Interstate drivers
Driving in Western Australia
Your interstate driver's licence
To be able to drive on Western Australian (WA) roads with your driver's licence from your home state, you must:
- have a current licence that is not suspended or cancelled, or be disqualified from driving
- carry your licence with you at all times while driving and show it to a police officer if asked to do so
- drive only those vehicles that you are authorised to drive
- comply with any other conditions of your licence.
Depending on whether you are just visiting or planning to stay here permanently, there are different periods that you are allowed to drive with your interstate licence.
Just visiting?
Visiting drivers include:
- tourists
- people on business trips, working-holidays or studying or working temporarily in WA
As a visitor you can drive on your interstate licence for up to 12 months from your arrival or until the licence expires (whichever comes first). If you intend staying longer than 12 months you should apply for a WA licence.
Planning to stay?
If you intend to take up permanent residence in WA you are no longer considered to be a visitor. You must apply for a WA driver's licence within three months of your arrival. Please refer to our transferring your interstate licence section for more information.
