffic lights on the road they are
entering into turn green before they make the turn.
WA
No theory test required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
If you are the holder of a licence from a 'recognised country', you are
not required to sit the road rules theory test or the motorcycle theory test
(if applicable). However, you are still required to sit the heavy vehicles theory
test if you are applying for the equivalent WA classes.
If you are under 19 or have held your overseas licence for less than
two years, you will get a probationary WA licence. A probationary licence
means that you will be required to display 'P' plates when driving until the
probationary period expires. While you are on 'P' plates it is illegal to drive
with a blood alcohol level of 0.02% or above.
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/yourlicence/1365.asp
Driving Licence Fees Jul 2008
WA
Licence fee - 1 year = $ 36.60
Licence fee - 5 year = $ 116.00
Minimum driving age in Western Australia:
You can get a learner permit to drive a car when you turn 16.
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/yourlicence/1210.asp
Western Australia -
WA
Learner drivers must always be accompanied by either:
a licensed driving instructor, or
a person who holds a current and valid licence and has held the class of
licence specified on your permit for at least 4 years.
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/learnerdrivers/1471.asp
NT
No theory test required, for UK Full Licence Holders.
http://www.nt.gov.au/transport/.../faq/overseaslicence.shtml
Minimum driving age in Northern Territories, Australia:
You can get a learner permit to drive a car when you turn 16.
To obtain your provisional driver licence you must have held the required
learner licence for 6 consecutive months
http://www.nt.gov.au/transport.../faq/learnerspermit.shtml
International Driving Permits
A Permanent Resident can ignore any references to
"International Driving Permits (IDP)", as these are not required for UK
licence holders. They are required when your normal licence is in a different
language, and must accompany your VALID National licence. An IDP is NOT a licence
in itself, but effectively just a Translation of your licence.
Temporary Visa Holders
If you do not intend to stay in
NSW and do not hold a permanent visa, you will be regarded as a visiting
driver. If you hold a current overseas driver licence you are not required to
get a NSW licence even if your stay is longer than three months. If the licence
is not written in English, an International Driving Permit, or an English translation
must also be carried with the licence when driving.
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 a visitor to
WA you can drive on your overseas licence for up to 12 months from your
arrival or until the licence expires (whichever comes first). If you intend staying
longer than 12 months or your overseas licence expires within that time, you should
apply for a WA licence.
If you are in
Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas licence (provided
it is a current, valid licence) for an indefinite period provided your overseas
licence is in English (or you have an English translation), or you have an International
Driving Permit.
Students, tourists and persons who are working in
South Australia on current temporary visas are
permitted to drive on their foreign licences, only while the
foreign licence is current. Temporary visas usually do not exceed 4 years.
If the foreign licence expires<, they are required to
obtain a South Australian driver's licence.
Persons holding a temporary visa, ie student/working/holiday
visas, do not need to obtain a
Tasmanian Licence for the duration of their visa provided their foreign
driver licence remains current.
Visiting motorists are required to carry their
licence (and English translation if applicable) at all times while driving and produce
it to Police on request. Production of their temporary visas may also be required
as evidence of their temporary residential status.
GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT SERVICES
On-Line Driving Tests
Other State Links
Road Rules
OTHER DRIVING INFORMATION
Car Rental
Car Sales
Motoring Organisations
Minimum Driving Age & Learner Drivers
-
QLD - In Queensland a learner can start to drive at the age of
16yrs, You must drive with someone who holds and has held for at least
one year an open driver licence for that type of vehicle and you must have a zero
blood alcohol content if under 25 years of age.
- New Rules to apply from 1 July 2007.
- learner licences at 16
- minimum 12 month learner period
- 100 hours recorded logbook driving for learners
- two-phased P1 and P2 provisional licence system (a red plate for P1 for
one year and green plate for P2 for two years)
- high powered vehicle restrictions for provisional licence holders
- peer passenger restrictions for P1 drivers (can only carry one passenger
aged under 21) from 11pm to 5am
- banning all mobile phone use (including hands-free) for learners and P1
drivers and loudspeaker function use by supervisors and passengers
- requiring motorbike learners to hold a car provisional licence for 12
months prior to applying for their motorbike learner licence.
-
(source:
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au)
-
NSW - To get your learner licence you need to be 16 years of age
or older, and be supervised at all times by the holder of a full Australian driver
licence and not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration (in effect, this means
you cannot drink before driving).
-
WA
- You can get a permit to drive a car when you turn 16, but if you are
under the age of 18 when you apply, you must have a letter of consent signed by
your parent or legal guardian. When you are learning, you MUST ALWAYS be accompanied
by either: a licensed driving instructor or a person who holds a current and valid
licence and has held the class of licence specified on your permit for at least
4 years.
-
SA - You must be 16 years or older before you can apply for a Learner’s
Permit, You must be accompanied by the holder of a full Driver's Licence (not
being a Provisional or Probationary Licence) of the class appropriate to the vehicle
being driven by the learner driver.
-
VIC - You must be at least 16 years old to obtain a car learner
permit. The accompanying driver must hold a current full Victorian car driver
licence, or a non - Victorian car driver licence (including overseas licence)
that has been held for at least two (2) or more years for the category of motor
vehicle being driven by the learner driver.
Motorcycles, Scooters & Mopeds
Some states allow car licence holders to ride 50cc scooters, but NSW requires
the rider to hold either a scooter or motorcycle licence.
http://www.scooterworld.com.au/learning-to-ride-a-scooter.htm
Mopeds
Riders of all mopeds must obey the same traffic regulations as riders of motorcycles.
They have to hold a rider’s licence and must wear
an approved helmet.
Motor assisted pedal cycle
A cycle that is essentially a pedal cycle with a small auxiliary motor attached
need only be registered if the motor output is more than
200 watts. If power output is such that it is required to be registered,
it will be treated as a moped or a small motorcycle.
If a motor-assisted pedal cycle is exempt from the need to be registered,
the rider does not have to hold a licence. However,
it is compulsory for riders to wear a suitable safety helmet and obey the same
traffic laws as motorcyclists.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi27.pdf
Motorised foot scooters and motorised bicycles in Queensland
To ride a motorised foot scooter you must:
- wear an approved bike or motorbike helmet securely fitted and fastened
- be at least 16 years of age.
The motorised foot scooter must have:
- no more than 200 watts of engine power
- a bell or horn
- at least one effective brake.
You can ride a motorised foot scooter on:
- local streets (streets with no white line or median strip).
- You cannot ride a motorised foot scooter on main roads.
- You can only ride on the footpath (where permitted) with the power turned
off.
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/.../Motorised_foot_scooters
|