Driver licence ?

I believe there are 2 answers to your question.
Legally the answer is yes, but does anyone do it, then it is no.
I actually don't believe it is practical as if you are traveling you have no fixed address so it would be all too confusing for the authorities. They have more important things to do like catching real criminals.
If you change your official residential address then different story.
I know someone that has a commercial passenger vehicle license endorsed in NT on a WA license. No problem so far after 2 years.


Neil

The answer is as stated by Neil above, however another thing to remember is if you are asked for your license by the police (as simple as a breath test station etc) and they ask "where do you live" when they see the out of state rego etc, you could be answering questions you have not thought you would have to ask as a law abiding citizen.

I believe you will also have no 3rd party insurance on your vehicles too and this is an offence.

Maîneÿ . . .

This might help for those escaping to the wet and cold

Site Link

I asked the NSW RTA about this a while ago when I was working for the Federal Govt and got moved interstate 6 months at a time. The lady behind the counter said not to worry about changing licenses as it's a waste.

I think it would've been a huge pain in the bum if I actually complied to state regs and changed licenses, and regos 6 times in the 3 years.

In SA the Motor Vehicles Act allows visiting motorists to drive on their interstate licence in SA. I believe each state would have a reciprocal law. If you have resided in the state for three months or more you would need to get the appropriate state's licence. Clearly if you are visiting on your "Big Lap" you do not need to change licence or rego. If you are living there you need to change within the three months.

Who would know where you have been and how long you have been in which state... you can drive across OZ in 4 days!!! Its not an issue at all ! Michael

Who would know where you have been and how long you have been in which state... you can drive across OZ in 4 days!!! Its not an issue at all ! Michael

We have had this discussion before and also information about Voting

The law is pretty clear on this issue in ALL states and territories ,that being if you live in the 1 state for a 3mth period you are obliged by law to change your licence+ rego to that state , all part of state revenue raising , in practice its a non issue to travelling and doing a lap or 3 as long as your not actually "residing"in the one spot for over the 3mths ,, as for 3rd party insurance there is NO obligation to use the state of residence insurance company , all 3rd party insurance is Australia wide.

Greetings. Excuse my ignorance here but are we talking stamp duty here? my scenario is that we wish to purchase a 4x4 motorhome in Australia. Should we find one in any state other than WA, than we want to drive the vehicle across to WA and have it registered there as my son and his family lives in Margaret River. From there we wish to see Oz in a bit more detail than we have in recent years. If we buy the vehicle in say Queensland do we only pay stamp duty once in WA. Many thanks, Cheers, Case in.

I was under the impression that you could use a valid foreign (ie NZ, interstate) licence for up to 3 months here if "domiciled" and 12 months if holidaying. Same with rego.

"Domiciled" is of course open to interpretation by whoever has the best lawyer after an accident though.

hmmm 6 different countries equals australia-lol
why the hell dont we have an australian driving licence

My experience:

While starting my lap back in 1996, I was in Esperance WA, I did a ‘u’ turn in a main street, a nice Policeman on a motorbike stopped me, asked where I lived and how long I had been in WA etc, reasonable 'small talk' before telling me anything else, I was thinking he is a nice guy, then he come down heavy because I could not give him a ‘home’ address in WA, I was driving on a Vic licence, and cautioned me about doing ‘u’ turn.

He then told me to go to the licence office in the same street we were in to get a new WA licence, he also drew a mudmap to the guy that would give me the vehicle RTA registration checkover too, he followed me and parked out front of the licence office (maybe so I not get lost as I was on Vic licence)

I went in and told the (nice) people behind the desk of my predicament, we looked at the nice Policeman still astride his large motorbike looking at us and we had a few laughs at my expense.

I had a new photo taken, and the first question is “where do you live” when I tell them I spent the last few nights on a beach just out of town they cracked up and explained I had to have a home address in WA to be able to get a licence there.

So being caught in between a rock and a hard place, with nothing to loose as they had my Vic licence, I told them I lived @ Highway 1 Perth 6000.

So they gave me a licence Image Could Not Be Found
Unfortunately the nice Policeman was still waiting, so I showed him the new licence as I walked to my vehicle and smiled outwardly at least, he then told me to go to RTA inspection mechanic and yes he followed me again, the guy there explained he would not even look at my vehicle because as he pointed out from the workshop that the wheels and tyres (Yokohama Super diggers) I had were not suitable, according to WA law, he waved at the nice Policeman and he then left, the mechanic advised me to get new rims and tyres and return asap, bugga, I've just realised I've forgotten to return Grrr.

Maîneÿ . . .

To keep it short and simple and for NSW only....

The licence does not become an issue unless you "reside" in NSW for more then 3 months. If you leave the state within the 3 month period, the counter resets. Reside is open to debate as to whether it means "perm. live here" or travelling through but staying for longer etc etc.
Sourced from the Road Transport (Driver Licencing) Act

NSW exempts certain vehicles from registration. An example is rural fire fighting trucks, another example is motor vehicles which are registered interstate and are "temporarily" in NSW ie, passing through. So if you were to move here from interstate with a QLD registered car, once you move and the car is here for good, in theory and very technically you are no longer registered as you are not exempt from being registered in NSW. That may be where the green slip thing that some people have mentioned comes into play.
Sourced from the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act.

I hope that answers more questions then it creates.

Tim

Anyone on the road may want to consider the legislation both state and federal that covers 'itinerant' workers.....some of it is similar to the ADF provisions.

Alright enough of the sniping and false information.

I asked the question about this in relation to a question on the 4WD forum where a guy was moving to Queensland but leaving the vehicle registered in his fathers name in NSW.
Reason the vehicle was modified beyond the ability to be legal in QLD.

Here is the answer I have just recieved this very minute


Dear Mr Hill

Thank you for your correspondence received via our Fast Info Website regarding proof of address requirements for vehicles registered in Queensland.

Under the national standards adopted by all States and Territories, a vehicle's garage address determines the state where it must be registered. This ensures that the funding for roads is collected in the state where the vehicle is used on the road. While all States and Territories have mutual recognition of registration for visiting interstate vehicles, if the permanent garage address changes to another State or Territory, the vehicle must be registered in that State or Territory.

All vehicles with interstate registration must be registered in Queensland 14 days after Queensland becomes the vehicle's permanent garaging address. In addition, vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass must be registered in Queensland if the vehicle has been operating in Queensland for a continuous period of three months. An interstate registered vehicle being used in Queensland after either of these time periods is considered unregistered under Queensland law.

Temporary visitors from interstate are not required to register their vehicles in Queensland.

It is the responsibility of vehicle owners, operators and drivers to ensure that vehicles are properly registered. Various vehicle details are checked during random roadside vehicle interceptions conducted by Queensland Police and Transport Inspectors and this includes confirming registration details. Any offences detected are acted on by either issuing an infringement notice or prosecution action. In instances where an interstate registered vehicle is detected 14 days after the garage address has been changed to Queensland, an infringement notice for using an unregistered vehicle is issued.

Should the vehicle be registered in Queensland, it would be necessary for the registered operator to present a Queensland Safety Certificate at the time of registration.

I trust that the above is of assistance. If you have any further queries, please feel free to contact me using the details below.


The point is THE GARAGING ADDRESS and in another thread Tasmania was asked what constituted a "Permanent Residency"

The answer was " One where you can produce a utlities account or insurance account for the address"

So in either situation if you are "VISITING" you are NOT a RESIDENT and therefore do not need a change of licence.

Hope that clarifies things

Bump

As no one has expressed an opinion on a definite ruling by a relevant authority.

Wonderful how things go quiet when faced with the truth

Must be too early for you Mainey Read the single sentence in the middle of the reply from QLD RTA

It says VISTORS to Queensland are not required to register their vehicles in Queensland.

Therefore If YOU come over for a visit and stay 6 months with friends you are a visitor as you have a GARAGING address in WA.

The reply didnt state any length of time you may visit for and is similar to Tassie which said to be a resident you must have a utilities account from an address otherwise presumably you are a "Visitor"

Same applies in QLD if you live there and work there you are required to register the vehicle there.

The original question that I enquired about was about a guy who was going to move to QLD but leave the vehicle registered in someone elses name in NSW.
They didnt quite provide an answer specific to that question so am going to ask again

Gone all quiet again hasnt it.

From QLD 3rd party CTP today.

They say that we are covered NATIONWIDE by CTP as long as the vehicle is currently legally registered in QLD.

They referred me to QLD RTA for licence enquiries.
As it seems the requirement to change your license to each state is proof of residence, it seems the arguement of illegality is invalid as a grey nomad would always be a visitor for up to and maybe past 12 months.

However in my earlier reply from them it says that if you LIVE (as in paying utilities or insurance or rates) in a state you must change the rego of your vehicles over to the state of residence within a set time.

Whether its registered in your name or not If you "operate" it you have to do it.

Failure to do so will render the vehicle illegal.

Therefore, on two counts, Mainey, your VIC registered vehicle would be illegal

Firstly if it has been there past the required changeover period and secondly because of modifications is illegal in WA.

More to worry about than us moving around your very nice area I would think.


So basically the answer to the OP's question is NO YOU DONT as long as you have a GARAGING ADDRESS in your HOME STATE.

We are house sitting for 8 months in Coffs and arent changing anything as my vehicles are registered in Queensland and I pay rates and power on my residence up there so am a resident ofQueensland.

I had been living in SA for approx. 12 months when I had my vehicle written off in a head on collision.

My driver's licence was WA and my vehicle regoed in WA. The other driver was a German tourist with an international licence and his imported car had a VIC permit for registration.

My vehicle insurance paid out in about 2 weeks and third party injury insurance will be paid shortly, they are still sorting out the paperwork.

Not sure if that helps, just my experience.