Driving in Australia on a UK, US or other English licence

Driving in Australia on an overseas licence?

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The short answer: you probably need nothing translated

Every state rule we quote about translations starts with the same condition: if your licence is not in English. If yours is in English, that condition is not met. None of those states asks you to carry a translation or an International Driving Permit to drive.

Three of them say it the other way round, which is clearer still. VicRoads says a visitor staying under six months can drive on an overseas licence “as long as it’s valid, and it’s in English or has a translation.” South Australia’s list of who may drive starts with someone holding “a current licence issued in another country that is written in English”. The Northern Territory says you can drive on an overseas licence for up to 3 months if, among other things, “your licence is current and written in English”.

What the other states say, and why it covers you

NSW: “If your licence is not written in English, you must also carry an English translation, or an International Driving Permit.” Queensland: “If your licence isn’t in English, you should carry a recognised English translation of it when you’re driving.” Tasmania: “If your licence is not in English you must also carry an official translation or international drivers permit.”

Each of these is written for a licence that is not in English. The rest of each page still applies to you: carry the licence, follow the road rules, and watch the time limits.

Western Australia is the one we cannot answer cleanly. The single line we have verified on its visitor page says “You must carry your current overseas licence and a translation, or an International Drivers’ Permit (IDP) with you while driving.” It does not say what applies when the licence is already in English. If Western Australia is on your route, ask its licensing authority.

What still applies to you

Carry the licence itself. The Northern Territory lists it as a condition: “you carry your licence with you at all times whilst driving.”

Watch the time limits. The Territory: “you can drive with your interstate or overseas licence for up to 3 months.” NSW: “If you’re a tourist or temporary overseas visitor, you can drive in NSW using your overseas licence for up to six months”, with conditions. The other states are on how long you can drive on an overseas licence.

Read the hire company’s terms, not just the road rules. They are a separate contract. Hertz accepts a licence that “is in English or, if not in English, is accompanied by a certified English translation”. Hire companies also set other conditions. Europcar, for one, asks for a licence “held for at least 1 YEAR prior to the commencement of the rental”. Each big company’s wording is on renting a car in Australia with an overseas licence.

When “in English” is not clear-cut

Some licences mix English with another script. Others use English letters but category codes a local reader may not recognise. The state pages we quote do not define “in English”.

The Northern Territory names a related case. Before you travel, you must apply for an International Driving Permit if “the type of vehicle you’re authorised to drive can’t be easily recognised.” That applies whatever language the licence is in.

A permit comes from home, not from Australia. The Australian Automobile Association says “If you hold an overseas driver licence you must apply for a permit in the country that issued your licence.” If your licence is only partly in English and you are unsure, get the permit before you fly, or ask the authority or hire company which answer they want.

A licence with no photo, or a paper licence, raises its own questions: see a paper licence, or one with no photo.

Moving here instead of visiting

Converting to an Australian licence is a separate process that each state runs, with its own tests and exemptions. For an English licence, the translation step in those processes does not apply to you. VicRoads, for example, words it as “If your driver licence or learner permit is not in English, you must have it translated”.

The rest of the conversion rules do apply. VicRoads: “If you’re moving to Victoria and plan to live here for more than 6 months, you must convert your overseas driver licence or learner permit to a Victorian one.” Your own state’s page has the steps.

When we would help, and when we would rather you did not order

If your licence is in English, please do not order a translation of it from us, or from anyone, unless an authority or hire company has asked for one. We say the same about other cases on when we will tell you not to order.

Where we can help is the document that is not in English: a travelling partner’s licence, or a certificate you need for a visa. Driver’s licence translation covers the licence; all services covers the rest.

Sources, checked on the date shown:

Driving in Australia on a licence that is already in English