Complete guide on how to get Australian driving licence as an International Student

Overview 

This article gives you the complete guide on how to get an Australian driving licence as an international student. 

Basics 

As an international student, it’s important to keep in mind that you are just a temporary resident in Australia, which necessitates the approval of your home country’s driver’s licence by the Australian transport authorities.

If your driver’s licence is not in the English language but rather the language of your home country, you will need to obtain an international driving permit from that country or a certified translation into the English language.

You can apply for a driver’s licence in Australia if you don’t already have one. You should check with the state or territory’s motor vehicle registration office and complete some tests. Even if you receive permanent residency in Australia, you must apply for a driver’s licence within three months.

Driving in Australia with overseas licence: 

Your foreign driving licence is valid for use in Australia. However, the regulations governing this vary between states. For instance, if you are an international student living in Victoria, you must convert your foreign driver’s licence into a Victorian one within six months of your arrival.

All transient nationals are subject to this law. In addition, if your international driver’s licence is not in English, you must always have a translation of it with you when you are behind the wheel.

Applying for driving licence:

You must contact the appropriate state licencing and driving agency in order to submit an application for your Australian driver’s licence. You can do this over the phone, in person, or online. You must show up in person once you’ve scheduled an appointment to take the test.

The computer-based portion of the driving test will evaluate your knowledge of traffic regulations. In some cases, you’ll also have to pass a test while driving.

Motorcycle licence: 

To operate a scooter with a motor larger than 50cc, you must have a motorcycle licence in Australia. However, laws can vary from one state to another.

Penalties:

The penalties in each state are as follows:

• Victoria – the penalties can vary wildly depending on a number of factors. However, drivers without a valid license can face a fine of up to $38,000 and prison terms of up to two years!
• New South Wales – the penalty in NSW can be a fine worth up to $5,500 and six to twelve months in prison.
• Queensland – in Queensland, driving without a valid license can cost you up to $5,500 and up to twelve months in prison.
• South Australia – a $2,500 fine is the penalty in South Australia, with prison time for reoffenders.
• Western Australia – penalties for driving without a license in Western Australia involve fines up to $600 and up to 18 months in prison

Other information: 

A full Australian driver’s licence lasts ten years. A new driver’s provisional licence, however, is only valid for four years before becoming a full licence.

Every motorist is allowed to accumulate a maximum of 12 demerit points on their licence over the course of three years. These demerit points can be obtained for actions like speeding, running a red light, using a phone while driving, or not buckled up. You will lose your licence and be required to pay a large fee if you accumulate 12 demerit points. In other states, you might even go to jail.