is a UK license good for Defender and van touring Oz?

[hiker]

Hi all - just a quickie - friends from UK arrive this month and want to rent a van to go behind my Def110 - they are both full UK license holders (in their late 50's) - do they need anything extra to tow a 24ft van - such as special tests etc - I think (hope) they are pretty competent as they have a Disco/van in UK?
thanks

[Michael2]

Check with NRMA about whether they need to obtain an international licence. Also check what your insurers requirements might be.

[hiker]

Ok - thanks Michael - will check with both this week - but I'll email them with a 'probably - will confirm' at this stage!
cheers

[Roverray]

Almost certain to need an international license issued by their AA,
No doubt you will council them on dirt road driving with the van and also dangers of soft / damaged edges and ruts. Also giving way to trucks etc.
Sure they dont see much of that in Europe.
This assumes the are leaving the Tar

[dullbird]

as far as i was aware

if you have emigrated to australia you have 3 months to get your licence changed to which ever state you are living in

if you are working here for a year you don't at leat that was what i was told when we moved here

if your on holiday you dont have to have it changed......

[Reads90]

as far as i was aware

if you have emigrated to australia you have 3 months to get your licence changed to which ever state you are living in

if you are working here for a year you don't at leat that was what i was told when we moved here

if your on holiday you dont have to have it changed......

And i was lead to belive that all UK lincences are international lincences (well as long as they have got a new one in the last ten years )

[ladas]

If you are not a permenant resident or an australian citizen, then you can use a UK licence for up to a year since the last time you entered australia.

When I first came here - I was on a tempory work visa - and I kept my UK licence for 4 years - as I was constantly leaving AU and coming back again.

However to save any grief I would suggest that they approach the AA or RAC and get an International Drivers permit - easy to apply for and quite inexpensive, plus when they do come over they are better bringing both parts of the licence (yep to make things confusing pommie style - we have a card type licence c/with photo and a second paper bit that records any infringements / prosecutions)

I never had any issues hiring cars with my UK licence as long as I had my passport with me.

[spudboy]

Don't forget to tell your insurance company......

[Reads90]

When I first came here - I was on a tempory work visa - and I kept my UK licence for 4 years - as I was constantly leaving AU and coming back again.

.


Wife got away with that with her Queensand licence for 7 years in the UK:D:D:D

[taff]

as far as i was aware

if you have emigrated to australia you have 3 months to get your licence changed to which ever state you are living in

if you are working here for a year you don't at leat that was what i was told when we moved here

if your on holiday you dont have to have it changed......

i've been here 7 months now and still haven't changed my license over from a u.k. one.
most people think it's 3 months including the coppers - for what reason i'm not sure.

but it is definately 1 year as i have the paperwork to prove it. as for insurance i've told my insurance companies (got 3 cars all insured with seperate companies) that i'm still on a u.k. license and they've all said it's fine but if i want to claim i'll incur an extra excess for being an inexperienced driver in that i'm inexperienced in driving in australia (extra $250), this will stand till 2 years after i get my license changed over - just another way to milk some money off me should i make a claim but hey that's business.

as for driving your fender and van as long as their allowed to drive similar in the u.k. which they should be unless they are relatively new drivers and had to sit the new style test, then yes they'll be allowed to drive it.

[Reads90]

this a common untruth. i've been here for 7 months now and haven't changed my licence over yet.
been pulled over a few times and each time the copper tells me that it should be changed within 3 months.
i tell them that i have a letter from the embassy stating that you have a year to do so and they say oh i thought it was 3 months - well get it changed as soon as you can.


I was told 3 months by Queensland transport.

[taff]

I was told 3 months by Queensland transport.

loads of people are told 3 months for what reason's i'm unsure - think they just want you on an aussie license as soon as possible makes things easier,(points and fines) but as i mentioned i've got an official letter from the embassy stating that the law requires that you change within a year

[gorby]

Hi all - just a quickie - friends from UK arrive this month and want to rent a van to go behind my Def110 - they are both full UK license holders (in their late 50's) - do they need anything extra to tow a 24ft van - such as special tests etc - I think (hope) they are pretty competent as they have a Disco/van in UK?
thanks
As long as they have a uk photocard license they will be fine. I'm on a work visa and don't need to change till I get permanant residency, then I have 3 months to do it. Nice thing then all I have to do is go to the RTA and hand over $100, show them my UK license, they will cut it, and give me a NSW DL. Some sort of agreement with the RTA and UK.

Other than that they should be fine. You only need an international lisence if you DL isn't in English.

[camel_landy]

In theory, they should get an International Driving Permit.

In practice, the UK photo based driving license should be enough.

When we did our trip, we got International Driving Permits issued... We never used them once, even when we got a rental in Sydney.

HTH

M

[001525]

It's 3 months for one very good reason. It's legislated by Parliament under each State's Road Safety Act or equivalent. If you have emigrated to Australia for the prurpose of taking up permanent residence or citizenship, you are required by law to obtain an Australian State's driver licence. There are exceptions of course such as tourists, international students etc. Any person who arrives in Australia from a non english speaking background and intends to drive on Australian roads must carry with them their original licence as well as an equivalent with english translation. If you've been here for 7 months and haven't acquired an Australian licence and you are intercepted by police, you will be deemed to be unlicensed and face whatever penalty applies in each State generally in the form of a hefty fine if you don't have your British exemption letter with you. If you are now living permanently in Australia I would seriously think about applying for an Australian equivalent. There are many complications involved with being unlicensed. If for example you are involved in a motor collision, you are generally not covered by your insurance company and the government insurer because you haven't complied with legislation. When you pay your registration, you pay a 3rd party insurance premium to the government who covers you against claims by the other driver for serious injuries etc if you don't have your own private insurer. This is like a lsat line of defence. It's the same as being a drink driver involved in a motor accident. Your insurer will not cover you if there is an issue of alcohol or drugs involved because you are an impaired driver. If you are unlicensed, you are leaving yourself open to prosecution by police and civil suits by the other party. This can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and you can most certainly kiss your house good bye as well as facing the prospect fo paying off a court settlement for the rest fo your life. Common sense will tell you that it's cheaper and safer to do the right thing and comply with whatever legislation requires you to do in your state. You might get away with it if you're intercepted by general duties police but traffic operations will be a different story. You will most likely get booked bearing in mind that their knowledge of traffic laws are more thorough than general duties members and handing out fines is their bread and butter work.

In the case of the english tourists, they will be OK with their U.K. licence and an international driving permit but again, one must use common sense and check and confirm everything with each States's motoring authority.

[gromit]

When I moved to Australia 10 years ago I faced the same situation.
In the UK I was told that you don't need an International licence and that the UK one was OK for up to a year. When I got here I found that if you reside in Victoria you must take your test within 3 months. I found this out nearly 2 months after arrival and had to rush through both car & bike licence tests.

On previous holidays to Australia there was no problem hiring a car using the UK licence.

Just checked the VicRoads website and it depends on the type of Visa you have. On a permanent Visa you can only drive for up to 3 months, on a temporary Visa you can drive for up to one year.

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

Gromit