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NSW driver licences

Information about NSW driver licences, NSW Digital Driver Licence, and driving in NSW on an international licence.

  • This topic covers

    • NSW driver licences
    • NSW Digital Driver Licence

Time limitAction
Up to three monthsIf you have an interstate or New Zeland driver licence and you move to NSW, you must get a NSW driver licence if you are staying in NSW for longer than three months.
Up to three months

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident and have a current overseas licence, you can drive or ride on NSW roads. You are allowed to do this for up to three months from the date you arrive in Australia.

If you plan to continue driving on NSW roads for longer than three months, you must get a NSW licence within this three month period.

Up to six months

If you are a tourist or temporary overseas visitor, you can drive in NSW using your overseas licence for up to six months as long as you:

  • remain a temporary overseas visitor
  • have a current overseas licence and carry it with you
  • have not been disqualified from driving in NSW or anywhere else
  • have not had your licence suspended or cancelled, or your visiting driving privileges withdrawn.

If your licence is not written in English, you must also carry an English translation, or an International Driving Permit.

If you intend to reside in NSW for longer than six months, you will need to obtain a NSW driver licence within six months of arriving in Australia.

Organisations

OrganisationResponsibilities
Transport for NSWThe driver licensing authority for NSW. They can issue and suspend driver licences and record demerit points for licence holders.

Legislation

AuthorityCovers
Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW)Establishes a driver licensing system, including a demerit points system and providing for the issue, suspension, cancellation and renewal of driver licences and the classes of driver licences.
Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017Assists in providing for the consistent administration and enforcement of a driver licensing system throughout Australia.

Common termDefinition
Good behaviour licenceA licence offered to an unrestricted licence holder when they exceed their demerit point threshold.
Learner licenceA licence issued to a person who is at least 16 years of age allowing them to drive a vehicle for the purpose of learning to drive. They must always have an unrestricted licence holder with them when driving.
NSW Digital Driver LicenceA digital version of the NSW Driver Licence available on your smartphone through the Service NSW app. It has the same legal status as the plastic driver licence in NSW and accepted more broadly interstate. It is optional and does not repace the plastic card. A NSW Digital Driver Licence is available at no cost.
Professional driverA person who has an unrestricted driver licence and who drives to transport goods either inter and/or intra-state or drives a bus, taxi or hire car for work.
Provisional licence

There are two types of provisional licences:

  • P1 licence (red Ps) - a licence issued to a person who is at least 17 years of age, for a period of up to 18 months. The licence is given to someone that has completed the relevant tests and requirements. If a person is under 25 years of age, they must have held their learner licence for 12 months (not including any period of suspension) and completed 120 driving hours (including 20 hours of night driving).     
  • P2 licence (green Ps) - a licence issued to a person who has held their P1 licence for at least 12 months and has passed the relevant tests and requirements, for a period of 36 months.  
Unrestricted licenceA licence that allows a person to drive a vehicle in NSW without any of the specific restrictions placed on learner or provisional licence holders. The demerit threshold for an unrestricted licence is 13 demerit points or 14 for professional drivers when applied for with Transport for NSW,

Frequently Asked Questions

NSW driver licences FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about NSW driver licences, Digital Drivers Licence, and driving in NSW on an international licence.

Contact us

If you have a legal problem in NSW, Legal Aid NSW is here to help you.

Fines

This topic has information about what to do if you get a fine in NSW.

FineFixer New South Wales

This guided pathway explains your options for dealing with a traffic offence after you answer a few questions.

Last updated: December 2024