[grobert]

Hello!

My family are looking at the prospect of emigrating from the UK, and heading to Western Australia late this year/early next, by which time I will be 18 years old. Hugely enthusiastic about driving, one of my main thoughts in the process is how the move will affect my ability to drive.

Should we move, I will have held my UK driving license for around 14 months. Reading on the DoT website, it says that if you are not 25 and have not driven for at least 2 years, you must retake your practical and theory test, and if under 19, receive a provisional WA license rather than a full one.

My question is - would this be a stage 1 or stage 2 provisional license - red or green? Looking at the Novice Drivers page of the DoT website, it says that you must drive red provisionals for the first 6 months - but does this take into account my UK driving experience, or is it purely on my Australian driving experience?

Many thanks!

 

[grobert]

Oops, my bad! I reread some of the DoT documentation, and missed something right in front of me - easy to miss, mind...

Turns out that Recognised countries and Experienced Driver Recognised countries are very different things. If from a recognised (i.e the UK), it's a straight swap from any age of having that license. If from an experienced driver recognised country, and under 25, there are a number of extra things to adhere to (such as retaking tests etc).

Yippee! One less problem on the list ��

 

[Skybluebrewer]

"If you have not held your overseas driver's licence for more than 2 years, or you are under the age of 19 years of age, you are considered a Novice Driver. You will be issued with a provisional licence ('P' plates). Your new driver's licence will show when the provisional driving period ends."

Source: Transferring your overseas licence

 

[grobert]

Ah I see, another sub-section!

So I'll need P plates. 'Fab'... So I suppose that links back to the original question - would I start on 6-month red plates and then move to greens, or would it take into account that I'll have already been actually driving 14 months?

Many thanks

 

[Skybluebrewer]

If you click the link for Novice Driver, it explains it. I believe it is based on how long you will have held your licence for at time of applying.

 

[Skybluebrewer]

Based on what it says, I would think you'd have red plates for the first 6 months, then green until the provisional period ends. But then again I don't know. Why not just call or email them and ask?

 

[grobert]

Yeah I reckon that's how it'll pan out... but yes, that's I'm going to do - I'll call them tomorrow morning from the UK before they close. I'll report back here in case it end up being a useful resource for somebody.

Thank you!