NSW driver licences

What is the Graduated Licensing Scheme?

The Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) is the process in NSW to progress from your learner licence to your unrestricted licence. The GLS outlines some of the rules and requirements for learners, P1 drivers and P2 drivers. 

On 20 November 2017, changes were made to the different tests and requirements needed to progress from one licensing stage to the next.

For more information, see Getting your driver licence on the Transport for NSW website.

I have moved to NSW from another state. Can I keep driving on my interstate licence?

If you move to NSW from another state, you can only use your interstate licence to drive in NSW for three months. After three months you need to get a NSW licence. If you don’t, you may be committing an offence. 

There is no fee for transferring your licence. But if your interstate licence has expired or is about to expire, you will need to pay for a new licence.

For more information, see Transfer an interstate driver licence on the Service NSW website.

To apply to have your interstate licence transferred to a NSW licence, see Moving your interstate licence to NSW on the Service NSW website.

Can I drive in NSW on an overseas licence if I am a tourist or on a temporary visa?

If you are a tourist or temporary overseas visitor (on temporary visa) and are residing in NSW for less than six months, you can drive in NSW using your overseas licence. If your licence is not written in English, you must also carry an English translation, or an International Driving Permit. This is issued by the motoring association or embassy of the country that you are licensed to drive in.

If you are a tourist or temporary overseas visitor who arrived in NSW on or after 1 July 2023 and intend to reside in NSW for longer than six months, you will need to obtain a NSW driver’s licence within six months if you wish to continue to drive in NSW.

If you are on a temporary visa and you arrived in NSW before 1 July 2023 and will continue to reside in NSW after 1 March 2025, you will need to obtain a NSW driver’s licence before 1 March 2025 if you wish to continue to drive in NSW.

If you are an interstate or New Zealand licence holder, you can drive with your existing licence for up to three months as long as you have a current licence interstate or a New Zealand licence. If you are staying in NSW for longer than 3 months, you must apply for a NSW licence if you wish to continue driving in NSW.

For more information on converting your overseas licence to a NSW licence, see Moving your overseas licence to NSW on the NSW Government website.

Penalties apply if you are a temporary visa holder and continue to drive in NSW on your overseas licence after the period in which you should have applied for a NSW licence. You will be considered to be driving a vehicle unlicenced.

For more information, see Driving with an overseas or interstate licence in NSW on the NSW Government website.

Can I drive in NSW on an overseas licence if I am a permanent resident of Australia?

If you are a permanent resident of Australia, you can drive on your overseas licence for up to 3 months from the date you arrive in Australia. After this time, you must get a NSW licence to keep on driving.

If you apply for a NSW licence, including if you apply and fail, you can’t drive on your overseas licence anymore.

For more information, see Visiting or moving to NSW on the NSW Government website.

It is an offence to continue driving on an overseas licence if you are a permanent resident and have been living in NSW for three months or longer.

What is a Digital Driver Licence?

The Digital Driver Licence is an electronic version of your NSW driver licence that is available through the free Service NSW application on your phone or tablet. It is in addition to the plastic licence card and is available for free to existing licence holders. 

The Digital Driver Licence allows you to view, show and renew your licence from your mobile phone or tablet.

Who is eligible to use a Digital Driver Licence?

The Digital Driver Licence is available to all NSW licence holders, including Learner and Provisional licence holders. 

Am I required to get a Digital Driver Licence?

No, the Digital Driver Licence is not mandatory and is available for free on an opt-in basis. 

Does the Digital Driver Licence replace the plastic licence card? 

The Digital Driver Licence does not replace the plastic licence card. You must keep your plastic card if you obtain a Digital Driver Licence. 

How do I get a Digital Driver Licence?

You can get a Digital Driver Licence by:

• setting up a MyServiceNSW Account - see Create an account on the Service NSW website, and 
  
• downloading the Service NSW Mobile App on your mobile phone or tablet.
  

For more information, see Licence holders and the NSW Digital Driver Licence on the Service NSW website. 

What phones/devices/software will the Digital Driver Licence work on?

The Digital Driver Licence will work best on Android version 6.x (Marshmallow) and higher, and iOS12.2 and higher.

The Digital Driver Licence will not work on Windows mobile phones or any other operating systems.

Can I use my Digital Driver Licence interstate or overseas?

Whether or not your Digital Driver Licence is accepted will depend on overseas and interstate authorities. You should carry your plastic licence as a backup in case your Digital Driver Licence is not accepted interstate or overseas. 

I live interstate but have a NSW driver licence, am I eligible for the Digital Driver Licence?

Yes, if you hold a NSW driver licence but live interstate, you are still eligible for a Digital Driver Licence. 

Do I have to hand my electronic device over to someone to check my Digital Driver Licence? 

No, you are not required to hand over your device to a checker. 

Police and other licence checkers should not touch your device. However, you will need to assist the checkers to see your licence by holding your phone at the right angle, changing the brightness or altering the screen of the device appropriately. 

If the Digital Driver Licence can't be verified because, for example, your device screen is cracked or your mobile phone is not charged, you may be required to produce your plastic licence card for checking. 

Can I get fined for using my mobile phone to produce the Digital Driver Licence? 

You may be fined, even if you are stationary, if you touch your mobile phone before you are directed to produce your licence by the police. You can only use your mobile phone to access your Digital Driver Licence after being requested to do so by a Police Officer. 

What happens if I don't have any data/internet connectivity?

Information from the Digital Driver Licence is still available even if the device is not connected to the internet. Details from the last time the device was refreshed will be stored on the device and can be used for checking. 

However, if the Digital Driver Licence can't be verified, you may be required to produce your plastic licence card for checking.

What happens if I lose my mobile phone? Will I still be able to access my Digital Driver Licence?

If you lose your phone, you will still be able to access your Digital Driver Licence on a new mobile phone or tablet by downloading and logging into the Service NSW application with your MyServiceNSW account details.

Can someone make a fake version or copy of my Digital Driver Licence?

Security features have been designed into the Digital Driver Licence to prevent attempts to ‘screenshot’ or copy your licence. Digital signatures have also been incorporated to ensure that the authenticity of the licence can be verified.

Will the Digital Driver Licence information be stored on my mobile phone or tablet? 

The Digital Driver Licence information will not be stored on your mobile phone or tablet. You must be logged into the Service NSW application and use the Touch-ID and PIN to access it. Once you are logged out of the Service NSW application, you can't access your Digital Driver Licence.

Can the government track my movements through the Digital Driver Licence?

No, the Digital Driver Licence does not collect or transmit location data. There is no functionality that would allow the government to identify your location.

Can a Justice of the Peace or Lawyer certify documents using my Digital Driver Licence?

If you need a certified copy of your licence you must continue to follow the existing process using the plastic card.

Who are Digital Driver Licence checkers?

Digital Driver Licence checkers are businesses, registered clubs and government agencies that use the NSW driver licence to check proof of age and proof of identity. 

Do I have to register my business to be a Digital Driver Licence checker? 

A business generally does not have to be registered to become a Digital Driver Licence checker for visual and digital checks. 

How do I check a Digital Driver Licence?

You must first visually check the Digital Driver Licence (DDL) before accepting it. The DDL contains multiple features, for example, an animated NSW Government logo, QR code, waratah hologram, watermark matching licence photo etc. which confirm its authenticity.  

You then have two options to verify the DDL after a visual check:

• ask the customer to swipe down the digital licence to update the last refreshed time
  
• scan the QR code using the licence scanner available in the Service NSW application on your mobile phone.
  

If you are having an issue verifying the authenticity of the DDL, you may ask for the plastic licence card.

For more information, see Licence checkers and the NSW Digital Driver Licence on the Service NSW website. 

Do customers need to hand over their mobile phone or tablet to me so that I can check their licence?

Customers are not required to physically hand over their mobile phone or tablet to anyone requesting to see their licence. They will need to make it easier for you to see their licence by holding it at the right angle, changing the brightness or altering the screen of the device. 

If the Digital Driver Licence can't be verified because, for example, the customer’s device screen is cracked or their phone is not charged, you may ask for their plastic licence card.

What do I do if I think a licence is fake and cannot be verified?

You can ask to see the customer’s plastic licence card. If you still have concerns refer to the protocol provided by your industry/management.

Our club has an electronic licence scan/sign in machine, what happens now?

Some registered clubs are able to allow members, guests and visitors to use the Digital Driver Licence to sign in by scanning the venue's QR code upon entry. 

Registered clubs should speak to their software vendor to begin accepting the Digital Driver Licence at their club. Many software vendors have updated their systems to allow the Digital Driver Licence to be accepted for identification and temporary memberships.