[Anne & Peter]

Hi,
I have some questions about driving in Victoria.

How easy is it to get a Victorian driving licence when you have a UK full licence? Do you have to sit any tests (practical and/or theory) and how much does it cost? Are you allowed to drive on your UK licence for a while – but for how long?

[fran]

Hi,

If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas licence for an indefinite period provided your overseas licence is in English.

If you are in Victoria on a permanent visa, you may drive on your overseas licence for three months from the date you first entered Australia or from the time the permanent visa was issued to you (whichever is the later). If you want to continue to drive in Victoria after this time you must hold a valid Victorian driver licence.

To get a Victoria licence all you need to do is make an appointment and bring your UK passport/birth certificate, UK driving licence and evidence of a Victorian address. You do not have to sit any tests.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/NewResidentsVisitors/OverseasDriversLicences.htm

Fees
Driving licence costs $46.60 for three years. You can hold a licence for up to ten years - cost of ten years is $158.60

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/LicenceFees20092010/DriverLicenceandLearnerPermitfees.htm

[grumps]

Hi,

If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas licence for an indefinite period provided your overseas licence is in English.

If you are in Victoria on a permanent visa, you may drive on your overseas licence for three months from the date you first entered Australia or from the time the permanent visa was issued to you (whichever is the later). If you want to continue to drive in Victoria after this time you must hold a valid Victorian driver licence.

To get a Victoria licence all you need to do is make an appointment and bring your UK passport/birth certificate, UK driving licence and evidence of a Victorian address. You do not have to sit any tests.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/NewResidentsVisitors/OverseasDriversLicences.htm

Fees
Driving licence costs $46.60 for three years. You can hold a licence for up to ten years - cost of ten years is $158.60

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/LicenceFees20092010/DriverLicenceandLearnerPermitfees.htm

Hi Fran....do you know if the tempoary rules in SA are the same as Victoria please?

[fran]

Hi again,

South Australia Licence Rules

If you are not a permanent resident and you hold a current foreign driver's licence you may drive a vehicle of the same class in South Australia.

You must not be disqualified from driving in any country.

You must carry your licence at all times while driving, and produce it to police on request. You may also be required to produce your temporary visa as evidence of temporary residential status.

http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Transport,+travel+and+motoring/Motoring/Interstate+and+international+motorists/International+motorists/Driving+with+an+overseas+licence

[Anne & Peter]

Hi,

If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas licence for an indefinite period provided your overseas licence is in English.

If you are in Victoria on a permanent visa, you may drive on your overseas licence for three months from the date you first entered Australia or from the time the permanent visa was issued to you (whichever is the later). If you want to continue to drive in Victoria after this time you must hold a valid Victorian driver licence.

To get a Victoria licence all you need to do is make an appointment and bring your UK passport/birth certificate, UK driving licence and evidence of a Victorian address. You do not have to sit any tests.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/NewResidentsVisitors/OverseasDriversLicences.htm

Fees
Driving licence costs $46.60 for three years. You can hold a licence for up to ten years - cost of ten years is $158.60

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/LicenceFees20092010/DriverLicenceandLearnerPermitfees.htm

Thanks for your help in finding this for us. :)

[grumps]

Thanks Fran....most useful

[ABCDiamond]

All states now have the same rules.

Not that long ago, it did depend on which State as to what the answer was, but happily it is now all standardised.

Although, licence costs are still different for each state ;)

[jimjams]

It's good to know that the rules are the same everywhere now, even if the costs aren't! I think it must sometimes be confusing living somewhere like Australia or the USA where the laws are different in different states.

[ABCDiamond]

It's good to know that the rules are the same everywhere now, even if the costs aren't! I think it must sometimes be confusing living somewhere like Australia or the USA where the laws are different in different states.

What I have learnt to do, is think of each State here as a separate country.

It made me really think about it when I heard that the Queensland Police have to use Extradition orders, via a court, to get a Criminal caught in NSW sent up to QLD.

I was also just looking for a statutory declaration form, and had to work out which one, as they use different laws for each state, and the wrong Stat Dec form would not be valid.

To make the migration easier to handle, think of it as like Europe, each State is different. You are not migrating to Australia, but to QLD or NSW or... :)

[fran]

This is from Vicroads and is a nice clear answer:

The requirement to change your overseas driver licence to a Victorian driver licence depends on whether your stay in Victoria is temporary or permanent.

If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas driver licence for as long as it is current providing it is in English or accompanied by an English translation or International Driving Permit. There is no requirement to get a Victorian driver licence.

If you have entered Victoria on a permanent visa issued under the Migration Act 1958, you may drive on your overseas driver licence for:

six months from the date you first entered Australia if the permanent visa was issued before you entered Australia; or,
six months from the date when the permanent visa was issued to you if the permanent visa was issued to you whilst in Australia.

If you want to continue driving in Victoria after this time you must change your overseas licence to a Victorian driver licence.

New Zealand residents who hold a current licence are treated as interstate drivers.