international driving licience

[swinno1270]

Hi all we are emmigrating at the end of march, i need to know if i need to get an international driving licience? if so is it best to get one here in the uk or wait till i get out to adelaide not sure what to do, and will that licence last me or will i have to sit a driving test again thanks Craig

[Bevdeforges]

It may have changed, but in my experience a so-called "international driving license" is nothing more than a standardized translation of your driving license, usually issued by the national auto club. It isn't valid except with your home country license - so since you're moving from one English speaking country to another, it seems kind of pointless.

Generally, they'll let you drive on your home country license for some period of time - say, six months or a year. After that, you have to get a local license, but there might be some form of reciprocity available. (Someone here on the forum should be able to tell you that.) I don't know Australia, but in some countries there is a special test for foreigners who are already licensed in their home country - in other countries, you take the whole driving test thing again.

[kaz101]

Hi Craig,

I think it depends on the State you are moving to.

We had considered getting an international licence in the UK before we moved since we had heard that we could drive on it for 6 months before taking a test - I think it's actually 3 months regardless. In South Australia they no longer do a driving test if you are from the UK. We took our licences into the council office, filled in a form and had Australian driving licences. We did ours within a week since we were told (incorrectly!) that we needed an Australian licence to buy a car. We've since found out that was wrong. You only get a basic licence so if you need HGV or something like that then you need to set a test again. Also if you wear glasses but have never been told that you to wear them then you can get your licence quicker by saying that you've never been told to wear them and have your photo taken without your glasses. If you are in a hurry for your licence this is what we were told to do (I wear glasses because of astigmatism but have been told I have to wear them for driving). If you have to wear glasses for driving you need to take an eye test.

See Apply for a Driver's Licence
for more info.

Regards,
Karen