If you’re on your Ls and keen to learn more about safer driving behaviours then the Safer Drivers Course is for you.
SAFER DRIVERS COURSE
The Course will help you understand more about speed management, gap selection, hazard awareness and safe following distances and prepare you for when you drive unsupervised on your Ps.
You will also receive 20 hours of log book credit once you complete the Course.
To be able to attend a Course you must be on your Ls, completed 50 log book driving hours and be under 25.
This is 50 actual hours of on-road driving and does not include the hours that can be accrued through (3 for 1) structured professional instruction.
Gaining credits on log book hours explained
With all the different ways you can make up log book hour credits, it is not hard to get information overload.
Before you can take a Driving Test, you need to record 120 log book hours. Here’s a break down on the different ways you can earn credits towards your 120 log book hours:
You can get extra credit for driving lessons with a professional instructor. For every hour of professional driving lessons you do, you’ll receive a bonus two hours credit. So a one-hour lesson counts for a total of three hours credit in your log book. This is capped at a total of 10 private lesson hours (30 log book hour credits).
Doing the Safer Drivers Course can get you extra credit too. Once you’ve completed 50 log book hours, you can choose to complete the Safer Drivers Course – this will give you 20 log book hour credits. This course has been designed for a learner to attend once, and therefore the 20 hours of bonus log book credit will only be deducted once.
What the Safer Drivers Course involves
The Safer Drivers Course involves two modules:
A three-hour group discussion with other L platers for you to learn how to manage risks on the road.
A two-hour in-vehicle coaching session with a coach and another learner so you can learn a range of practical safe driving behaviours.
You don’t have to do both of these sessions in one day, however it is recommended you complete both sessions within one month.
How to book a Safer Drivers Course
Simply view the Safer Drivers Course Providers list and contact the Provider directly.
Or you can call 13 2213 to find out where the closest Course Provider is.
Because the Course is being gradually rolled-out in NSW, Providers are not currently available in all areas. You’re encouraged to continue checking the Safer Drivers Course Providers list to find out when a Course is available in your area, however you can choose to do a course in any location.
The Course costs $140 and can be paid directly to the Course Provider, not Roads and Maritime Services.
On the day
All Course materials will be supplied at the Course and the vehicle will be supplied for the in-vehicle coaching session. Just make sure that you turn up with your licence and your log book!
Safer Drivers Course Video
Check out other learner drivers who have attended the Safer Driver Course, and how it has had a positive influence on their learning to drive experience by watching the Centre for Road Safety’s Safer Driver Course video.
Free course for disadvantaged learner drivers
The NSW Government is offering 1000 free places on the Safer Drivers Course each year to help young learner drivers from disadvantaged backgrounds and Aboriginal communities. The fee exemption allows those who are financially disadvantaged to benefit from the road safety outcomes of the Safer Drivers Course.
To be eligible for a free place you need to:
Hold a valid learner licence
Be aged under 25 years
Have completed a minimum of 50 log book hours
Hold a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Human Services – Centrelink.
To apply for a free place you need to contact a course provider to enrol in a course and complete the Safer Drivers Course Concession Application form. You will also need to provide a copy of your Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card to your course provider.
Visit the Roads and Maritime website to find a Safer Drivers Course provider and speak to them about the free places.
NSW Police can test drivers for drugs anytime or anywhere, there’s no escaping it.
Serious safety problem
Safe driving requires good judgement and sharp concentration. You also need to react quickly to changing situations on the road. Drug driving puts everyone on the road at risk. Our research shows that the presence of illegal drugs is involved in the same number of fatal crashes as drink driving.
Mobile Drug Testing (MDT) operates alongside RBT for alcohol and police also have the power to test drivers they believe may be under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs. MDT is increasing, with police conducting up to 200,000 roadside drug tests in NSW by the year 2020.
Our MDT campaign combined with enforcement is the best way to stop drivers who have used drugs from getting behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.
When you are stopped
MDT detects drivers who have recently used four common illegal drugs: ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine (including speed and ice). MDT can be conducted at roadside operations along with RBT, or by NSW Police in vehicles patrolling our roads.
As with RBT, you will be stopped by police, asked for your licence, and complete a breath test for alcohol. You will then be asked to wipe an MDT test stick down your tongue to check if you have illegal drugs in your system. The results take a few minutes to appear and you must wait until police say you are in the clear. Most drivers test negative and are soon on the road again.
If your MDT test is positive, you’ll be taken to a roadside testing van or bus, or back to a police station to provide a saliva sample. This sample will also be tested and if positive, you’ll be banned from driving for 24 hours. All samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the laboratory confirms the positive roadside result, police will contact you and charge you with driving with the presence of an illegal drug.
If you are stopped for MDT or other reasons at the roadside, your behaviour or driving is erratic and police suspect you are under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs, they can also require you to undergo blood and urine testing. The tests cover a large range of legal and illegal substances that can impair drivers and can lead to a charge of driving under the influence (DUI), which has serious penalties.
All drivers involved in fatal crashes undergo blood and urine testing for drugs and alcohol.
Consequences
Drivers caught with drugs in their system will face court, could lose their licence, be fined and end up with a criminal record. For a presence offence detected through an MDT, the court may impose a fine of up to $1,100 and an automatic six month licence disqualification.
Drivers proven to be driving under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs face fines of up to $3,300 and automatic three-year licence disqualification for a first offence. These offenders can also be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison. Higher penalties apply for second and subsequent offenders.
Don’t make a foolish decision
Illegal drugs can be detected in your saliva by an MDT for a significant time after drug use, even if you feel you are OK to drive. The length of time that illegal drugs can be detected by MDT depends on the amount taken, frequency of use of the drug, and other factors that vary between individuals. Cannabis can typically be detected in saliva by an MDT test stick for up to 12 hours after use. Stimulants can typically be detected for one to two days.
If you think that you may have illegal drugs in your system, the best decision is not to drive.
Protecting the community
From 2010 to 2016, 403 people died on our roads in crashes involving motorists with at least one of three illicit drugs – cannabis, methamphetamine (including speed and ice) or ecstasy – in their system.
Taking illegal drugs before driving puts you at greater risk of injuring or killing yourself, your friends or other innocent people. NSW Police are doing their job to keep you, your family and everyone else on our roads safe by carrying out MDT operations
COPING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
There are no magic formulas or techniques for predicting when
unexpected hazards will pop up when driving. Suggesting that you expect
the unexpected when driving is easy to say, but harder to do.
Applying the following skills can help you reduce the risk of something
unexpected causing problems for you or other road users:
• Scan well ahead of your car – keep your eyes moving to the front, left
and right.
• Look for indicators on other vehicles.
• Observe the head and eye movements of other drivers (eg where are
they looking? At you or at something else).
• Look for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists that may be hidden
by other vehicles or objects – check your blindspots.
• Give yourself plenty of time to detect and cope with hazards and
space to take some action to avoid a crash.
• Be cautious in situations that are new or different (eg roadworks,
crash scenes).
• Make your vehicle easier to see – if it is dull, overcast or raining turn
on your headlights, even during the day.
• Slowing down is a good precaution as it gives you both time and
space to cope with a hazard. KEY POINTS SUMMARY: EXPECTANCIES AND THE UNEXPECTED
• Drivers often rely on expectancies when they drive.
• Other drivers will make mistakes and do things that you don’t expect.
• To cope with the unexpected, use a scanning routine and keep a safe
distance from other road users.
• Give yourself plenty of time and space to cope.
• Make your vehicle easier to see – drive with your headlights on
Most crashes involving alcohol happen in what the experts call ‘high
alcohol hours’ – mostly weeknights (particularly Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights) and weekends.
During these hours about 57 per cent of fatal crashes are alcohol-related.
Outside of these hours (known as ‘low alcohol hours’) only 16 per cent of
fatal crashes are alcohol-related. So, it is more dangerous to drive on Friday
and Saturday nights as other drivers are more likely to be affected by alcohol.
It is worth noting that drivers with alcohol in their blood are not only more
likely to crash, but more likely to die if severely injured in a crash. Alcohol
has an adverse effect on your body when it is trying to cope with injuries
and associated problems such as blood loss. The emergency medical
treatment of injured drivers affected by alcohol is also much harder than
treating injured drivers with no alcohol in their system. Avoiding driving
when you have been drinking not only reduces your risk of crashing but
also reduces your chance of dying if you are seriously injured. So staying
with a zero BAC when driving gives you an edge. It is the safest BAC for
driving regardless of your licence type.
KEY POINTS SUMMARY: ALCOHOL AND DRIVING
• Alcohol is a contributing factor in about 20 per cent of fatal crashes
and five per cent of those causing injury.
• More than half the drivers killed have a BAC of 0.15 or more – three
times the legal limit of 0.05 for full licence holders.
• Staying below 0.05 is hard as not everyone takes the same number
of alcoholic drinks to reach this limit.
• Women and people of both sexes who don’t weigh a lot get to higher
BACs faster.
• Men are more likely to drink and drive and more likely to be involved
in alcohol-related crashes.
• Alcohol reduces your ability to concentrate and to look for and
respond to hazards when driving.
• Alcohol slows your reflexes when you need to take action such as
braking.
• Alcohol increases the risk of a crash. Even at a 0.05, crash risk is
about twice what it is at zero.
• The safest BAC for driving is zero.
• About 57 per cent of fatal crashes in ‘high alcohol hours’ are alcoholrelated.
• High intake of alcohol occurs mostly weeknights (particularly
Thursday and Friday nights) and weekends.
• Drivers with alcohol in their blood are not only more likely to crash,
but more likely to die if severely injured in a crash.
• Staying with a zero BAC when driving gives you an edge. It is the safest
BAC for driving regardless of your licence type.
Roundabouts
Many intersections have a central roundabout. Roundabouts manage
the traffic flow in roads with either a single lane or multiple lanes.
Do not drive on the central island of a roundabout unless the size
of your vehicle means that you cannot avoid the wheels crossing
the central kerb.
Making turns and giving way at roundabouts
Approaching a roundabout: Vehicles entering a roundabout must give
way to any vehicle already in the roundabout. Giving way at a roundabout: means the driver must slow down and if
necessary, stop to avoid a collision. Turning left: On your approach to a roundabout you must select the left
lane, signal left, stay in the left lane to exit. Going straight ahead: Do not signal when approaching the roundabout
but always signal left before exiting a roundabout.
You may approach the roundabout from either left or right lanes (unless
there are road markings with other instructions), drive in the same lane
through the roundabout and exit in the same lane. Turning right: On your approach, to a roundabout you must select the
right lane, signal right, stay in the right lane and signal left before exiting
into the right lane. Making a U-turn: When you use the roundabout to make a U-turn on
your approach signal right from the right lane, stay in the right lane, but
signal left before exiting into the right lane. Exiting a roundabout: If practical, you must always signal left when exiting a roundabout.
Roundabouts: Risks to watch for
• Take extra care whenever you drive in a roundabout.
• Keep an eye out for cars that are leaving the roundabout.
• Be careful if changing lanes in a roundabout, particularly
when leaving.
• Look out for vehicles that are making a full turn.
• Watch for bicycles, long vehicles and motorcycles.
The approach to a motorway is usually from a road on the left. Watch for a gap then increase your speed to safely merge with the traffic.
Driving on the motorway
Once on the motorway, stay in the left lane unless overtaking.
If there are three lanes and the left lane has many vehicles travelling at a slower speed than you, stay in the middle lane. After you have passed them, you should return to the left lane. The right lane is generally reserved for overtaking so move out of it as soon as it is safe to do so.
When driving on a motorway you must:
Not stop except in an emergency (if you have to stop, move to the emergency lane, breakdown lane or shoulder)
Not make a U-turn or reverse.
If you miss your exit, continue travelling on the motorway until you reach the next exit.
Leaving the motorway
Make sure you:
Move to the lane closest to the exit in plenty of time
Give a signal and reduce your speed
Check your speed to ensure you are not going too fast to make a safe exit.
Yellow (amber) means stop. You can enter the intersection if you are so close that sudden braking might cause a crash.
Green means proceed through the intersection carefully.
Turning arrows at traffic lights
Some traffic lights have arrows to control traffic turning right or left.
A green arrow means you can only turn in that direction.
A red arrow means traffic waiting to turn must wait behind the stop line until the arrow turns green or disappears, even if there is no traffic on the road.
You must not go straight ahead or turn left. You may turn right.
You must not turn right but you can go straight ahead or turn left if the way is clear.
When the yellow (amber) arrow is flashing, you may proceed but you must give way to any pedestrian who is crossing the road into which you are turning.
Signs at traffic lights
A STOP sign with three black dots is only seen at traffic lights. It means that if the lights are not working or are flashing yellow and you are approaching this sign, you must stop and give way to traffic as though you are at an intersection with stop signs.
This sign allows you to turn left on a red light after stopping. When turning left you must give way to all traffic approaching from the right.
Left turn on red light is only permitted at intersections where the sign has been placed.
B signals
B signals separate buses and other vehicles at some intersections with traffic lights for a safer, smoother traffic flow. To ensure B signals work properly never drive in the lanes marked buses only.
B signals are attached to the usual traffic lights. They show a white B on a black background (some traffic lights have a red, yellow and white B signal attached to them). Shortly before the usual traffic signals change to green, the B signal lights up white. All other vehicles stay while the buses may go. Buses may proceed in any direction unless signs or markings indicate otherwise. When the lights turn green other vehicles may move off.
White B means buses only go
The red and yellow B signals (or the usual red and yellow traffic lights) tell bus drivers when to stop at the intersection.
Left image: Red only means all vehicles stop. Right image: Green only means all vehicles go.
Red B means buses stay. Green means other vehicles go.
Bicycle riders
Where the traffic at an intersection is controlled by traffic lights, cyclists may have signals that show them when to cross. Cyclists must follow these red, yellow or green bicycle symbols and proceed with care
T signals
T signals are special signals for light rail vehicles. These traffic lights display the letter T. Red or yellow T signals tell the drivers of light rail vehicles when to stop or prepare to stop. A white T signal means that the driver of a light rail vehicle can go.
Red light speed cameras
Red light cameras are used to photograph vehicles that go through a red light.
A penalty notice is then sent to the owner of the vehicle, who has the option to:
Pay the fine.
Advise Revenue NSW on a statutory declaration the name and address of the person driving at the time of the offence.
Advise Revenue NSW you want to have the case heard by a court.
If you are crossing the intersection as the light turns yellow (amber) and it is not safe to stop, do not panic. Continue driving through the intersection. The camera only takes a photograph if you cross over the stop line 0.3 seconds after the light has turned red.
Traffic already in the intersection or entering on a yellow (amber) light will not activate the red light camera.
Red light speed cameras use digital technology that is capable of detecting both red-light and speeding offences.
Pedestrian signals
When making a turn at an intersection you must give way to pedestrians on the road into which you are turning.
Where the traffic at the intersection is controlled by traffic lights, there may be signals for pedestrians that show them when to cross.
Pedestrians must follow these signals.
Left image: Pedestrians must not start to cross. Right image: Pedestrians must not start to cross but may finish crossing.
Left image: Pedestrians may start to cross. Right image: Pedestrians may walk in any direction when the green walk signal is accompanied by this sign.
Following another vehicle
To calculate a three-second crash avoidance space when following
another vehicle use this basic technique. As the rear of the vehicle in
front of you passes an object at the side of the road such as a power
pole, tree or sign, start a three-second count ‘one thousand and one,
one thousand and two, one thousand and three’.
If your car passes the object you picked before you finish the threesecond
count, you are following too closely. Your crash avoidance space
is not large enough. Slow down, and repeat the count again until the
three-second crash avoidance space is achieved.
In poor driving conditions, such as rain, night and gravel roads, it may
be necessary to increase your crash avoidance space to four or more
seconds.
To reduce the risk of driving into the rear of a vehicle, the threesecond
crash avoidance space is essential, as the vehicle in front has
the potential to stop very quickly if it collides with another vehicle or
stationary object.
The key to good driving technique is smoothness, and the secret to smoothness is good preparation.
Driving posture
When you first get a car take the time to adjust the seat and controls to suit your height and build. Correct driving posture reduces fatigue, improves your control and allows the safety features of the vehicle to operate effectively.
Seatbelts
For seatbelts to work effectively they should be adjusted ‘low, flat and firm’.
Low – placed below your hips to fully secure your body weight
Flat – no twists, turns or folds
Firm – about every 15 minutes when you drive pull the belt firm to remove any slack.
Airbags
Airbags are a supplementary restraining system (SRS) designed to be used in conjunction with seatbelts. To get the most benefit from the driver’s airbag the steering wheel should be adjusted low, facing the driver’s chest rather than the face.
Braking technique
Correct braking is done in two stages, first put light pressure on the brake pedal and pause (set up the brakes), then progressively apply the necessary braking pressure (squeeze).
Two-stage braking (set up and squeeze) improves braking effectiveness, reduces the likelihood of skidding and provides better control.
Harsh or excessive braking pressure may cause skidding and a loss of control, particularly on wet or gravel roads.
Steering technique
There are two main steering techniques, ‘push/pull’ and ‘hand over hand’. Regardless of which method is used some general rules apply:
Steering must be smooth and progressive
Reduce speed before steering and wait until the vehicle begins to straighten before accelerating
When steering keep both hands on the outside of the steering wheel and
thumbs along the rim.
Electronic driver assist systems
Antilock braking system (ABS)
Antilock braking systems control braking force to prevent the tyres from skidding under heavy braking or when braking in slippery conditions. Some ABS systems cause the brake pedal to pulse or shudder when activated and although this may feel disconcerting, braking effort must be maintained if the situation requires a quick stop.
Traction control systems (TCS)
Traction control systems stop the driving wheels spinning by reducing engine power or temporarily applying the brakes. This allows the car to accelerate smoothly, even on slippery surfaces.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control detects if a vehicle is not responding correctly to driver steering input. The system selectively applies the brakes to individual wheels or changing engine power, ESC helps the driver to maintain their intended direction.
Emergency brake assist (EBA)
Emergency brake assist detects an emergency brake application. It provides emergency braking assistance and automatically increases the force being applied to the brakes to minimise the stopping distance. It is also known as “Brake Assist System” (BAS).
If you’re moving to NSW from another part of Australia or another country, you’ll need to get a NSW driver or rider licence. You can use your existing licence for up to three months, but after that you must have a NSW licence.
Interstate drivers and riders
If you move to NSW from any Australian state or territory and hold a current licence you can be issued a NSW equivalent licence. NSW will match the expiry date of your licence for no fee up to a maximum of ten years.
The 10-year driver licence option is restricted to the 21 to 44 year age group to minimise the risks of misidentification due to facial changes in young adults under 21. Additionally, the 21 to 44 year age group is currently not required to undertake an eyesight test every five years (see Eyesight tests for more information).
If you have an expired licence of no more than five years, you can be issued a NSW equivalent, fees may apply. If your licence has expired more than five years, licence tests are required and fees may apply.
You need to meet age requirements to be issued with a NSW licence. You must be at least 16 years for a learner driver licence, 16 years and 9 months for a learner rider licence and 17 years for a provisional driver or rider licence.
Your licence will be converted in line with the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme. You will need to meet the requirements to progress through each stage.
NSW equivalents for interstate driver and rider licences
Interstate licence
NSW equivalent and requirements
Driver, current learner
Learner driver licence.You may be eligible to take a Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and driving test without being issued a NSW learner licence – call us on 13 22 13 or visit a service centre or registry to discuss your personal situation.
Driver, held for less than 12 months
Provisional P1 driver licence.
Driver, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years
Provisional P2 driver licence.
Driver, held for more than 3 years
Unrestricted driver licence.
Rider, current learner
Learner rider licence.You do not have to attend a pre-learner rider course.
You may be eligible to take a riding test without being issued a NSW learner rider licence – call us on 13 22 13 or visit a service centre or registry to discuss your personal situation.
Expired learner riders are required to pass pre-learner rider training and a rider knowledge test.
Rider, held for less than 12 months
Provisional P1 rider licence.
Rider, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years
Provisional P2 rider licence.
Rider, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years and you are 25 or older with a current Australian unrestricted driver licence
Unrestricted rider licence. Riders aged 25 and older meeting these requirements are exempt from the P2 rider licence stage.
Rider, held for more than 3 years
Unrestricted rider licence.
First issue date
We use the first issue date of your interstate licence to work out an equivalent NSW licence. If your interstate licence does not show this date, you may wish to obtain a letter from the interstate licence issuing authority (on their letterhead), confirming your licence details.
Service centres and registries can obtain this information for you, however it can take several days to receive this information from the interstate authority.
What you need to do
To convert your interstate licence, you need to attend a service centre or registry in person, and:
If your interstate licence is expired, you will also need to pay the relevant licence fee.
Your NSW licence card will be posted to you and you’ll receive a temporary paper licence to drive or ride with until your new card arrives.
As you cannot hold more than one Australian licence at a time, we will invalidate your interstate licence, and provide you with a receipt for it. We will also notify the issuing state or territory to cancel the licence in their system.
International drivers and riders
If you’re a permanent Australian resident, or hold a permanent visa under the Commonwealth Migration Act 1958, and you intend to stay in NSW, you are not considered to be a visitor. You can drive in NSW on a current overseas licence for a maximum of three months. Then you will need to apply for a NSW licence to continue driving or riding.
If you do not hold permanent Australian residency, but will be in NSW for more than 3 months, you can apply for a Temporary Overseas Visitor licence.
New Zealand licence holders, regardless of whether you are a permanent or temporary resident, must obtain a NSW licence within three months of living in NSW or stop driving.
You need to meet age requirements to be issued with a NSW licence. You must be at least 16 years for a learner driver licence, 16 years and 9 months for a learner rider licence and 17 years for a provisional driver or rider licence.
Your overseas licence will be taken into account when you apply for a NSW licence and you may be required to pass medical and driving tests. Licences issued in line with the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme will need to progress through each stage as required.
Important:
Roads and Maritime reserves the right to require applicants undertake a knowledge test or driving/riding test and may not issue a NSW licence unless we are satisfied an overseas licence is valid.
NSW equivalents for overseas driver and rider licences
Overseas licence
NSW equivalent
Driver, current learner
Learner driver licence.You may be eligible to take a Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and driving test without being issued a NSW learner licence – call us on 13 22 13 or visit aservice centre or registry to discuss your personal situation. A knowledge test may also be required.
Driver, held for less than 12 months
Provisional P1 driver licence.A knowledge test and driving test may be required – call us on 13 22 13 or visit a service centre or registry to discuss your personal situation.
Driver, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years
Provisional P2 driver licence.A knowledge test and driving test may be required – call us on 13 22 13 or visit a service centre or registry to discuss your personal situation.
Driver, held for more than 3 years
Unrestricted driver licence.A knowledge test and driving test may be required – call us on 13 22 13 or visit a service centre or registry to discuss your personal situation.
Rider, current learner
Learner rider licence.You may be required to pass a rider knowledge test, but are exempt from attending the pre-learner rider training course to be issued a NSW learner rider licence.
Expired learner riders are required to pass pre-learner rider training and a rider knowledge test.
Rider, held for less than 12 months.
Provisional P1 rider licence.You may be required to pass a rider knowledge test and successfully complete the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (if you live in a declared area) or a Rider Test (if you live outside a declared area). If you fail your test, you can apply for a NSW rider learner licence, but are exempt from attending the pre-learner or pre-provisional rider training course.
Rider, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years
Provisional P2 rider licence or Unrestricted rider licence.You may be required to pass a rider knowledge test and successfully complete the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (if you live in a declared area) or a Rider Test (if you live outside a declared area). If you fail your test, you can apply for a NSW rider learner licence, but are exempt from attending the pre-learner or pre-provisional rider training course.
Rider, held for more than 12 months but less than 3 years andyou are 25 or older with a current Australian unrestricted driver licence
Unrestricted rider licence.Riders aged 25 and older meeting these requirements are exempt from the P2 rider licence stage.
You may be required to pass a rider knowledge test and successfully complete the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (if you live in a declared area) or a Rider Test (if you live outside a declared area). If you fail your test, you can apply for a NSW rider learner licence, but are exempt from attending the pre-learner or pre-provisional rider training course.
Rider, held for more than 3 years
Unrestricted rider licence.You may be required to pass a rider knowledge test and successfully complete the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test (if you live in a declared area) or a Rider Test (if you live outside a declared area). If you fail your test, you can apply for a NSW rider learner licence, but are exempt from attending the pre-learner or pre-provisional rider training course.
First issue date
We use the first issue date of your overseas licence to work out the equivalent NSW licence. When your overseas licence does not show an issue date, check with a customer service representative to determine if you will need a letter from the licence issuing authority (on their letterhead), or a relevant consulate or diplomatic office, (based on information received from the overseas licence issuing authority) confirming your licence details. If the letter is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation
What you need to do
To apply for a NSW licence, you must attend a service centre or registry in person and:
Bring your overseas licence with you
Note: In some circumstances or if you can’t provide your overseas licence, you may be requested to provide confirmation of your overseas licence details and status. A letter from the licence issuing authority (on their letterhead) or a relevant consulate or diplomatic office, (based on information received from the overseas licence issuing authority) confirming your licence details may be accepted. If the letter is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation. You will be advised by a customer service representative if further confirmation of your overseas licence is required.
Your NSW licence card will be posted to you and you’ll receive a temporary paper licence to drive or ride with until your new card arrives.
As you cannot, by law, hold more than one licence at a time in Australia, the details of your overseas licence will be recorded in our system. When you’ve been issued with a NSW licence, including a learner licence, it becomes the licence of authority for you to drive or ride on NSW roads. Your overseas licence is no longer recognised and has no authority while you hold a NSW licence.
When driving or riding in NSW, you must comply with all the conditions, restrictions or limitations applied to your NSW licence. If the Police ask you to produce your licence in relation to a driving matter, you must provide your NSW licence.
If you fail a driving or riding test, your visiting driving/riding privileges will be withdrawn. If you want to continue driving/riding in NSW, you will need to apply for a learner driver licence or learner rider licence and comply with all of the conditions that apply to learners in NSW.
You can re-attempt the driving test provided at least a week has passed since the last driving test. If you held an overseas learner rider licence and failed the riding test, you must obtain a NSW learner rider licence and complete the pre-learner and pre-provisional courses before you can attempt another riding test.
Proof of permanent residency
Roads and Maritime Services accept the following documents as proof of Australian permanent residency:
Australian full Birth Certificate showing parental details. Commemorative certificates are not acceptable (except for 1987 and 1988 NSW Historic Birth Certificates). See the Births, Deaths and Marriages website for information
Australian passport
Certificate of Australian Citizenship
Australian Naturalisation Document
Certificate of Aboriginality
Permanent Resident Evidence (PRE) ImmiCard – Issued before 1 July 2017
Evidence of Immigration Status (EIS) ImmiCard (permanent residency status only)
Current ID document from Australian Passport Office
Current Australian Defence Force photo ID
Overseas passport or travel document which includes a valid Australian permanent residency visa
Note: Roads and Maritime may verify your permanent residency status online with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. We may also use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Service to verify permanent residency.
Documents not written in English
If your overseas licence or confirmation letter is not written in English, you must provide an official translation.
Translations are only acceptable if they are from:
Multicultural NSW (previously Community Relations Commission of NSW) Visit the MNSW website for more information
The Free Translating Service provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The free translation service is only available to eligible people. Visit the DSS website for more information.
For South Korean (Republic of Korea) licences only, we accept translations from the Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea, as the Consulate verifies the licence details with the relevant South Korean (Republic of Korea) issuing authority
For China’s Taiwan Province (Taiwan) licences only, we accept translations from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Sydney, as TECO verifies the licence details with the relevant issuing authority.
Translations obtained through any other means are not acceptable.
Exemptions from knowledge and driving tests
You may be exempt from knowledge and/or driving tests if:
You have held an Australian driver licence expired within the last five years, and this can be verified with the issuing authority
You hold a current New Zealand licence (not a learner or paper licence)
You hold a current foreign driver licence (not a learner), or one expired within the last five years, issued by a recognised foreign licensing authority.
Recognised foreign driver licences
Roads and Maritime Services recognises car and rider licences issued by certain foreign licensing authorities. There are two categories of recognised foreign licensing authorities – A and B.
If you are applying for a heavy vehicle licence (classes LR, MR, HR, HC or MC) you must pass the relevant knowledge and driving tests, even if you hold an equivalent class licence from a recognised foreign licensing authority.
Recognised Foreign Licensing Authority A: If you hold a licence issued by a licensing authority in one these places, you do not have to pass knowledge and driving tests when applying for a NSW car (class C) or rider (class R) licence:
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada (any State)
Croatia
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guernsey
Ireland
Isle of Man (licences issued since 1 April 1991)
Italy
Japan
Jersey
Luxembourg
Malta (licences issued or renewed since 2 January 2004)
Netherlands
New Zealand, (except for paper licences)
Norway
Portugal
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America (any State).
Recognised Foreign Licensing Authority B: If you hold a licence issued by a licensing authority in one of these places and are 25 years or older, you do not have to pass knowledge and driving tests when applying for a car (class C) or rider (class R) NSW licence:
Bulgaria
Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hong Kong (Important: Hong Kong licence holders must have held a Hong Kong licence for a minimum period of 12 months)
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Taiwan
If you hold a licence issued by a licensing authority on List B and are under 25, you must pass the relevant knowledge and driving tests.
Non-recognised licensing authorities: If you hold a licence issued by any other licensing authority, you will need to pass knowledge and driving tests when applying for an equivalent NSW licence.
Important: In some cases, the recognised licensing authority exemption may not apply, for example:
If you hold a licence from an external territory of a place on List A or List B, you must pass knowledge and driving/riding tests
If you failed a NSW knowledge test before 17 January 2005, you must re-sit and pass the relevant knowledge test
If you failed a driving or riding test before 20 May 2002, you must re-take and pass the relevant driving or riding test
If you hold a licence issued by a licensing authority on List B, and you failed a knowledge test and/or driving test before 18 February 2013 you must re-take and pass the relevant test
If a Hong Kong licence has been issued for less than 12 months.
If you do hold a licence issued by a recognised licensing authority and are exempt from licensing tests, you should read the Road Users Handbook and/or the Motorcycle Riders’ Handbook to learn the current road rules in NSW.
Information in other languages
If you’d like to talk to us in your own language, the Translating and Interpreting Service is available at service centres and registries. Ask at the counter.
When driving on a motorway you must:
Red means stop. Wait behind the stop line.
Yellow (amber) means stop. You can enter the intersection if you are so close that sudden braking might cause a crash.
Green means proceed through the intersection carefully.
You must not go straight ahead or turn left. You may turn right.
You must not turn right but you can go straight ahead or turn left if the way is clear.
When the yellow (amber) arrow is flashing, you may proceed but you must give way to any pedestrian who is crossing the road into which you are turning.
A STOP sign with three black dots is only seen at traffic lights. It means that if the lights are not working or are flashing yellow and you are approaching this sign, you must stop and give way to traffic as though you are at an intersection with stop signs.
This sign allows you to turn left on a red light after stopping. When turning left you must give way to all traffic approaching from the right.
