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

Originally Posted by Reads90

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

Originally Posted by 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

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.

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

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.