Major change coming to Australian driver's licences that will impact thousands
Permanent residents from several countries will soon lose the right to drive on their foreign licences in most Australian states.
The Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) system — which allowed international drivers to convert their overseas car and motorcycle licences to Australian ones without taking local tests — is being phased out.
The new rule will come into effect this Wednesday across all states and territories, except in Queensland, where it will start mid-year, and in Western Australia and New South Wales, where it will begin on October 31.
Under the new rules, some drivers currently using an overseas licence through the EDR scheme may now need to pass local driver tests to continue driving legally, Austroads said.
'After 30 April 2025, people who wish to apply for an Australian licence and who hold a licence issued by a country that does not hold a Recognition Status will likely need to complete additional training and testing before being granted an Australian licence,' it read.
The new rule will affect those from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong, and Latvia.
It also affects those from Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, South Korea, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan.
Permanent residents from affected countries should contact their relevant state licensing authority 'as soon as possible' if they wish to transition to an Australian licence
These changes do not apply to temporary visitors to Australia, who will still be able to drive with a valid overseas licence, provided they comply with the conditions of their licence.
Austroads warned citizens of affected countries should contact their relevant state licensing authority 'as soon as possible' if they wish to transition to an Australian licence.
'If you miss the deadline for exchanging your car or motorcycle licence issued by a Recognition Status country or jurisdiction, there may be changes to the conditions required to transfer your licence, including the need to undertake further training and testing,' the agency warned.
'If you are 25 years of age or older and miss the deadline for exchanging your licence issued by a country or jurisdiction on the Experienced Driver Recognition list, it is likely that you will have to undertake further training and testing before you can be issued with an Australian licence.'
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