Hi guys,
I just want to share my experiences sa pagkuha ng license dito sa Victoria. I am a non-pro license holder sa pinas. I got my license on 2010. I arrived here in Melbourne 2014. Isa sa mga una ko ginawa is mag inquire sa VicRoads on how to convert my license to AU license. First thing na ginawa nila is to check my Phil. license, I think tiningnan nila kung gaano ko na katagal hold yung license. Nabasa ko dito sa forum na 3 years above dapat license holder ka so that you'll not go through P plate (hindi ako masyado sure sa info). Based on my estimate, I am holding my license for more than 3 years. They advised me na valid ang Phil license ko for 6 months. Meaning pwede ako magdrive either practice driving or casual driving with my Phil license but to get AU full license I have to take 2 written (computerized) test which is knowledge and hazard perception test and 1 practical driving test. Ang naalala ko naging total cost ko for both computerized test is around $100. For practical driving test nasa around $70. Ang kinuha ko driving lesson is 10 hours. Hindi kasi ako nagdrive sa pinas. Ang driving lesson fee is $40/hour and may additional charge if you will use his car for driving test. (total cost ko for driving lesson is around $520) I took my lesson in CBD and took the test in Carlton VicRoads. I think mas mura kung sa suburb kukuha ng lesson. Meron ako napagtanungan nasa $35/hour ang charge. After passing the test, you'll be offered if you want to take 3-year or 10-year license validity. Kinuha ko 3-year validity which cost me around $70.
Sa mga magtatanong kung saan mas madali kumuha ng license, I think they both have pros and cons. Kung sa city ka kukuha ng license ang advantage is that vehicles are slower, top speed is only 60 kph. Sa mga first time magdridrive (like me) hindi masyado kakakaba. Ang cons is that madami vehicles. So I advised kumuha ng test around 11am-1pm. Kumuha ako ng test around 11:15 am and konti lang sasakyan sa daan.
Ang pros sa suburb is the opposite ng city. Konti sasakyan sa daan but you'll go bit higher in speed. Ang top speed sa suburb nasa 80 kph. So it's up to you kung saan mo mas prefer. Ang maganda naman sa mga instructor is that tuturuan ka nila kung saan ginagawa yung practical driving test. So makakabisado mo and feel more confident ka during the test.
Finally, ang advantage ng meron Phil license is that hindi mo need dumaan ng both P plates. Kung magexpire Phil license mo lets say naging busy ka during that 6 months after your arrival (which I'm sure you will) pwede ka kumuha ng learners' permit and after mo mapasa lahat ng test derecho full license ka na. So no need to worry na kelangan mo makuha full license in that 6 months time span, unless you urgently need it for your work. You also don't need to undergo 120 hours of driving hours for learner's permit pag above 25 years old ka na.
I guess that's about it for my driving experience here in Victoria. Goodluck sa mga magpapaconvert ng test.