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Moving to South Australia? Confused about the driver license process? Click below and find out what you need to know, leave a comment or share your experience so others can learn from you and your journey.

Everything You Need To Know

ServiceSA
Transport, Travel and Motoring
131 084


If you are living in South Australia, you will need to switch over your New Zealand driver’s licence to a South Australian driver’s licence. You can drive using your overseas driver’s licence for the first 3 months, after which, you need to apply for a South Australian driver’s licence. If you do not apply and obtain a South Australian driver’s licence within three months, you must stop driving until you have a South Australian driver’s licence.

The South Australian ServiceSA Transport, Travel and Motoring department will take any New Zealand licence you currently hold into account when issuing you an Australian driver’s licence.

The Difference Between Learners & Restricted Licenses

If you hold a current learner’s licence from New Zealand, these are unfortunately not able to be transferred directly into a South Australian learner’s permit.  You will need to apply for South Australian learner’s permit once you are in South Australia.

If you have held a restricted New Zealand driver’s licence, you will be issued a provisional “P1” or “P2” driver’s licence. A “P1” (or “red Ps”) and “P2” (or “green Ps”) provisional licence carries certain restrictions.

While on your P1 licence, you must obey the following rules:

  • You must display red P-plates (red “P”, white background);
  • Do not exceed a zero blood alcohol concentration (cannot drink at all while driving), as well as zero cannabis, speed or MDMA in your blood or saliva;
  • You cannot exceed a speed of 100km/h;
  • No use of mobile phones (including hands-free or loudspeaker);
  • If you are under the age of 25, you:
    • Cannot carry more than one passenger between the ages of 16 and 20;
    • Cannot drive between midnight and 5am;
    • Without a qualified supervising driver sitting next to you in the car; and
    • You cannot drive a high-powered vehicle.

A “P2” licence carries the following restrictions:

  • You must display green P-plates (green “P”, white background);
  • Do not exceed a zero blood alcohol concentration (cannot drink at all while driving), as well as zero cannabis, speed or MDMA in your blood or saliva;
  • You cannot exceed a speed of 100km/h; and
  • If you are under the age of 25, you cannot drive a high-powered vehicle.

If you have held a full New Zealand driver’s licence, you will be issued an unrestricted driver’s licence (full licence).

Transferring Your License From New Zealand

To transfer your full driver’s licence from New Zealand to a South Australian driver’s licence, you will need to do the following:

  • Go to a ServiceSA customer service centre;
  • Complete the Driver’s Licence Application form;
  • Bring your New Zealand driver’s licence with you (the Department staff will need to see it);
  • Bring your identity documents with you (see our section on 100 point checks), including documents which prove you are living in South Australia (these can be a rental agreement, a utility bill, etc);
  • Bring your medical certificate, certifying that you do not have any medical conditions that would make it dangerous for you to drive (you may be exempt from this);
  • Pass the required written or practical tests for your licence (you may be exempt from this); and
  • Pay the licensing fee (1 year of licensing is approximately $40).