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Transferring an interstate licence

Driving on your interstate licence

You can drive in Tasmania on your interstate licence provided it is current, which means it isn't expired, cancelled, suspended or disqualified.

You can drive up to 3 months from the date you arrive in this State, after 3 months you will need to transfer your licence to a Tasmanian licence, see below.

NOTE: IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON AN INTERSTATE LICENCE AFTER 3 MONTHS YOU WILL BE UNLICENSED.

Transferring your interstate licence

If you are permanently residing in Tasmania you must transfer your interstate licence to a Tasmanian driver licence, this is after 3 months from the date you moved to this State.

You are able to transfer your interstate licence to a Tasmanian licence as long as you;

  • hold a current Australian driver licence or
  • have held such a licence within the last 5 years.

Tasmania mutually recognises all Australian:

  • driver licences
  • driver licence classes
  • driver licence conditions.

Moving interstate

If you are moving interstate or have moved interstate you will need to contact the appropriate Government Department in your new state of residence to find out how to transfer your Tasmanian licence.

If your licence is cancelled, suspended or disqualified you cannot be issued a Tasmanian driver licence.

Eligibility requirements

If you hold a full licence interstate you may not necessarily be issued with a full driver licence in Tasmania.  You must comply with the age and driving experience eligibility requirements.

Exemptions to the 3 month period

Interstate licence exemptions

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles may issue you an extension to the 3 month period. You need to make a written application for this extension to the Registration & Licensing Branch, (see contact us).

Australian Armed Forces exemptions

If you are a members of the Australian Armed Forces you are not required to transfer your interstate licence to a Tasmanian licence until your current licence is due to or has expired and you are now living in Tasmania.

Expired full (basic) interstate licence

If your interstate driver licence hasn't been expired for more than 5 years you are able to transfer it to a Tasmanian Licence, however driver licence fees will be required.

If your full (basic) interstate driver licence has been expired for more than 5 years you must apply for a learner licence.

Provisional licence holders

If you hold a provisional licence interstate the time you have held that licence will be recognised when calculating the minimum provisional period, see table below:

 

Age when Provisional licence is issued
 Minimum Provisional Period
Over 17 and under 22
 3 Years
Over 22 and under 24
 2 years or until 25 (which ever is longer)
Over 25
 2 Years

In Tasmania the provisional period is split into a P1 and P2 licence period.

P1

You must complete the minimum continuous 12 month P1 period regardless of age, before you can be issued with a P2 licence.

P2

The period in which you need to hold a P2 licence is depending on your age, see below.

Age when P2 licence is issued
 Minimum P2 Period
Over 18 and under 23
 2 Years
Over 23 and under 25
 12 months or until 25 (which ever is longer)
Over 25
 12 months
 

See Novice (you're a novice driver if you've never held a full car licence) for more information on Novice driver licence conditions.

Expired interstate car learner licences

If your interstate learners licence is expired you must pass the car driver knowledge test, prior to obtaining a Tasmanian car learner licence.

Novice car learner licence holders

Can I undertake the P1 driving assessment on my interstate car learner licence?

If you hold a current interstate (or New Zealand) car learner licence and have held that learner licence for a minimum continous period of 12 months you are able to undertake the P1 Practical Driving Assessment without transferring to a Tasmanian learner licence.  You are required to provide evidence that you have logged 50 hours of supervised driving.

Transferring you car learner licence

If you hold a current interstate car learner licence you will be issued with a Tasmanian learner licence free of charge.

In Tasmania the car learner licence is split into a L1 and L2 licence period.  The time you have been issued with an interstate licence will be used to determine which learner licence you will be issued with, see below.

 

Time you have held your learners licence

Learner licence that you will be issued with

Earliest date you can undertake either the L2 or P1 driving assessment


Less than 3 months
 L1
 The L2 earliest assessment date will be 3 months from the issue of your interstate licence
Greater than 3 months
 L2
 The P1 assessment date will be 12 months from the date of issue of your interstate licence or your 17th Birthday (which ever occurs last)

The normal novice learner conditions will apply, see Novice for more information.

Expired interstate car learner licences

If your interstate learners licence is expired you must pass the car driver knowledge test, prior to obtaining a Tasmanian car learner licence.

Novice motorcycle learner licence holders

Can I undertake the pre-provisional motorcycle course on my interstate motorcycle licence?

If you hold a current interstate motorcycle learner licence you can undertake the pre-provisional motorcycle training course to obtain a Tasmanian provisional motorcycle licence, you must:

  • be at least 17 years of age
  • have held your interstate motorcycle learner licence has been held for a continuous period of at least six months.

Transferring your motorcycle learner licence

If you hold a current interstate motorcycle learner licence you must apply for a Tasmanian motorcycle learner licence.  You must be at least 16 years and 6 months of age to be issued with a Tasmanian motorcycle learner licence, the date you will be able to undertake the (pre-provisional motorcycle training course) will be set at six months from the sate of issue of your interstate licence or your 17th Birthday (which ever occurs last).

Expired interstate motorcycle learner licences

If your interstate motorcycle learner licence has expired, the pre-learner motorcycle training course must be successfully completed and the motorcycle driver knowledge test must be passed, prior to obtaining a Tasmanian motorcycle learner licence. 

New Zealand licence holders

If you hold a New Zealand driver licence you can transfer to a Tasmanian driver licence without having to sit a written or practical driving assessment.

You must produce a current New Zealand drivers licence (which doean't need to be surrendered only sighted) and pay the driver licence fee.

Customer provides

You need to provide the following in person at Service Tasmania shops or designated police stations:

  • your existing Australian licence (or New Zealand) and evidence of current residential address
  • OR
  • Full Evidence of Identity
  • completed application form (Service Tasmania will provide this) 
  • provide a medical certificate if applicable
  • pay a fee (if applicable)
  • have your photograph taken and provide your signature.

Note:

If you are unable to provide your interstate drivers licence, a fax may be sent to the State where your licence was issued, a fee will be charged at the time the fax is sent.  You will need to complete a Statutory Declaration explaining why you are unable to surrender your interstate licence.

Customer receives

You will receive:

  • a receipt for fees paid (if any)
  • receipted temporary driver licence, which is valid for 21 days
  • a photo licence through the mail, which you should receive within 21 days from the date the Tasmanian licence was issued.