Driving in Australia

Driving in Australia, Driver Licenses and Purchasing a Car

If you have a foreign driver’s license, you need to apply for an Australian license over three months after your arrival. Having done that, you will be able to obtain official permission to drive legally in Australia. If you have a temporary visa, you can use that to drive for 12 months.


Depending on the country which has given your current driver’s license, you may receive a driver’s license without having to pass another driving test. If your current driving license is invalid in Australia, you may have to take another driving test.

Do You Know?

An Australian driver’s license is among the most valid and established means to identify individuals’ visual identities in Australia. You can utilize your driver’s license to even open an account in the bank due to its high reliability.

Buy a New Car or a Used One?

Purchasing a new car or used one has its benefits and drawbacks. You can visit the websites, such as http://www.carsales.com.au/ to be informed about their prices.
If you are going to buy a new car, you will receive a warranty. So, in case of any problem or breakdowns, you will be covered for o certain period. Despite this, new cars inevitably face a dramatic fall in price over time (given the experience, you should expect that as soon as you take your new car out of the company, its price may drop by nearly 20%)
The chief benefit of buying used cars to new ones is that their prices are remarkably lower than new ones. However, it is notable that you will not have any idea about its technical specifications and previous damages. But, NRMA in Australia provides particular services for you, so that you can have your car thoroughly inspected at a reasonable expense.

Buying a New Car in Australia

Here are some questions you should ask:

  • How much do the road taxes cost?
  • What are the standard features?
  • What are the spare parts included?
  • Do you receive any special offers while purchasing?

Answering these questions may help you make a good deal. Moreover, compare other automobile companies in terms of price and free services they provide for their customers.

Buying Used Cars in Australia

Here are some questions you should ask:

  • Why are they going to sell the car?
  • How to check the car’s history?
  • How many people have owned the car?
  • What purposes has the car used for?
  • How many kilometres has the car been used?
  • Has the car been in an accident?

Tip. You should do a driving test with the car.

The Other Expenses You Should Consider Before Buying a Car in Australia.

Some extra expenses that you must pay for while buying a new car:

Stamp Duty: this is a percentage of the buying price that you have to pay the local state. It is also true of all your other purchases.

Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP):  this is an insurance that is made mandatory by the law and covers the entire expenses of other individuals’ deaths or injuries that you cause.