Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - International Driving Permit

Is an International Driving Permit required for a US resident to drive in NZ or AU?

from what i have read here in this forum an IDP is not required in Australia for Canadians and Americans whom have an english drivers licence.

No. An IDP is only required by visitors whose home license has non-Roman characters.

Here is the site for the state of NSW (http://163.189.7.150/licensing/visitorstonsw/overseaslicence.html)which says you don't need one as long as your licence is in English.


Licence requirements

As a temporary overseas visitor, if you hold a current driver licence from another country, you are allowed to drive in NSW on your overseas licence as long as:

*
You remain a temporary overseas visitor
*
Your overseas licence remains current
*
You have not been disqualified from driving in NSW or elsewhere and
*
You have not had your licence suspended or cancelled or your visiting driver privileges withdrawn.

You are not required to obtain a NSW licence if you comply with these conditions and can continue to prove your genuine visitor status to NSW Police if required.

Note: If you are a licence holder from New Zealand, you must obtain a NSW driver licence within three months of residing in NSW or you must stop driving.

When driving in NSW you must carry your overseas driver licence. Your licence must be written in English or, if the licence is not in English, you must either carry an English translation or an International Driving Permit.

Here is the site for the state of NSW (http://163.189.7.150/licensing/visitorstonsw/overseaslicence.html)which says you don't need one as long as your licence is in English.
...
You are not required to obtain a NSW licence if you comply with these conditions and can continue to prove your genuine visitor status to NSW Police if required...

That's an interesting one. I am an Australian citizen but I don't live in Australia, but I often drive in NSW on my British licence when I am visiting. I wonder how I could prove (at the roadside to the police, I mean) my genuine visitor status (which is indeed genuine, I just don't have convenient documents or passport stamps to prove it)...

That's an interesting one. I am an Australian citizen but I don't live in Australia, but I often drive in NSW on my British licence when I am visiting. I wonder how I could prove (at the roadside to the police, I mean) my genuine visitor status (which is indeed genuine, I just don't have convenient documents or passport stamps to prove it)...



Who is a temporary overseas visitor?

If you are not an Australian citizen and not a permanent resident of Australia, you are regarded as a temporary overseas visitor. Temporary overseas visitors can include:

*
Tourists
*
Business people on limited-duration visits
*
People visiting friends or relatives or
*
People studying or working temporarily in NSW (eg working visa holders).

Looks like your not considered a temporary overseas visitor.

That's a right pain. How can an Australian citizen drive legally in Australia then, when you can't get an Australian licence due to lack of Australian residential address?

Well, if push came to shove I could prove that I was just visiting. The summary of the law produced by the driving licence people is not the actual law, so I'm not too worried about that. But I'd be hard pressed to prove it at the roadside!

And Australian citizens who have returned to live in Australia have a window of time in which to get an Australian licence (three months, I think, and as far as I know it is the same in all the states and territories). I'm not of course in that category either, but it would be hard for anyone to prove that I wasn't, I suppose.

I was getting conflicting info new you'll would set me straight

I believe that visitors can be two class, short term (90 day) or longer term, 1 year working visa. Do working visa participants require an Australian liscense?


I am in a similar boat, US citizen living in Australia and my US liscense is about to expire. I wonder about the legality of driving in the US as US citizen on a valid Australian passport.

*note, I did hire a car in Denver in Janurary using my Australian liscense...just forgot and gave it to them vice my US permit.

I believe that visitors can be two class, short term (90 day) or longer term, 1 year working visa. Do working visa participants require an Australian liscense?
No, they don't, but I can't just now put my finger on the relevant info and it's too late to look very hard... But it's not just length of stay, it's also visa class that comes into play here.

That's an interesting one. I am an Australian citizen but I don't live in Australia, but I often drive in NSW on my British licence when I am visiting. I wonder how I could prove (at the roadside to the police, I mean) my genuine visitor status (which is indeed genuine, I just don't have convenient documents or passport stamps to prove it)...
Just wondering why you haven't been able to maintain your Australian license despite being overseas. I've lived out of Australia for 12 years but have managed to keep a valid Western Australian driver's license in that time. In WA at least they are pretty good about it as I can never renew it when it becomes due and just go in the next time I go back home. Never had a problem.

Just wondering why you haven't been able to maintain your Australian license despite being overseas. I've lived out of Australia for 12 years but have managed to keep a valid Western Australian driver's license in that time. In WA at least they are pretty good about it as I can never renew it when it becomes due and just go in the next time I go back home. Never had a problem.
I exchanged my Australian licence for a British one. This can be done in the UK with some non-British licences and obviously removes the need to be tested, etc. Although I could have pretended to have lost my Australian licence, I didn't. I sort of regret it now.

I exchanged my Australian licence for a British one. This can be done in the UK with some non-British licences and obviously removes the need to be tested, etc. Although I could have pretended to have lost my Australian licence, I didn't. I sort of regret it now.
Well it might be worth going into the license renewal place (Australia Post) next time you're back home and explaining the situation. Last time I went in to get my renewal done I asked the lady what the situation was. Up to a year overdue didn't matter, from then until 5 years past renewal there was some additional paperwork but nothing too strenuous. After 5 years you had to go through the system from scratch. This is from memory and was for WA. NSW may be a different kettle of fish.

Well it might be worth going into the license renewal place (Australia Post) next time you're back home and explaining the situation. Last time I went in to get my renewal done I asked the lady what the situation was. Up to a year overdue didn't matter, from then until 5 years past renewal there was some additional paperwork but nothing too strenuous. After 5 years you had to go through the system from scratch. This is from memory and was for WA. NSW may be a different kettle of fish.
Thanks very much. :)

Unfortunately it's been much more than 5 years. :(

But I might look into it anyway.