Australian Driving License Guide
International license, license conversion, road rules, and fines.
1. International Driving Permit (IDP)
How Long Can I Drive with an IDP?
You can drive on your home country licence plus an IDP during the grace period (3 months in NSW, 6 months in VIC, etc.). After that you must convert to that state's licence.
Getting an IDP in your home country
- Where: your home country's licensing authority (transport agency, police, etc.)
- Documents: passport, driver licence, passport photo (varies by country)
- Fee: varies by country (usually small)
- Validity: typically 1 year from issue
- Only valid when carried together with your original home country licence
An IDP alone is not enough to drive. You must carry your original home country licence with it, and an IDP cannot be issued in Australia — arrange it before you leave.
Overseas licence recognition (NSW)
Whether tests are waived when converting to an Australian licence depends on your country.
| Licence country | Converting to AU licence |
|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 · 🇬🇧 · 🇳🇿 · 🇺🇸 · 🇨🇦 · 🇸🇬 · 🇫🇷 · 🇩🇪 … | Tests waived — convert on documents only (List A recognised) |
| 🇰🇷 · 🇹🇼 · 🇭🇰 | Waiver abolished from Feb 2026 (NSW) / Apr 2025 (VIC) → knowledge + driving tests now required |
| 🇨🇳 · 🇻🇳 | Knowledge + driving tests required from the start (non-recognised) |
🚗 Overseas licences — what you need to know
You can drive short-term on your home country licence (English version) or an International Driving Permit (IDP). Once you start residing here, though, you must convert to an Australian licence within the grace period (NSW: 3 months for PR, 6 months for temporary visas / VIC: 6 months). The no-test conversion for experienced drivers (EDR) was abolished in NSW on 1 Feb 2026 and in VIC on 30 Apr 2025, so unless your licence is from a recognised jurisdiction you must now sit both the knowledge and driving tests. For short stays always carry the English licence/IDP — police stops and car hire require it.
2. License Conversion by State
New South Wales
Licences from recognised countries convert without tests, but from 1 February 2026 'Experienced Driver Status' (EDR) ceased to operate, so all other jurisdictions must sit knowledge and driving tests.
- Original overseas licence + a translation from a Transport for NSW-approved provider (Multicultural NSW, Department of Home Affairs, or certain issuing-country consulates — general NAATI translations are not accepted)
- Passport and visa documents
3. Australian Road Rules
Left-hand Traffic
- Australia drives on the left
- Turn left into the nearest lane
- Turn right into the far lane
- Right-turning vehicles yield to oncoming traffic
Roundabouts
Very common. Enter clockwise. Give way to vehicles from the right.
Speed Limits
4. Fines / Demerits
Major Fines (NSW, 2026)
| Violation | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding <10km/h | $140 | 1 |
| Speeding 10-20km/h | $290 | 3 |
| Speeding 20-30km/h | $580 | 4 |
| Mobile phone use | $387 | 5 |
| No seatbelt | $387 | 3 |
| Drink driving (0.05-0.08%) | $600+ | Suspension |
Demerit Points System
Full license holders have 13 points over 3 years. Exceeding = suspension.
Unpaid fines incur late fees and may result in court summons.
Driving in Depth — Licence Tests, Used Cars, Insurance, Accidents, Fines and Car Care
From preparing for the licence conversion tests to buying a used car, understanding the three layers of rego and insurance, knowing exactly what to do after a crash, managing fines and demerit points, and keeping your car running day to day — this guide covers the full picture of driving life in Australia in depth. Rules and fees vary by state and visa type and are revised frequently, so always confirm the latest details with your state's official authority, such as Service NSW or VicRoads, before you act.
Back to the Test Room — Licence Conversion Exams in Practice (After the End of EDR)
How to Prepare for the DKT (Driver Knowledge Test)
The DKT, NSW's written test, is booked through Service NSW and sat on a computer at a service centre. The fee is about 57 dollars, and it is available in a wide range of community languages. Every question comes straight from the Road User Handbook, in a 45-question format, so the most reliable preparation is to repeatedly work through the free official DKT practice tests provided by the NSW government. The question types that trip people up most are roundabout give-way priority, school zone speeds and operating hours, and alcohol limits — read the handbook text itself for these three areas. You can re-sit if you fail, but you pay the fee again each time, so it is cheaper to book only once you are consistently scoring near-perfect on the practice tests.
Proving Your Driving History — P1, P2 or Full Licence (Licence Class by Experience)
NSW issues a P2 licence if you have held your overseas licence for more than 12 months, and a full (unrestricted) licence if you have held it for more than 3 years — so documentary proof of how long you have held it determines your class. The key document is an official driving-history certificate from your home country's licensing authority, showing both the original date of issue and your renewal history. The licence card itself usually shows the latest renewal date as the issue date, so handing over only the card can make your experience look much shorter than it is — make sure you obtain a certificate that states the original issue date. It is easiest to get this before you leave home; if you are already in Australia, check whether your home country offers online issuance you can print, or have a family member obtain it and send it to you.