Driving
Students already holding a driver's licence from your home country
While on a Student Visa, you can drive on your overseas drivers licence as long as it remains valid in the country of issue. If your overseas drivers licence is not written in English, it is best to carry an International Driving Permit or an approved English translation of your overseas license with you when you are driving. You cannot drive on your overseas licence if you are disqualified from driving or you driving privileges are withdrawn.
Students not holding an overseas driver's licence
If you do not hold an overseas drivers licence and you wish to drive in Australia, you will need to apply for a Western Australian licence. Obtaining a Western Australian licence will take you at least six months and will cost you approximately AU$150 (excluding the cost of lessons) and consists of the following stages:
- Applying for a learners permit
- Lessons and practice
- Practical driving test
- Six months of supervised driving (logbook phase)
- Hazard perception test
Visit the Department of Transport's website for further information on driving in Western Australia and obtaining a drivers licence.
Safe driving
We urge you to familiarise yourself with the road rules in WA, and to take particular care when you are driving in rural areas. Driving in country areas of Western Australia can be particularly dangerous when you are not used to these conditions.
Always remember to:
- Drive at a safe speed
- Follow the road rules
- Concentrate at all times, and be prepared
- Be patient, polite and considerate towards other road users
- Be alert at intersections
- Give proper signals (indicate)
- Plan your moves well in advance
- When in doubt do not proceed
Make sure you know your vehicle, and its limits. DO NOT drink alcohol and drive.
You should take care to have regular rest breaks when driving long distances, as driver fatigue is a major cause of accidents. Distances in Australia can be great and the roads can be long and straight so it can be easy to become tired and fall asleep at the wheel. Take turns at driving with the other people you are travelling with. The high speeds allowed on country roads, usually 100-110km, mean that you could easily lose control of a vehicle, especially if it is a hire car that you are not be used to. Take care to slow down when turning corners or bends and drive with your headlights on so that other cars can see you coming.
Speed cameras operate in Western Australia. Speeds in excess of signposted limits attract heavy fines. In addition, being caught driving under the influence of alcohol (>0.05% blood alcohol content) carries heavy financial penalties and possible jail sentences.
Buying a car
There are many vehicles available to purchase in Australia. Some cars that look very good on the outside, may be mechanically unreliable. Therefore you should take your time and choose the vehicle that best suits your needs.
Think carefully about your budget and what you can afford. Remember that there are running costs including petrol, registration, maintenance and repairs, insurance and possibly parking.
Take your time. If possible take a friend who knows about cars or use the RAC inspection service. RAC will inspect any car you are interested in buying and provide a full report on its condition. For further details about this service, including the cost of an inspection, call the RAC on 13 17 03.
Tips for buying a car from a private seller:
- Check the registration - make sure that it is current.
- Contact the police department on 131 444 to make sure that the car is not stolen.
- Make sure that there is no money owing on the vehicle - phone REVS (Register of encumbered vehicles) on 1300 304 024. You will need to supply them with the registration number, chassis number and engine number of the vehicle. A vehicle that has money owing on it could be repossessed by a finance company if the debt is not paid, so you may lose your car and possibly your money. It is safer to make one phone call to check.
There is no warranty on cars purchased privately, nor is there a warranty from a dealer on vehicles costing less than $4,000. If however the car is less than 10 years old and has not more than 150,000km there should be a 3-month or 5,000km warranty on the vehicle. If the vehicle is 10 - 12 years old and has 150,000km to 180,000km there should be a 1-month or 1,500km warranty on the vehicle. Over and above this there is no warranty. No warranty means that the dealer selling the cars is under no obligation to repair or replace any faulty parts.
Tips for purchasing a vehicle from a dealer:
- Read all the documents carefully - do not sign unless you are certain that you want to buy the car.
- Make sure that all pre-condition requirements you select are carried out to your satisfaction.
- There is no cooling off period in Western Australia. Once you sign the document you cannot change your mind about the purchase. You are committed to it.
- A dealer may arrange finance if you cannot pay cash. You may pay a lot more for your car in interest charges. Organize your finances before purchasing any vehicle.
For further information, contact the Department of Consumer Protection, 219 St. Georges Terrace, Perth. Telephone 1300 304 054. Free phone call from outside the Perth metro area 1800 199 117.
Registration and insurance for vehicle owners
All vehicles on Western Australian roads must be licensed and registered by the Department of Transport Licensing. Insurance against personal injury is included as part of the registration fee for your car. If a passenger is injured in your car and your car is unregistered, you will be personally liable for the medical expenses and any compensation awarded for their injuries.
It is a serious offence to drive an unregistered vehicle. If caught, you will be liable for a heavy fine and possible disqualification from driving. Make sure you also remember to renew your vehicle registration before it expires.
You are also strongly advised to take out third party or comprehensive car insurance. Third party insurance is the least expensive to purchase and will help pay for any damage to other cars or property if you have a crash. If you don't have any insurance, you will have to pay the cost of repairing, not only your own vehicle, but also the other car, which can be very expensive, possibly thousands of dollars. Third Party Property Insurance does not cover the cost of repairing your own vehicle, only the other person's property. Comprehensive insurance, while more expensive, covers the cost of damage to all vehicles in a crash. The insurance company will pay for most of the repairs though you may still have to pay an excess (the first part of any claim) set by your insurance provider. Contact any car insurance company for further details.