Last Updated:
Saturday, 26. July 2008

Driving in Queensland, Australia

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QUEENSLAND DRIVING LICENCES

Info and links for the transferring of your UK Car licence to an Australian Queensland Driving Licence.

Permanent Resident

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.

Visitors   

A person on a Visitors Visa does not have to abide by the same rules, and would be allowed to drive a private vehicle on a valid CURRENT driving licence from their own country, indefinitely. Note that rule rule is different in Western Australia who quote only 12 months.

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.
 

New arrivals from the UK, and other selected countries   

NO Theory Test is now required for UK Car Drivers. 

As from March 2006, the requirement for UK Licence holders to take the Queensland written theory test has been removed.  A fully licensed, newly arrived migrant, can now visit the local Queensland Motor Registry Office and obtain an equivalent Queensland Drivers licence on production of their UK licence together with the relevant forms and payment, without taking any tests, other than an eyesight test.

This MUST be done within THREE MONTHS of arrival, otherwise you would be classed as "Driving without a valid licence" and subject to Police Prosecution if caught.

Testing requirements still apply for overseas licence holders when applying for a heavy vehicle licence.

More Information: www.transport.qld.gov.au

 

Getting an Australian Drivers Licence

Note: A driving licence for an automatic car limits you to driving that type of vehicle, to then drive a manual car you would need to take another test in a manual car.

Learners Licence    Full Details at: Queensland Learner Licence

First you take a Theory Test, which is a written test consisting of 30 general questions for a standard motor vehicle licence.

  • Part ONE is on the give way rules with 10 questions and you must get 9 right.
  • Part TWO is 20 general questions and you must get 18 right

You can practice this test at: https://www.service.transport.qld.gov.au/rrtexternal/SelectExam.jsp

On satisfactory completion of this test, at a Motor Registry Office, you receive your LEARNERS licence.

Provisional Licence    Full Details at: Queensland Provisional Licence

After having held the Learner licence for at least one year, and have completed 100 hours (or equivalent) of supervised on-road driving experience, you can pay the practical driving test fee and book that test.

  • If under 25, you must apply for a P1 provisional licence and after passing the test will display red P plates on your vehicle.
  • If over 25, you will apply for a P2 provisional licence and after passing the test will display green P plates.

Full Licence    Full Details at: Queensland Full Open Licence

How long do you have to hold a Queensland provisional licence before applying for a Full Open Licence ?

  • If you are over 25, you need to hold a P2 licence for 12 months.
  • If you were under 23 when you got your P1 licence, and you are under 25 when getting the P2 licence
  • If you are under 25 when you get your P2 licence, then you must hold that for 24 months.

Driving Licence Fees July 2007    Full Details at: < QLD Drivers Licence Fees

  • Road rules test  A$17.25
  • Practical driving test A$40.45
  • Three year learner licence A$65.30
  • One year P1 provisional, P2 provisional or open licence: A$26.40
  • Two year P1 provisional, P2 provisional or open licence: A$36.75
  • Three year P1 provisional, P2 provisional or open licence: A$47.10
  • Four year P1 provisional, P2 provisional or open licence: A$57.45
  • Five year P1 provisional, P2 provisional or open licence: A$67.80

Minimum Driving Age & Learner Drivers

  • To apply for a Queensland learner licence you must be at least 16 years of age. Before you are eligible to take a practical driving test you must have held your learner licence for at least one year and have completed and recorded 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience (for drivers under 25) in your learner logbook. This must include 10 hours of night driving.
    http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Licensing/Driver_licence/Getting_a_licence/Car/Learner_licence/

  • 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)

Queensland Driving Road Rules

Queensland Transport Road Rules include:

  • You may drive in either lane of a multi lane road if the speed limit is 80km/h or below and there are no "Keep Left Unless Overtaking" signs.

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.

Other Queensland Government Links

  • Mainroads, Queensland A Government website proving general information about Queensland Roads, including Web cameras at selected sites in Queensland.

Motoring Organisations

  • RACQ   Royal Automobile Club Queensland, for Road Assistance & Insurance Services - www.racq.com.au  You can normally transfer your existing UK membership (AA or RAC) and retain

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

 

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