You can drive in Australia on a current overseas licence. If it isn’t in English, carry an International Driving Permit or an English translation with it. How long you can use it depends on the state: up to 6 months in NSW and Victoria, 3 months in the Northern Territory, and in the other states usually as long as your licence is valid and you’re a temporary visitor. Australians drive on the left, the drink driving limit is 0.05, and phone and speed cameras are everywhere.
Last checked: 12 November 2026
Your licence
- Carry your overseas licence and your passport every time you drive. Police can ask for both.
- If your licence isn’t in English, carry an International Driving Permit (get it at home before you fly) or an English translation.
- You can only drive the type of vehicle your licence covers. A car licence doesn’t let you ride a motorbike or drive a truck.
- If your licence expires while you’re here, you can’t keep driving on it. You’d need an Australian licence.
How long you can drive on an overseas licence, by state
| State | Temporary visitors (like working holiday makers) | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Up to 6 months, then you need a NSW licence if you stay | NSW Government |
| Victoria | While you have lived in Victoria for less than 6 months in total | VicRoads |
| Queensland | While your overseas licence is current and you’re a temporary visitor | Queensland Government |
| Western Australia | While your overseas licence is current, if you’re visiting, studying or working temporarily | Transport WA |
| South Australia | While your overseas licence is current and you’re a temporary visitor | Austroads |
| Tasmania | While your overseas licence is current and you’re a temporary visitor | Austroads |
| Northern Territory | 3 months, then you need an NT licence or an exemption | Austroads |
| ACT | While your overseas licence is current and you’re a temporary visitor | Austroads |
These rules change, and they were updated in several states in 2025 and 2026. Check the official page for the state you’re in before a long stay.
Getting an Australian licence
If you stay longer than your state allows, you convert to a local licence at the state’s service centre. Licences from many countries (including the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Canada and the USA) can usually be converted without tests. Others need a knowledge test and a driving test. A local licence also makes it easier to buy and register a car, because online transfers need one.
Road rules that catch travellers out
- Drive on the left and give way to the right at roundabouts and intersections without signs.
- Drink driving limit is 0.05 on a full licence. Random breath and drug tests are common, even in the morning after a big night.
- No phone in your hand. Not even when stopped at the lights. Cameras in NSW, Victoria and Queensland catch phone use automatically, and fines run to hundreds of dollars.
- Speed limits are strict. Usually 50 km/h in towns, 40 km/h in school zones at school times, and 100 to 110 km/h on highways. Fixed and mobile cameras everywhere.
- Seatbelts for everyone in the car, including in the back. The driver gets the fine.
Tolls
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have toll roads with no booths. Cameras read your plate. If you don’t have an e-tag, buy a pass or pay online within a few days of using the road, or the bill goes to the registered owner with extra fees. Toll notices go to the address on the rego, which is another reason to have a fixed address like a TAW Mailbox.
Driving outside the cities
- Wildlife. Kangaroos are most active at dawn and dusk. Avoid driving then on country roads.
- Distances. Fill up whenever you can in remote areas. Carry extra water.
- Road trains. Trucks up to 50 metres long. Only overtake with a long, clear view.
- Unsealed roads. Check your insurance, many policies don’t cover them, and rental cars often aren’t allowed on them.
- Fatigue. Stop every 2 hours. Driver reviver stops on highways often have free coffee.
Buying a car or campervan
Lots of working holiday makers buy a car to get to farm work and travel. Read our guide to buying a car or campervan in Australia for the checks to do, and what each state needs when you transfer the rego.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Australia with my overseas licence?
Yes, if it’s current. Carry it with your passport, and an International Driving Permit or English translation if it isn’t in English.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Only if your licence isn’t in English. Then you need either an IDP from your home country or an English translation.
How long can I drive on a foreign licence in NSW?
Up to 6 months as a temporary visitor. If you stay longer, you need a NSW licence.
How long can I drive on a foreign licence in Queensland?
As a temporary visitor, generally while your overseas licence is current. Check the Queensland Government page for any changes.
What is the drink driving limit in Australia?
0.05 blood alcohol for full licence holders. Learner and provisional drivers must be at zero.
Do I need to pay tolls in a rental or my own car?
Yes. Rental companies charge them back with a fee. In your own car, buy a pass or pay online within a few days or a notice is posted to the registered owner.
Sources: state road authorities linked above and Austroads. Always check the official page for the state you’re in.
