“You don’t really drive anyway, so why not take the demerit points for me?”

The moment my senior said those words, my rose-tinted crush on him shattered, and whatever sobriety I had left took back the high ground of my common sense. I declined as politely but firmly as I could: “Sorry, we’re not that close, and what you’re asking is illegal.”

Keep in mind that an RMIT professor once almost went to prison for four years after asking a student to take three demerit points on his wife’s behalf.

Turns out, in my senior’s eyes, I was nothing more than a convenient scapegoat. So I didn’t hold back, and gave him a solid lesson on the law along the way.

Australia has a thriving international-student and tourism industry, so there are always plenty of temporary-visa holders who need to drive — a self-drive trip along the Great Ocean Road, for instance, is one of the iconic Australian experiences.

Each state has its own rules about overseas licences for temporary-visa holders. In most states, if you’re staying three months or less on a temporary basis, you can drive on your home-country licence; if the licence isn’t in English, it must be accompanied by an officially recognised translation.

But whether you’re driving on an Australian licence or on a translated overseas licence, you still have to comply with the local road rules. Don’t assume that a temporary visa plus an international licence lets you do as you please.

Below is a state-by-state rundown for future reference — or to pass on to the person you’re secretly crushing on.

New South Wales

Temporary-visa holders may drive on an overseas licence, provided all of the following apply:

• The overseas licence is still current
• You have not been disqualified from driving in Australia
• The overseas licence has not been cancelled
• You still hold a temporary visa

Australian citizens overseas who are only visiting NSW for a short period can also drive under the temporary-visa licence rules.

If the licence is not in English, it must be translated into an officially recognised English version.

If you’ve transitioned to a permanent-resident visa, you must convert to a local NSW licence within three months.

Victoria

Rules for using an overseas licence in Victoria depend on your visa status.

Temporary-visa holders:

• May drive on an overseas licence without a Victorian licence
• The overseas licence must remain current
• If the licence is not in English, it must be translated in an officially recognised format

Permanent-resident visa holders:

• If the visa was granted before entry, you may drive on an overseas licence for six months after arrival
• If the visa was granted after entry, you may drive on an overseas licence for six months after grant
• After six months, PR visa holders must apply for a Victorian licence

Queensland

If you haven’t been disqualified from driving in Queensland, you can keep driving on an overseas licence indefinitely; non-English licences must be translated as officially required.

Your right to drive on an overseas licence will be cancelled if any of the following occur:

• A court orders you not to drive
• You exceed the speed limit by more than 40 km/h
• You fail to pay a traffic fine
• Your health condition makes you unfit to drive
• You’re an Australian citizen who’s been in Queensland for more than three months
• You’re a resident-visa holder who’s been in Queensland for more than three months

PR visa holders living in Queensland for more than three months must apply for a local Queensland licence.

South Australia

The South Australian government allows international temporary visitors to drive on an overseas licence, provided the following are met:

• You have never had a visa cancelled in any country
• Your current overseas licence is in English
• Or your current overseas licence is accompanied by an official English translation
• Or an International Driving Permit is also acceptable

If your overseas licence expires while you’re in South Australia, you’ll need to convert to a South Australian licence to keep driving.

Australian Capital Territory

In the ACT, temporary-visa holders may drive on a current overseas licence. However, if you’re in the ACT to live, you must convert to an ACT licence within three months.

Temporary visitors include:

• Tourists
• Business travellers
• People visiting family or friends
• Working-holiday visa holders
• People studying or working in the ACT who will return to their place of origin afterwards

The overseas licence must be carried at all times; if it is not in English, it must be translated as officially required.

Tasmania

In Tasmania, temporary-visa holders may drive on an overseas licence on a limited basis. PR visa holders may also drive on an overseas licence for the first three months after their visa is granted. After three months, they must obtain a Tasmanian licence.

The usage requirements are:

• The overseas licence must be current
• You have never been disqualified from driving anywhere in the world
• The overseas licence has not been cancelled
• You have not had a Tasmanian licence cancelled
• You have never been issued a Tasmanian licence

The overseas licence must be carried at all times; if it is not in English, it must be translated as officially required.

Western Australia

Temporary-visa holders may drive in Western Australia on an overseas licence. The following visitors qualify:

• Overseas military personnel
• Family members of overseas military personnel
• Business visitors to Western Australia
• Working-holiday visa holders
• International students in Western Australia
• Tourists visiting Western Australia

The overseas licence must be carried at all times; if it is not in English, it must be translated as officially required.

Overseas-licence holders must never have had their driving rights cancelled in the past, nor have had their overseas licence cancelled.

If you’re a permanent-resident visa holder, you must apply for a Western Australian licence after three months of driving on an overseas licence.

Northern Territory

Although most Australian jurisdictions have similar rules for overseas licences, the Northern Territory is an exception.

In the NT, whether you’re on a temporary visa or a permanent-resident visa, you cannot drive on an overseas licence after three months.

During the first three months, the overseas licence must be carried at all times; if it’s not in English, it must be translated as officially required.

After three months, drivers must apply for an NT licence.

Whether you’re driving on an overseas licence or an Australian licence, if you inadvertently breach the road rules and face losing your licence or a heavy fine, you’re welcome to contact us for advice on how to handle the situation without making it any worse.