New Driving Laws in Australia: Overseas Licence Holders Must Resit Driving Tests

Australia is tightening its road licensing laws—and thousands of permanent residents may soon be unknowingly driving unlicensed.

Starting this Wednesday, most permanent residents holding an overseas driver’s licence will no longer be able to legally drive in Australia without passing a local driving test. This marks the end of the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) system, which previously allowed licence holders from select countries to convert to an Australian licence without an exam.

Who Is Affected?

Drivers from the following countries will now be required to pass an Australian driving test:

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary

Hong Kong SAR (China), Latvia, Lithuania, Poland

Republic of Cyprus, South Korea, Republic of Serbia

Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Taiwan

Key Exceptions:

Temporary residents can still drive using their overseas licence.

Queensland will adopt this rule mid-year.

Western Australia will enforce it starting October 31.

Drivers who do not update their licence may be considered unlicensed, facing hefty fines or legal penalties if caught.