When you move to Australia, you’ll probably need to convert your overseas driver license for an Australian one.
Each state has its own rules when it comes to the process for converting your overseas driver license for an Australian one, so here’s a breakdown of each state’s regulations and links to more information on each.
General Rules For Converting Your Overseas Driver License To An Australian One
You will need to convert your overseas driver license within 3 months of arriving in Australia to live, or within 3 months of being granted your resident visa if already living in Australia.
If your driver licence is issued by an experienced driver recognised country and you are 25 years of age or older, Australia will recognise your overseas driving experience.
This only applies to vehicle classes C and R (if held). You must pass a theory test and Practical Driving Assessment for any other class of vehicle you wish to drive.
You can transfer your overseas licence to a full local driver licence without doing a test if you are from one of these countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia
- Canada
- Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey)
- Croatia
- Denmark
- France
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Herzegovina
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- United States of America.
If you are 25 years of age or older and hold a licence from one of the countries listed below, you can transfer your overseas licence without doing a test:
- Bulgaria
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hong Kong – must be held for at least 12 months to get a NT licence
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Republic of Cyprus
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Republic of Serbia
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Taiwan.
If your driver licence has been issued in a country or jurisdictions not listed, you will need to pass a written road rules test and practical driving test to get an Australian driver licence in your state.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In Western Australia
In WA you can get a 1 year or 5 year license. The current prices are $44.05 for a 1 year driver license and $149.50 for a 5 year driver license.
There is also a fee to convert your overseas license – $89.15 if a test is required, or $44.70 if no test is required.
To transfer your overseas driver license in WA, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Department of Transport website for WA here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In New South Wales
In NSW you can get a 5 or 10 year license for either $54 or $96. They seem to charge an extra $5 for a photo card too.
To transfer your overseas driver license in NSW, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Service NSW website for NSW here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In Victoria
You can get a 3 year, 4 year or 10 year license, depending on the type of license you’re getting and costs currently range from $80.80 (3 year full license) to $276.70 (10 year full license).
To transfer your overseas driver license in Victoria, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Vic Roads website for Victoria here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In Queensland
You can get a full driver license in Queensland for 1 – 5 years. Prices are currently as follows:
1 year driver licence – $78.90
2 year driver licence – $110.00
3 year driver licence – $136.15
4 year driver licence – $157.55
5 year driver licence – $176.75
To transfer your overseas driver license in Queensland, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Department of Transport website for Queensland here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In South Australia
You can get a full driver license in South Australia for 1 – 10 years. The cost is currently $44 per year so if you choose a 10 year driver license the cost would be $440. They also add an admin fee of $17.
To transfer your overseas driver license in South Australia, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Department of Transport website for South Australia here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In Tasmania
You can get a full driver license in Tasmania for 1 – 5 years. Prices are currently as follows:
1 year driver licence – $32.80
2 year driver licence – $53.34
3 year driver licence – $73.88
4 year driver licence – $94.42
5 year driver licence – $113.38
To transfer your overseas driver license in Tasmania, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Department of State Growth website for Tasmania here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In The Northern Territory
You can get a driver license in the NT for 1,2,5 or 10 years. Current prices are:
1 year driver licence – $31
2 year driver licence – $48
5 year driver licence – $96
10 year driver licence – $166
To transfer your overseas driver license in the NT, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the NT Government website here.
Convert Your Overseas Driver License In The Australian Capital Territory
You can get a 5 year or a 10 year full license. A 5 year driver license in ACT currently costs $192.70 and the 10 year one is $358.40.
ACT residents are eligible to receive a 30% discount on their ACT driver licence renewals if they have no relevant traffic offences recorded in the previous five years.
To transfer your overseas driver license in ACT, you’ll need to provide ID and bring your current overseas license along to your local centre. Find out what ID you need here.
For more information visit the Access Canberra website for ACT here.
As you can see the prices and driver license options available vary wildly by state! NSW seems the cheapest and ACT the most expensive.
How did you find the process to convert your overseas driver license to an Australian one? Let me know in the comments!
Liked this post? Read these others too:
How to set up your new home in Australia on a budget
Living in Australia: Expectation Vs Reality
No Comments