Visiting/moving from interstate

If you are visiting Western Australia from another Australian state or territory, you may use your existing driver's licence or learner's permit for the period you are visiting WA or until the licence or permit expires (whichever comes first).

Visiting drivers include:

• People on business trips.
• People on working holidays.
• People working temporarily in WA.
• Students studying in WA.
• Tourists.

To be able to drive on WA roads with your driver's licence from your home state, you must:

• Always carry your licence with you while driving and show it to a police officer if asked to do so.
• Comply with any other conditions of your licence.
• Drive only those vehicles that you are authorised to drive.
• Hold a current licence that is not suspended or cancelled (you cannot drive on your interstate licence if you are disqualified from driving or your driving privileges are withdrawn).

If you are in WA to live here permanently, or intend to take up permanent residence, you are no longer considered to be a visitor. You must apply for a WA driver's licence within 3 months of becoming a WA resident or replace your interstate learner’s permit with a WA learner's permit.

Note: Spouses, dependants and eligible family members of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are authorised to drive in Western Australia (WA) on their existing interstate driver's licences, provided their interstate driver's licence remains valid and their authority to drive has not been revoked.

Interstate learner drivers

If you are visiting WA and hold a current interstate learner's permit, then you may drive (under supervision) in WA as outlined in Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008.

Interstate learner drivers must comply with WA road rules and WA learner permit restrictions even if these restrictions do not apply in their home state. Failure to comply with any of the WA learner driver restrictions is an offence and penalties apply.

Note: If you are a provisional licence holder ('P' plater) familiarise yourself with the rules for novice drivers (includes 'L' and 'P' platers).

Another Australian jurisdiction

• All classes converted

External territory (Cocos, Norfolk and Christmas Islands)

• All classes except Norfolk Island (C class only) converted
• MC class transfers will only be accepted where: The licence holder can provide proof that the appropriate mainland training course has been completed; or The MC class had been transferred from another mainland licensing jurisdiction.

Defence forces

• All classes converted

Spouses, dependants and eligible family members of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are authorised to drive in Western Australia (WA) on their existing interstate driver's licences, provided their interstate driver's licence remains valid and their authority to drive has not been revoked.

• ADF personnel, their spouses, dependants and other eligible family members will not be required to apply for a WA driver's licence should they reside in WA for a period exceeding three months.
• ADF personnel, their spouses, dependants and other eligible family members must carry a valid Department of Defence driver identification document, and their current interstate driver's licence when driving in WA.

A Department of Defence driver identification document must be in the form of either a:

• Current ADF Identity Card;
• National Defence Families Access Card; or
• Form AB 135 issued by the Department of Defence.

No other identity cards are acceptable.

If you hold a licence from another Australian state or territory, and are now residing in WA, you can use your licence from your home state for up to 3 months. After that you will need to transfer your licence to a WA licence.

Note: You will be able to convert all vehicle classes on your licence to your WA licence, except for licences issued by Norfolk Island.

If you hold a provisional driver’s licence issued in another Australian state or territory, you can have the time you have held an active driver’s licence credited towards WA’s provisional period when applying for the grant of a WA driver’s licence (C or R class only).

A WA provisional period is a total of 730 days, or time until 19 years of age, whichever is the greater. If your licence has been inactive for any period of time (due to late renewal, fines suspensions, or any other disqualification), this time will not count towards your provisional period.