Can use my australian driving license uk

Car hire is available at most airports, cities and towns from Avis, Hertz and a range of local companies. Thailand's roads are the most dangerous on earth according to a report by World Atlas, with an average of You'll need an international licence in Thailand — some hire car companies may not rent to you without one, plus you run the risk of being fined by police or negating your insurance.

Car hire is available from major airports, cities and tourist centres. It's a good idea to book with a well-known international car hire company as they're likely to be easier to deal with if you get into a dispute. Make sure you and the vehicle are properly insured through your travel insurance and through the insurance offered by the car hire company.

Before you pay extra fees for vehicle insurance, check to see if you're already covered by your travel insurance for the same clauses. Book with a well-known international car hire company as they're likely to be easier to deal with if you get into a dispute.

Motorcycle and scooter hire is easy to find on the street in tourist areas. Most vendors are local small businesses and they may not check your licence you'll need an international motorcycle licence , offer you a helmet it's the law or any kind of insurance if you crash, you'll probably have to pay for damages.

You need a local licence to drive in Vietnam, so self-drive holidays aren't possible for most visitors. However, you can hire a car with a driver, which doesn't cost as much as you might think. Try to find a driver who speaks a little English. Travel agencies and hotels can find someone for you, or better yet, ask other travellers for a trusted recommendation. If you're happy with your driver's service, make sure you tip them. Don't get too annoyed if your driver makes a pit stop at their "favourite" shop.

They're probably being paid a commission to bring you in, but you should never feel obliged to buy anything you don't want.

You'll need an International Driving Permit as well as your Australian licence. Japan has an extensive network of good quality roads that are relatively safe and easy to navigate. Congestion and expensive parking, countered by cheap and easy public transport, makes driving unappealing in cities, but it's worth considering if you're venturing out of town. Although Japan has an excellent public transport system, you may want to consider hiring a car if you're travelling to rural areas or want more freedom to explore.

Budget, Avis and Hertz also operate in Japan, but they generally act as agents for the local companies, so their rates will probably be no better. They will, however, be easier to communicate with in English. Car hire isn't an option for most tourists, since you need a local licence to drive in China. Plenty of visitors hire private drivers or enlist taxis for a half day or full day. If you do this, make sure you agree on the rate first.

Try to use a driver recommended by your hotel or by other travellers. There's no need to get an International Driving Permit — you can drive with your Australian licence or any other licence printed in English. Hiring your own set of wheels is a great way to see New Zealand on your own schedule, particularly since many of the country's best parts are well off the beaten track and may not be accessible by public transport. If you're in a hurry, applying in person could speed up the process.

Important: You'll still need to take your Australian driver's licence with you overseas. An IDP alone doesn't count as a licence to drive. An IDP is valid for a year. If you stay in Europe longer than that, you may need a local licence. Now it is waiting for at home so I can drive straight away. This is to avoid going through the whole getting a new licence back in Aus.

The process is quite simple if you are from a designated country such as down under. So if you are from one of the above mentioned countries the process below will work for you too. You will now need to order a D1 form online and get it delivered to your UK address or you can pick one up from your local UK post office. When providing your documents for this section it is important to note that you do in fact have to send off the originals.

We also had to print off a photo of ourselves following passport photo guidelines. We went into a super Tesco that had a passport photo booth and added that photo with the form in the envelope. Here is a helpful guide to help you fill out the form if you need it.

The most annoying part was probably making the payment for the license exchange which was roughly 50 pounds. There are a few other payments that will add onto this amount such as paying to have your documents tracked I would highly recommend you do this as it will have your original documents in it.

If you are thinking about buying your own car check out are guide here which will take you through the entire process of buying a used car in the UK. There are limited ways you can actually process your payment. We had to pay via a postal order for the license payment. Assuming that all has been approved with your form at the DVLA office, in about 3 weeks time you will receive your proof of identity originals BRP card back in the mail.

This will shortly be followed by your new UK license in another envelope. Hi James, As an Australian licence holder, you can drive any type of vehicle that weighs up to 3. Hey there i was told i need to hand my australian liscence in and itll be sent back to australia but when i rang the roads and martimes nsw they have told me they are not aware of this and that im aloud to have both a brittish and australian liscence and that i shouldnt have my card taken off me. Not sure why they said that, I would try and speak to someone else.

I hold a full Australian license and have been a resident in the UK for over two years now. Or can I continue to use my Australian driving license? Hi Darren You can continue to use your Australian driving licence for up to 12 months from becoming resident.

Once the 12 months is up, you will not be able to continue to drive unless you exchange your Australian licence for a GB one. To check what would happen when exchanging your GB licence back for an Australian one, you would need to contact the Australian Driving Authority. I have a full Victorian licence and will be driving a friends car, fully insured, in England for about a month.

I am curious to know if there are reciprocal penalty arrangements between Australia and the UK? For example and heaven forbid if I was picked up for driving over the legal limit while in the UK would I lose my Victorian licence, be subject to a fine, or both? Hi Greg, yes there is. Hi, I am a EU citizen and lived in Australia.

I have an full manual Australian license. Do i have to do a driving test again or can I just exchange it? Kind Regards. Hello Hugo, No tests needed, simply exchange your licence within 12 months of becoming resident. Also, will I be able to buy a car with a Australian license or will i have to transfer the license first?

Hi Hugo, You do not need any licence in the UK to buy a car, only when it comes to driving it on public roads is when you need one. I asked my mum to check in Australia to see if they could send me over a new one but they said that i would need to be there in person to sort it out and they also said that I should still be able to turn over my Australian licence in the UK and hand it in to get a UK licence — is that correct do you know?

Or do you perhaps know a number I could call to see what the restrictions and requirements are? Hi Lauren, You can exchange your Australian licence for up to 5 years of becoming UK resident, however this only applies if the licence has not expired. The options you have I would think is to either return to Australian to obtain a valid licence or to take the UK driving test. You can contact them on Hi Tom, Probation, provisional and restricted licences are all acceptable for driving in GB and exchanging.

Can I exchange it within 12 months or maybe not because it will be so recent? Thank you! Can I convert that licence or do I have to be soo the tests in UK? Hi I have a full Australian drivers licence but with my R P1 provisional motorcycle rider Am I am able to ride a motorcycle in the UK as long as I follow the Australian R P1 guideline regarding engine size and pillion passengers?

Hi Des, Yes, you can ride in the UK based on your entitlements that you gained in Australia, for the 12 month period. My Australian license is going to expire next month so I want to swap it over for a UK one before this happens.

I have only been living in the UK for 2 months so far. In order to apply for a GB driving licence you must be resident in GB. The DVLA may challenge you on your residential status. Temporarily visiting the UK indicates a presence for casual purposes rather than the regular habits of life. But as you will be in the UK for 2 years and if during this period you only returned home for short periods each year, the DVLA would consider you resident.

Hi — we are Australian citizens who have been living in the UK for nearly 2 years now. Now we are coming to the end of our visas and want to hire a car for a road trip. Do we need to exchange our licences if we are no longer living at a fixed address in the UK? Hello Meg, Your Australian driving licence is only valid for 12 months, so if you still only hold your Australian licence, it will not be valid. Though due to your visa almost expiring and having no residential address, you might have issues exchanging your Australian licence for a GB one.

Call them on Can i use this licence to drive in the UK, i am over 30 yo Cheers. You cannot exchange any form of learner driving licence or use a learner licence to drive in the UK. Thanks Sam. Hi Sam, Yes you can exchange your Australian driving licence right away even though you do not physically have it, provided it is valid. This also applies if your Australian licence is lost or stolen. Held a uk license for many years. Hello there, I am an Australian citizen with a full and open Australian License which is about to expire.

DO my 12 months start on the most recent date of re-entry? When I do have to exchange my license do I need to sit a whole new UK test or is it recognizable? Is there anyway that I can keep both licenses? Why does having a UK license mean that I have to give up an Aus license? Hi Zee, firstly, please be aware that once your Australian licence has expired you cannot drive in Great Britain GB or exchange the licence for a GB licence.

As a visitor, you can drive in GB for up to 12 months from when you last entered the country. If you do consider yourself resident and exchange your licence, you will not have to take a UK driving test.

Technically you can keep both licenses. If your Australian licence is lost, you can still exchange it for a GB licence, but if you found your Australian licence, you would be expected to send it to the DVLA. If you exchanged your Australian licence for a GB licence, the Australian licence would be sent back to the issuing authority. This is because if you received a driving ban for example, you would have your licence revoked and not have multiples licenses to make use of.

I have recently moved back to the UK after living in Australia for 5 years. Is this possible? Hi George, Yes you can exchange your Australian motorcycle licence for a GB one just like you would a car licence. Hi I have an Aus learners licence. Can I change to a British learners or do i have to start the process again over in the uk.

I wanted to hire a car to travel around! Is there a way I can somehow Do this without having my license. Hi Shardae, It really depends on which company you try. I am now returning with a spouse visa a year later, am i able to drive for a further 12 months before exchanging my Australian license?

Unfortunately the DVLA do not offer any specifics on this because neither visitor nor resident is defined in driver licensing legislation.

They will state that you should seek your own legal advice if you need further help determining your status and whether your 12 months begins again. It would probably be easier to exchange your licence. Hi im going to england with my son for a holiday and we are hiring a car. He has his learners drivers licence. Is he able to drive over there like he can here so he can get his hours up?? Hi Jackie, Australian probation, provisional and restricted licences are all acceptable for driving in GB and exchanging.

However, learners licences or L categories are not accepted for driving in GB or for exchange. I still have my UK license and am moving back to the UK next year. I am Australian with a full Australian license. Can I still drive for 12 months with this license or do i need to apply for a GB license? You can exchange for up to 5 years since becoming resident and only if your Australian licence is valid. I am permanent resident UK on working visa.

Or is it a simple exchange like UK. Hi Heather. I would ask someone in the know over there. I was planning on just getting my full license when I go back to Australia beginning of feb and then completing the transfer when I come back to the uk in April.

I technically came to the England in September , got my first job and started renting in November does this mean that I needed to do the license transfer in September? So yes, you can drive here for 12 months or exchange it for a GB licence within 5 years. However, you have 5 years to exchange a licence from the date you became resident, therefore I would suggest this would be 5 years from the days and became resident that you arrived in the UK.