Driving in Victoria, Australia

Carry your driving licence with you

If a licensed driver, under the age of 26, does not have the licence with them while driving or in charge of a motor vehicle, they may be fined $537.

• http://gls.arrivealive.vic.gov.au/

Permanent Resident

A Permanent Resident in Victoria is normally allowed to drive for 6 months before needing an Australian Licence, after that period they would be classed as driving without a valid licence.

• www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Visitors

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.

All drivers are required to have their licence with them when they drive, but from January 2007 it is now an offence if drivers under the age of 26 cannot produce their licence to police when required to do so.

If a driver under the age of 26 who has a licence but does not have it with them while driving or in charge of a motor vehicle, they may face fines of $537.

• Source: arrivealive.vic.gov.au

More

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), nor a road test.

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.

• www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

If you have not held a full overseas licence for 3 years you will be issued a Probationary Licence, this allows you to drive a car solo on the road.

• www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

If your licence is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an English translation. An International Driver Permit is acceptable as a translation of a driver licence.

You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for a Victorian driver licence. No age exemptions apply. This will be for the Probationary License, ie: the one between Learner and Full License.

Victoria Driving Licence Fees

July 2010

Licence fee - 3 year = $47.70 ($46.60 2009)
Licence fee - 10 year = $162.20 ($158.60 2009)

• www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Minimum driving age in Victoria, Australia

To get your Victoria learner permit you must be at least 16 years of age for a car.

To apply for your provisional licence in Victoria you must be at least 18 years of age

• www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

For motorcyclists the minimum age is 18 years, to get a motorcycle learner permit.

This must be held for 3 months continuously before applying for the motorcycle licence.

Speeding Fines and Demerit Points in Victoria

Double demerit points DO NOT Currently apply for holiday periods in Victoria. April 2010

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:

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.

Source: Information For Tourists

Links

• VicRoads