Driving a car

Full Licences
If you want to drive in Canberra you will normally need to hold a valid Australian Capital Territory (ACT) drivers licence. However, you are exempt from this if you have a valid Full foreign drivers licence and an international drivers permit or A full foreign drivers licence written in English.

To obtain an official translation contact:

The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and InterpretersSuite 1 Playoust Building
Hawker Place
Hawker ACT 2614 Australia
Telephone +61 2 6255 1888
Hotline 1300 557 470
E-mail
 

Please note: you may be asked to provide evidence of your temporary residential status. We advise you to carry your ANU student card with you to verify your enrolment at this university. The above exemption is provided by clause 94 of the ACT’s Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000.

Remember, you must carry the above items with you while driving otherwise you will be deemed as driving without a licence.

The MAXIMUM permitted blood alcohol concentration is below 0.05.

Learner Licences

If you either do not have a full drivers licence from your home country and/or you wish to apply for an ACT drivers licence, you must first obtain a Learner Licence. Learner Licences are valid for two years. You must be at least 17 years old and have held a learner car licence for at least six months before you can obtain a provisional licence.

Please note: if you already hold a foreign drivers licence and you make an application for an ACT drivers licence, the ACT Road Transport Authority will PUNCH A HOLE in your foreign drivers licence to signify to ACT authorities that you have applied for an ACT drivers licence and you are no longer to drive in the ACT using that foreign drivers licence.

The MAXIMUM permitted blood-alcohol concentration for Learner Drivers is below 0.02.

To obtain a Learner Licence you must:
-   Be at least 15 years and nine months old
-   Supply proof of your identity, age and residency; and
-   Successfully complete a Road Ready Learner Licence course. Both the Road Ready course and the knowledge test certificates are valid for 12 months only.

To obtain your licence, you must

- Successfully complete an eye test
- Provide the passed certificate to the ACT Road rules knowledge test, and
- Provide proof of your identity.

Learner licences are valid for two years.  To renew your Learner Licence, you will have to pass the road rules knowledge test again. Road Ready Centres are located in Phillip and Downer

Provisional Licenses

Provisional Licences are issued for three years. With a Provisional Licence you must display “P” plates on both the front and back of your car for the three years. However, if you have held your Provisional Licence for a period of six months and have successfully completed an optional Road Ready Provisional Licence course, you may remove your “P” plates. However, you must have your provisional licence endorsed by the Road Transport Authority before removing your ‘P’ plates.

The MAXIMUM permitted blood-alcohol concentration for Provisional Licence holder is below 0.02.
The minimum age to obtain a provisional car or motorcycle licence is 17. To obtain a Provisional Licence, you must have held your Learner Licence for at least six months for a car and three months for a motorcycle and either:

Passed a practical rider assessment with the Government authorised private provider for a motorcycle licence, and for a car licence,
Passed a practical driving test with a government licence examiner, or
Undertake training and pass continuing assessment with an accredited driving instructor.

You should also be aware of the need for insurance. For more information see info sheet “Motor Vehicle Insurance”.

For more information:

Road Transport Authority