Hi All - need advice - I have an International licence and will be going for permanent Australian licence since I received my residency.
Is it true that after appearing for DKT licence test the international licence is no longer valid and the applicants are given a learners licence. Which means that we need to have a licence holder beside every time till, we pass the driving test,
I am based in Sydney.
See http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/licence/moving-to-nsw.html
If you’re a permanent Australian resident, or hold a permanent visa, and you intend to stay in NSW, you are allowed to drive in NSW on a current overseas licence for a maximum of three months. After that, you will need to apply for a NSW licence to continue driving or riding.
Your current license should be converted to the NSW equivalent level, but you may need to take tests.
Based on the link eqv posted once you have your learner's permit you can no longer use your overseas license:
"As you cannot, by law, hold more than one licence at a time in Australia, the details of your overseas licence will be recorded in our system. Once you’ve been issued with a NSW licence, including a learner licence, it becomes the authority under which you can drive or ride on NSW roads. Your overseas licence is not recognised and has no authority while you hold a NSW licence."
And because you are from India (I.e. not one of the recognised countries in the above link) you will have to get a learner's permit and go through all the various stages to get a full license.
Actually, you'll only need to do the knowledge test and driving test and you can get a full NSW license. However, the issue will come about only when you fail your driving test, or if they can't verify the validity of your overseas license.
"If you fail your driving or riding test, your visiting driving/riding privileges will be withdrawn. If you want to continue driving/riding in NSW, you will need to apply for a learner driver licence or learner rider licence and comply with all of the conditions that apply to learners in NSW."
Thanks I have Indian driving license and held it for around 13 years now .Have been driving here for past 3 years and recently got residency. In November last.
it should be a straight swap over.
Unfortunately not for Indian driving license holders
bummer. when I was in Japan I just had to do a written test. and got my japanese drivers license. easy peasy.
What's the process like trying to get a licence in India?
Just an update for any future reference : After DKT the Indian license is valid till your driving test day subject to condition that the driving test day is well within 3 months after getting the permanent residency.
How long have you held a full license in your old country? Which country?