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, for as long as they have a valid visitors visa.
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.
Change your UK licence to an Australian Licence
A UK full licence holder is able to "swap" their UK licence for an Australian one, without the need for ANY tests, Theory or Practical. This has been an area of confusion for some years, as different States had different rules for this over the years, but this is something that has now been standardised for all States. You do still retain your old UK licence, as it is not actually cancelled or retained by most States. This only applies to Private vehicles, NOT commercial vehicles.
As each State may have has different rules, and has different pricing structure for Driving Licences, please check the individual page for the relevant State. ACT : NSW : NT : QLD : SA : TAS : VIC : WA
Moving your car Interstate
I often about people who have moved to Australia, and then move again to a different State, and sometimes need to have a car transported to the new destination. There are a few places about that provide such a service, I even used one myself, which was owned by the big transport company Patricks. To get a guide on the cost, this web site gives some recent example quotes.
I have not used those myself, but they do give a very good idea of cost.
LPG Vehicle Conversions
The Australian Government established a grant to encourage vehicle owners to buy new LPG vehicles or convert existing vehicles to operate on LPG only or LPG and petrol.
The grant commenced 14 August 2006 and payments started 1 October 2006.
Program eligibility criteria changed from 24 September 2008.
The grant is administered by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. Medicare Australia and Centrelink offices deliver the grant and are the contact points for customer inquiries and claim lodgement.
There are two different grants available, subject to the eligibility criteria:
A grant of $2,000 for the LPG conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel motor vehicle; This includes new or used vehicles where the conversion occurs after the vehicle is registered; and new vehicles where the LPG unit is fitted after manufacture but before the vehicle is registered for the first time.
A grant of $1,000 for the purchase of a new motor vehicle with a LPG unit fitted at the time of manufacture of the vehicle.
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.
In March 2006, 92% of motor vehicles in Australia had air conditioning.
QLD NSW VIC SA WA If you are a visitor to Western Australia you may drive on your overseas/interstate licence until it expires. You must carry your licence at all times when driving and comply with any conditions (where reasonable) that are endorsed on the licence. (updated Thursday, 17 July 2008 )