Latest news with #Austroads
7NEWS
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Thousands to be impacted by major Australian licence change
A new change to Australia's road rules has just come into effect, threatening the licences of thousands of people across the country. Permanent residents from multiple countries have been told they will no longer be able to use their foreign driver or rider licences to obtain the equivalent Australian licence. The Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) status has allowed people from certain nations to skip retaking a driving test after moving to Australia if they have already passed the test in their country of origin. The EDR has been phased out from Wednesday in all states and territories except New South Wales and Western Australia — where it will end on October 31 — and Queensland, where it ends in mid-2025. Austroads said the changes reflect the development of training and road safety in Australia. 'The scheme was put in place over 20 years ago and licence training and testing have significantly changed over that period,' it said. 'The new scheme has been revised to reflect the changes in Australia's car and motorcycle licensing systems, which were designed to improve road safety.' International drivers from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan will now be required to take Australian driving tests to receive a valid licence. These changes do not apply to temporary visitors to Australia, who will still be able to drive with a valid overseas licence. The phasing out of the EDR does not affect the Recognition Status scheme covering drivers from other countries including the US and UK. 'After April 30, 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,' Austroads said. '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.'
Sky News AU
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
Changes to foreign drivers licene scheme set to make many Australian drivers to be deemed illegal on roads
A major change in rules for permanent Australian residents driving with some foreign licences will see those affected deemed illegal to drive on roads from tomorrow. The Recognised Country Scheme, managed by Austroads, allows some international drivers living in Australia to convert their foreign licences to Australian ones. Drivers currently considered for Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) status, who are licence holders from certain countries and are over 25 years old, can sometimes be given an Australian licence 'without further training or assessment,' Austroads' website reads. But that is all set to change within hours, as Austroads puts an end to EDR status from Wednesday in all states and territories except New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. EDR status will finish in NSW and WA on October 31, while the deadline for Queensland is likely to be mid-2025. The list of countries that are in the EDR status category includes Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, South Korea, Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan. People from those countries have been encouraged to apply for a different status category. The sweeping changes to the scheme, which had been in place for nearly 20 years, were announced on October 21 last year. Austroads chief executive Geoff Allan said at the time that visitors to Australia who hold an overseas licence and comply with conditions will continue to be able to drive on roads. 'If an overseas licence holder does not apply to transition to an Australian licence before the Experienced Driver Recognition Scheme ends, they are likely to have to undertake further training and testing before they can be issued with an Australian licence,' Allan said. The new process implemented by Austroads had been designed with a focus on a 'Safe System approach'. 'Additionally, given the growing reliance on a licence as proof of identify, as well as the rise in identity theft and document fraud, the changes will introduce a mechanism for applicant countries to confirm the validity and currency of their licences,' Allan said
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
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.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers warned as major licence change rolls out across Australia in days
Permanent Aussie residents driving on foreign licences from a handful of countries will have to pass a test if they wish to remain on our roads under new changes being implemented in just days. The program which allowed international motorists living in Australia permanently to convert their overseas licence to one issued by an Aussie state or territory without any resting requirements, known as the Experienced Driver Recognition Status (EDR), will come to an end in most jurisdictions on Wednesday. This means that drivers from countries including South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan and Poland, will be required to undertake further training and testing to receive an Australian licence. The list will be abolished across all states and territories this Wednesday, with the exception of Queensland, where the EDR scheme will wrap up mid-year, pending the passage of new legislation, and Western Australia, which will end the program on October 31. 'After the deadline, drivers from EDR-recognised countries will be required to pass both knowledge and practical driving tests to obtain an Australian licence and continue driving in the country, unless they transition before the deadline," Andrew Rawlinson, Head of Sales at EzLicence, said. The Recognised Country status, which includes most western countries like the US, UK, France, Canada and Italy, allows motorists on this list to simply fill in paperwork in order to swap to a local licence. The move comes months after Austroads, a government-funded agency which manages international licences on behalf of the states and territories, announced it would be updating its process in a bid to 'streamline conversions'. The changes do not apply to visitors, who will continue to be able to drive on roads if they hold a valid overseas licence and comply with all conditions. 🚘 Meaning behind little-known marker appearing on 'more and more' roads 🧍♂️ Licence change for millions of Aussies with new ID verification system 🚐 Caravan and boat owners targeted by council in new push for law change Rawlinson warned the end of the scheme may place additional demands on the "already stretched" Australian licensing system as foreign drivers seek driving tests to convert their licences. 'This comes at a time when Australia has seen a 3.2 per cent decline in qualified driving instructors over the past year, potentially placing even more strain on an already under-resourced sector," he said. If a driver has missed the April 30 deadline for converting their licence under the EDR, they'll need to go through the full licensing process, however, there are a few things they 'can do to get ahead of the rush' as demand surges, Rawlinson said. He recommends drivers schedule their driving test as far in advance as possible, familiarise themselves with the country's road rules and take a few driving lessons as a 'refresher'. Exactly how motorists go about converting an overseas licence to an Australian one varies from state to state, with those impacted encouraged to visit the AustRoads website. In most jurisdictions in the country, if a driver has a full licence from their home country, they can legally drive in Australia for up to three months from the point of first arriving — except in Victoria, where it's up to six months. Full list of countries listed on the EDR scheme: Bulgaria Czech Republic Estonia Hong Kong Hungary Latvia Lithuania Poland Republic of Cyprus South Korea Republic of Serbia Romania Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Taiwan Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
