DRIVER LICENSE REQUIREMENTS IN AUSTRALIA

Scott has been driving in Australia using his Nevada drivers license. Drivers have to have been in Australia for a continuous period of at least 6 months to apply for an Australian drivers license. Today we went to the RTA to get Scott's drivers license. The RTA is very similar to our DMV, except it is much faster - no hours of waiting to get to the window to be helped. Because Australia recognizes the U.S. drivers license, Scott did not have to take any type of test. Because he does not yet have a permanent resident status, he was issued a license valid for only 12 months.

There are several different levels of drivers licenses in Australia:

The Learner Licence

The Provisional P1

The Provisional P2

The Unrestricted

To receive a Learner License you must be 16 years or older and pass a Drivers Knowledge Test (computer-based road rules knowledge test). The Learner is issued a Learner Driver Log book to record the driving experience; 120 hours of supervised driving has to be logged, including a minimum of 20 hours of night driving. Learner drivers must:

• Be supervised at all times by the holder of a full Australian drivers license
• Have L plates displayed conspicuously at the front and rear exterior of the car
• Observe a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h
• Not tow any other vehicle
• Not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration (this means you can not drink before driving)
• Not use any functions of a mobile phone including a hands free device

The Learner License must be held for a 12-month period.

A Provisional P1 drivers License is issued for 18 months. You must hold a P1 drivers license for a minimum total period of 12 months before being eligible to progress to a P2 license. P1 drivers must:

• Have P plates (red P on white background) displayed conspicuously at the front and rear exterior of the car


• Observe a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h
• Not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration (this means you can not drink before driving)
• Not use any functions of a mobile phone including a hands free device
• Not drive certain prohibited vehicles

To progress from a P1 to a P2 license, you must pass a Hazard Perception Test (a touch screen computer test which measures ability to recognize and respond to potentially dangerous situations).

A P2 license is issued for 30 months. A P2 license must be held for a minimum period of 24 months before being eligible to progress to a full license. P2 license holders must:

• Have P plates (green P on a white background) displayed conspicuously at the front and rear exterior of the car
• Observe a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h
• Same as above

After holding the P2 license for a total of 24 months and passing the Drivers Qualification Test, you are finally issued a full license.