Motoring in Adelaide and South Australia

Driving in South Australia

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

you also hold a current International Driving Permit; or
your foreign licence is written in English or is accompanied by an English translation of the details on the foreign licence
AND
you are not disqualified from driving either interstate / overseas or in South Australia
www.transport.sa.gov.au/…/interstate_overseas.asp

A person on a Temporary or Visitors Visa is allowed to drive a private vehicle on a valid CURRENT driving licence from their own country, for as long as they have a valid visitors visa.

These 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.

If you hold a current foreign driver’s licence of a particular class you may drive a vehicle of that same class in South Australia on your foreign driver’s licence if:

New arrivals from the UK, and other selected countries

www.transport.sa.gov.au/…/interstate_overseas.asp

If you are the holder of a Private Vehicle Licence from the UK and other ‘recognised countries’, you are not required to sit the road rules theory test or the motorcycle theory test (if applicable).

In most cases, you will be eligible for the equivalent licence of your foreign licence, however minimum age requirements apply.

If you hold a full (unrestricted) foreign licence but are under the age of 19, you will be issued a provisional licence.

Likewise, if you hold a foreign licence but are under the age of 16, you will be issued a learners permit.

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.

An applicant for a Heavy Vehicle Licence will still be required to sit the heavy vehicles theory test on applying for the equivalent Licence.

Driving Licence Fees

South Australian Driver Licence Fees as at July 2010

Licence fee – 1 year = $ 43.00
Licence fee – 5 year = $ 155.00
Licence fee – 10 year = $ 295.00

Current Driver Licence Fees can be checked at: www.transport.sa.gov.au

Vehicle Registration costs
As at January 2011, the South Australian Annual Private car Rego costs were:

$683.00 4 cylinder ($476)
$789.00 6 cylinder ($476)
$883.00 8 cylinder ($476)

These rates include the CTP (shown in brackets).
You can check any changes to these costs here:www.ecom.transport.sa.gov.au

Minimum driving age in South Australia

www.transport.sa.gov.au/…/obtain_provisional.asp

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).

Speeding Fines in South Australia

2010 Penalties for speeding in SA.