Penalties and special provisions

• Penalties
• Special provisions

Penalties

What happens if I don't renew my licence on or before the expiry date?

A driver licence is no longer valid when its expiry date has passed.

If you continue to drive and your licence has expired, you risk:

• an infringement fine of $400 for driving on an expired licence
• being fined up to $1,000 if summonsed to court (this would probably follow persistent offending)
• not being able to get car insurance
• having an insurance claim declined.

In addition, if the Police catch you driving without a valid licence, you may be forbidden to drive until you obtain a valid licence. If you're then caught driving without a valid licence again, the vehicle you're driving may be seized at the roadside and impounded for 28 days. To find out more, read Factsheet 63 Impoundment of your vehicle at the roadside.

If a driver licence isn't renewed within five years of its expiry date, the licence holder is likely to have to re-sit theory and practical tests to get a new licence.

If a person who holds multiple classes of licence lets the licence expire and does not renew it within five years, they must re-sit the theory and practical tests for their highest class of licence, if they wish to regain all their licence classes. For example, the holder of a Class 5 licence that has been expired for more than five years will not have to resit the tests for classes 1 to 4 - just the theory and practical tests for Class 5. (Additional tests will be required if a Class 6 licence is held, or if any endorsements are held.

Special provisions

What happens if I can't renew my licence?

Special provisions have been made for drivers who are overseas, in prison or hospitalised, and are unable to renew their licences.

If you're overseas, in prison or in hospital when your licence expires and are still there five years (or more) later, you will not have to re-sit the tests if you renew your licence within 90 days of your return, release or discharge. However, it is important to remember that your driver licence will have expired and that you will be unable to drive on your expired licence. You will need to sign a statement and submit this with your application to a licensing agent.

If you're about to leave for overseas, you may be able to renew early and get a new licence before you leave the country. The licence will generally be valid for 10 years from the date of renewal.

Last updated: 4 December 2006