Diver's License Question

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Diver's License Question
Topic Started: Feb 15 2010, 06:31:34 PM (855 Views)
L.A. Jen	Feb 15 2010, 06:31:34 PM Post #1
True Blue Mate Posts: 127 Group: Members** Member #2,939 Joined: Nov 24, 2008 I come from... Los Angeles I now live in... Sydney	We're on a 457 visa and I know we can use our California driver's licenses here while driving our cars. But do I need a special license to drive a scooter? My husband is thinking about getting a scooter to take back and forth to work and someone mentioned to him that he might need a special license to drive it. Anyone know anything about this? Thanks! Jen



gpierce	Feb 15 2010, 06:43:25 PM Post #2
True Blue Mate Posts: 921 Group: Members** Member #2,861 Joined: Oct 17, 2008 I come from... San Diego, CA and Marquette, MI I now live in... Sydney (Ryde Area) I'm planning to move to... Nowhere!	Yes, you need a motorcycle licence: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/otherinformation/scootersminibikes.html?rlid=6 http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/gettingalicence/motorcycle/learner_rider_licence.html?llid=7



L.A. Jen	Feb 15 2010, 08:34:58 PM Post #3
True Blue Mate Posts: 127 Group: Members** Member #2,939 Joined: Nov 24, 2008 I come from... Los Angeles I now live in... Sydney	Thanks for the reply and the info. I checked out those links. So just to clarify, we can drive cars with our US license but not a scooter/motorcycle? I can't find anything online specific to people who are temporary residents. Very confusing!



anater	Feb 15 2010, 09:29:26 PM Post #4
True Blue Mate Posts: 203 Group: Members** Member #2,293 Joined: Apr 1, 2008 I come from... Seattle I now live in... Sydney I'm planning to move to... Back to the US	Jen, I think your husband would need to have a valid motorcycle license in the US, in order to drive a scooter here. My husband had a motorcycle license in the states, and when he got his NSW license they transferred over his motorcycle license as well. You might want to check with the RTA, but my understanding is that the motorcycle license is a separate license, just like in the US.



shylady	Feb 15 2010, 09:48:52 PM Post #5
oldYank Posts: 4,802 Group: Members** Member #18 Joined: Feb 18, 2007 I come from... By the Shores of GitcheGumee (Longfellow) I now live in... Perth area, Western Australia	I believe anater is right, Jen. I had a motorcycle endorsement on my US license, and it was legal for me to drive the motorcycles here. When I got my Australian license the motorcycle endorsement was also transferred.
	"I could�ve turned a different corner, I could�ve gone another place... " ku,'09


surfermomkelly	Mar 16 2010, 08:55:39 PM Post #6
True Blue Mate Posts: 727 Group: Members** Member #374 Joined: Jul 27, 2007 I come from... Encinitas, CA I now live in... Forresters Beach NSW I'm planning to move to... no where, except heaven one day	KEEP YOU CA ONE!!!! Don't get it until you have too. I found out the other day, when I went ot get mine at 6 months day 1, that you don't have to get one until 30 days after your perm residency....and during that time if you get a ticket you don't get the points, so why would you want to get one? You just pay the fine and be done with it. you could rack up 100 points but it does not matter and they can't do anything. Or if you get one give them a dirving record from the US for the past 10 years if you have no tickets and they waive it. Unfortunately until my husband learned where the speed cameras were on his way home from Sydney airport he got a few and we were freaking out, but it doesn't matter.



JimmyD	Mar 17 2010, 03:20:19 PM Post #7
True Blue Mate Posts: 110 Group: Members** Member #912 Joined: Dec 16, 2007	In NSW temporary residents can drive on their foreign license indefinately. That includes anything special endorsements you carry on your foreign license. ie. I have a commercial license and motorcycle license in the US so I can drive heavy trucks and motorcycles here -- as well as cars. If you get your NSW license also remember that it has to be renewed EVERY year!
	"I don't think we have reached any kind of consensus coherent enough to be called a state of thinking."


blarg	Mar 17 2010, 04:31:46 PM Post #8
True Blue Mate Posts: 977 Group: Members** Member #2,865 Joined: Oct 18, 2008 I come from... Portland, Oregon I now live in... Sydney Area, NSW	JimmyD Mar 17 2010, 03:20:19 PM If you get your NSW license also remember that it has to be renewed EVERY year! You can get licences that are valid for more than one year. Mine is 3, but I could have gotten 5. Costs more of course, but it can be done.



JimmyD	Mar 19 2010, 01:17:44 PM Post #9
True Blue Mate Posts: 110 Group: Members** Member #912 Joined: Dec 16, 2007	blarg Mar 17 2010, 04:31:46 PM You can get licences that are valid for more than one year. Mine is 3, but I could have gotten 5. Costs more of course, but it can be done. Really!? Did you get your license before they changed the rules -- last year sometime? The last time I went, post rule change, they told me that I would have to renew my license every year! That's the only reason I've been putting off.
	"I don't think we have reached any kind of consensus coherent enough to be called a state of thinking."


blarg	Mar 22 2010, 12:47:55 PM Post #10
True Blue Mate Posts: 977 Group: Members** Member #2,865 Joined: Oct 18, 2008 I come from... Portland, Oregon I now live in... Sydney Area, NSW	I got it almost 3 years ago, but I just checked, and they list fees for renewing licences for 1, 3 and 5 years. That's if you use your US licence to prove you've been driving for 5 years and get a gold licence, which I did get. $47 for 1 year, $113 for 3 years, $151 for 5 years http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/licensingfees.html Edited by blarg, Mar 22 2010, 12:48:21 PM.



JimmyD	Mar 29 2010, 08:11:28 AM Post #11
True Blue Mate Posts: 110 Group: Members** Member #912 Joined: Dec 16, 2007	blarg Mar 22 2010, 12:47:55 PM I got it almost 3 years ago, but I just checked, and they list fees for renewing licences for 1, 3 and 5 years. That's if you use your US licence to prove you've been driving for 5 years and get a gold licence, which I did get. $47 for 1 year, $113 for 3 years, $151 for 5 years http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/licensingfees.html you've been "grandfathered" in. After April 30 2008 all "new" issued licenses for temporary residents are only valid for 12 months. http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/visitorstonsw/gettingnswlicence.html
	"I don't think we have reached any kind of consensus coherent enough to be called a state of thinking."


blarg	Mar 29 2010, 01:25:35 PM Post #12
True Blue Mate Posts: 977 Group: Members** Member #2,865 Joined: Oct 18, 2008 I come from... Portland, Oregon I now live in... Sydney Area, NSW	I did think it was incredibly odd that I had a 2 year visa and they were happy to give me a 5 year licence. The usage of a 'Q' restriction makes sense as well so it's clear you're not a citizen/PR. Anyway, once you get perm status, you'd be able to get a 5 year licence, no?



JimmyD	Mar 29 2010, 02:17:41 PM Post #13
True Blue Mate Posts: 110 Group: Members** Member #912 Joined: Dec 16, 2007	blarg Mar 29 2010, 01:25:35 PM I did think it was incredibly odd that I had a 2 year visa and they were happy to give me a 5 year licence. The usage of a 'Q' restriction makes sense as well so it's clear you're not a citizen/PR. Anyway, once you get perm status, you'd be able to get a 5 year licence, no? correct. If/when I get PR I will have 3 months to get my NSW license which will not have restrictions.
	"I don't think we have reached any kind of consensus coherent enough to be called a state of thinking."


staylor8383	Apr 18 2010, 01:35:30 PM Post #14
True Blue Mate Posts: 429 Group: Members** Member #3,394 Joined: Nov 26, 2009 I come from... Eastern Pennslyvania I now live in... Darwin, NT I'm planning to move to... queensland one day...	i guess nsw has different laws for scooters then the nt does. my hubby has a scooter and as long as it has a 70cc engine or smaller you dont need a motorcycle license.

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