How to convert PH Driver's License to AU Driver's License?

jengrata · September 2013

@legato09 Mostly kasi sa pinas, you can get ur license kahit na hindi ka man lang nakahawak ng manibela ha ha ha. Seriously speaking, if u intend to get a driving license here in SG, better to start as learner kasi hindi ka naman pala talaga nag drive sa pinas eh. Driving license is more than a certificate to drive but your safety is on the line kaya need mong mag practice. If you're going to Ausie shortly, u dont need to spend time obtaining license in SG kasi kahit makakuha ka ng license sa SG (but less than 12 months pa lang) pagdating mo sa ausie, you still need to pass the theory test & practical test. Pareho kasi kayo ng status ng esmi ko eh, she's attending driving lesson here in SG not for the purpose of obtaining SG license but to familiarize on driving only, then saka na lang sya mag lesson ulit sa ausie pagdating nila by Nov. this year. FYI, do you know na pag may SG driving license ka (u get it for more than a year), exempted ka sa theory and practical test sa australia. Its merely conversion kasi Singapore is one of the recognized country ng Australia na nag cocomply sa standard nila in getting driving license (sadly, hindi recognized ang pinas kasi nga like i what i joked about, u can have that even without touching the steering wheel).

Yung 12momths ba eh hindi total ng driving or obtaining license anywhere? For example 5yrs n kong license holder sa pinas. Then pinaconvert ko to SG license recently. Pag punta ko OZ wala pang 12months ung SG license ko. So hindi pa rin direct conversion ito? Meaning need pa rin ng theory and practical?

Filamokio · September 2013

@jengrata Good question. Based on my understanding, if you convert your Phil license to SG license, yung no. of years of experience mo in driving in recognized country (Singapore in this case) is the actual date you got your SG license. So hindi counted yung driving exp mo sa pinas. Having said that, if for example you obtained ur SG license on Jan 1, 2013 and pupunta ka ng Ausie on Jan 2, 2014, u dont need to take theory & practical test, conversion agad. Pero kung pupunta ka within 1 year, then u need to take the exams. Another thing which im not very sure, yung counting ng within 12 months maybe mag start sa date ng first entry mo sa Ausie not sa date when you apply for AU driver license conversion.

jengrata · September 2013

@jengrata Good question. Based on my understanding, if you convert your Phil license to SG license, yung no. of years of experience mo in driving in recognized country (Singapore in this case) is the actual date you got your SG license. So hindi counted yung driving exp mo sa pinas. Having said that, if for example you obtained ur SG license on Jan 1, 2013 and pupunta ka ng Ausie on Jan 2, 2014, u dont need to take theory & practical test, conversion agad. Pero kung pupunta ka within 1 year, then u need to take the exams. Another thing which im not very sure, yung counting ng within 12 months maybe mag start sa date ng first entry mo sa Ausie not sa date when you apply for AU driver license conversion.

Hmmm, iba iba ang rules per state di ba? Nabasa ko sa VIC at NSW wala nmn minimum years nung license, age lang. Basta hindi lang expired. Sa QLD nmn kailangang 5years na yung license mo sa recognised country. Hinahanap ko ung sinasabi mo na minimum years sa VIC at NSW site di ko makita eh. Paki-copy naman dito if makita mo. thanks a lot.

jengrata · September 2013

Ah may nabasa ako, Yung 12mos na sinasabi mo ang nabasa ko sa NSW is, pag less than 12mos provisional P1 lang ang ibibigay sayo. Pag less than 3yrs naman provisional P2. Pag more than 3 unrestricted na. Pero di nmn nabanggit dun na magtheory at magpractical pag less than 12mos

Filamokio · September 2013

@jengrata actually, hindi ko rin makita yung within 12 months na yun. Nalaman ko lang yun sa briefing ng immigration agent namin (who happened to be licensed immigration agent, an he is an australian) so I took his words as true and correct. If you can convert your license in SG, then go for it, malay mo they will consider ur overall driving years of exp kasi nagkaroon ka nga ng SG license di ba. Conversion to SG license is just passing the basic theory test, no practical exam is needed.

jengrata · September 2013

@jengrata actually, hindi ko rin makita yung within 12 months na yun. Nalaman ko lang yun sa briefing ng immigration agent namin (who happened to be licensed immigration agent, an he is an australian) so I took his words as true and correct. If you can convert your license in SG, then go for it, malay mo they will consider ur overall driving years of exp kasi nagkaroon ka nga ng SG license di ba. Conversion to SG license is just passing the basic theory test, no practical exam is needed.

Ah ok. Ita-try ko na lang din. If makalusot then well and good. If not, no harm on going through the process naman. Mas convenient nga lang ung unang scenario. Actually, ung huling statement mo ang mas gusto ko malaman, kasi by the time na pumunta kami Oz eh more or less 9mos n ung license ko. So iniisip ko kung after 3mos n ako magpaconvert, gamitin ko muna SG license for 3mos. So 12mos ko n nagamit di ba. Ang tanong, ung 12mos ba eh before you enter Oz or kasama ung driving months mo sa Oz which is 3mos.

JCsantos · September 2013

@jengrata actually, hindi ko rin makita yung within 12 months na yun. Nalaman ko lang yun sa briefing ng immigration agent namin (who happened to be licensed immigration agent, an he is an australian) so I took his words as true and correct. If you can convert your license in SG, then go for it, malay mo they will consider ur overall driving years of exp kasi nagkaroon ka nga ng SG license di ba. Conversion to SG license is just passing the basic theory test, no practical exam is needed.
Ah ok. Ita-try ko na lang din. If makalusot then well and good. If not, no harm on going through the process naman. Mas convenient nga lang ung unang scenario. Actually, ung huling statement mo ang mas gusto ko malaman, kasi by the time na pumunta kami Oz eh more or less 9mos n ung license ko. So iniisip ko kung after 3mos n ako magpaconvert, gamitin ko muna SG license for 3mos. So 12mos ko n nagamit di ba. Ang tanong, ung 12mos ba eh before you enter Oz or kasama ung driving months mo sa Oz which is 3mos.

Ang alam ko recognized ang sg license, im sure d ka na dadaan sa L and P diretso ng full lic

Filamokio · September 2013

@JCsantos oo, wala ngang L & P. Full license agad. The problem kasi kung kukuha pa ng practical exam, it does not guarantee na makakapasa ka agad kahit exp driver ka na. iba yung practical test sa actual driving eh.

TasBurrfoot · September 2013

@JCsantos oo, wala ngang L & P. Full license agad. The problem kasi kung kukuha pa ng practical exam, it does not guarantee na makakapasa ka agad kahit exp driver ka na. iba yung practical test sa actual driving eh.

korek ka dito!

I have been driving for more than 10yrs pero bagsak ako sa 1st take ko...

JCsantos · September 2013

@JCsantos oo, wala ngang L & P. Full license agad. The problem kasi kung kukuha pa ng practical exam, it does not guarantee na makakapasa ka agad kahit exp driver ka na. iba yung practical test sa actual driving eh.

sorry i did not get it , you said you already got a SG license ? then you dont need to do a actual test

JCsantos · September 2013

Recognised Country A

Holders of a class C (car) and/or R (rider) equivalent licence from one of the following countries are exempt from computer and driving tests when applying for a NSW licence of the same class:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guernsey,
Ireland, Isle of Man (licences issued since 1 April 1991), Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg,
Malta (licences issued since 2 January 2004), Netherlands, New Zealand (except where a paper licence is presented), Norway, Portugal,
Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA.

Source : http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/recognisedcountries.html

legato09 · September 2013

Uy dami info na makakatulong sa pagkuha ng license ;-) Salamat po.

Filamokio · September 2013

@JCsantos Yes. I have my SG license, 4 years old na nga eh. Im telling in general public na kahit nag drive ka na ng matagal (sa pinas), it does not guarantee that u will pass the practical test on the first try.. like what tasburrfoot experienced. Some of them actually tried 4 times before they get it.

JCsantos · September 2013

sorry hhehehehe

rga1428 · September 2013

Mga kabayan sa NSW tungo, check this website.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_drivers.html

Tips:
- kung may budget pambili ng sasakyan, advisable bumili agad kahit second hand na road worthy pa para magamit nyo within 3 months ng pagdating at mapraktis nyo right hand drive at road rules and regulation sa NSW.
- within 3 months pwede nyo convert ng full license ang PDL nyo pag over 3 years ka ng nagdrive sa Phil. Take DKT exam and then driving test. $41 DKT and $51 driving test.
- pag lumampas ka ng 3 months at di mo na convert sa full license, daan ka ng learner license pero di mo na kelangan ng logbook. Kaya lang pag kukuha ng drive test may kasama ka dapat full license driver papunta RTA.
- alam ko pag nagfail ka sa unang drive test using the 3 months privilege, dadaan ka rin ng learner license. Check nyo na lang website sa taas.
- advisable kumuha ng driving lesson even for few hours para alam nyo bad habits meron kayo at ma correct ( usually pinoy matigas ang leeg ayaw lumingon lalo na matagal ng magdrive).
- pag Sydney location nyo lalo na west part at gusto nyo pinoy na driving instructor kontakin nyo si SAM ESPARAS 0419230903. Matagal nang instructor yan at doon kayo magpraktis sa route ng driving test mostly. Malaking factor kabisado ang daan sa driving test.
- wag kabahan sa driving test, tao rin lang yong officer iba lang kulay. Follow instructions.
- kunin nyong time sa driving test ay 10am to 2pm para wala school zone, mall zone lang titingnan nyo 40kph.

Kakuha ko lang ng full license ko. Tsamba. Take 1. Pero praktis talaga kelangan kaya kung may sarili kang kotse mas tipid.

Goodluck sa inyo. Hope this help. Pag may tanong kayo kontakin nyo si SAM.

packerx · September 2013

Mga kabayan sa NSW tungo, check this website.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/newtonsw/international_drivers.html

Tips:
- kung may budget pambili ng sasakyan, advisable bumili agad kahit second hand na road worthy pa para magamit nyo within 3 months ng pagdating at mapraktis nyo right hand drive at road rules and regulation sa NSW.
- within 3 months pwede nyo convert ng full license ang PDL nyo pag over 3 years ka ng nagdrive sa Phil. Take DKT exam and then driving test. $41 DKT and $51 driving test.
- pag lumampas ka ng 3 months at di mo na convert sa full license, daan ka ng learner license pero di mo na kelangan ng logbook. Kaya lang pag kukuha ng drive test may kasama ka dapat full license driver papunta RTA.
- alam ko pag nagfail ka sa unang drive test using the 3 months privilege, dadaan ka rin ng learner license. Check nyo na lang website sa taas.
- advisable kumuha ng driving lesson even for few hours para alam nyo bad habits meron kayo at ma correct ( usually pinoy matigas ang leeg ayaw lumingon lalo na matagal ng magdrive).
- pag Sydney location nyo lalo na west part at gusto nyo pinoy na driving instructor kontakin nyo si SAM ESPARAS 0419230903. Matagal nang instructor yan at doon kayo magpraktis sa route ng driving test mostly. Malaking factor kabisado ang daan sa driving test.
- wag kabahan sa driving test, tao rin lang yong officer iba lang kulay. Follow instructions.
- kunin nyong time sa driving test ay 10am to 2pm para wala school zone, mall zone lang titingnan nyo 40kph.

Kakuha ko lang ng full license ko. Tsamba. Take 1. Pero praktis talaga kelangan kaya kung may sarili kang kotse mas tipid.

Goodluck sa inyo. Hope this help. Pag may tanong kayo kontakin nyo si SAM.

Ito ang advice na sa isip ko at may kasama pang contact details ng driving instructor pero hindi naman lahat ng tao mag exam sa west. Ang pinaka importanteng advice na sinabi niya ay dapat pag dating niyo ng Aus dapat may pambili na kayo ng kotse at wag matakot mag drive kahit 1st week mo pa lang dito sa australia. Para hindi ka matakot na mawala gumamit lang kayo ng tomtom.

JCsantos · September 2013

Kung bibili po kayo ng gps make sure na wag iwan yung clip sa dashboard ir sa windscreen nakawin po yan

sharean07 · September 2013

@jengrata ito din gusto namin malaman.. kasi naka sched kami ng theory exam sa October papaconvert namin PH license to SG license, para if ever ma grant kami, by next yr go na kmi sa AU (roughly march) then mas madali na nga lng daw ang conversion ng SG license to AU license... pero yun nga ang tanong may minimum requirement ba para sa conversion like ilang years na nga dapat yung SG license para maconsider nila na iconvert to AU...

sharean07 · September 2013

share ko lng ito para sa mga papunta ng ACT... but then hndi rin nakalagay kung may minimum years required ang foreign license mo para maconvert nila fully...

http://www.rego.act.gov.au/assets/PDFs/Approved Country List.pdf

rooroo · September 2013

@jengrata ito din gusto namin malaman.. kasi naka sched kami ng theory exam sa October papaconvert namin PH license to SG license, para if ever ma grant kami, by next yr go na kmi sa AU (roughly march) then mas madali na nga lng daw ang conversion ng SG license to AU license... pero yun nga ang tanong may minimum requirement ba para sa conversion like ilang years na nga dapat yung SG license para maconsider nila na iconvert to AU...

same question din ako nito. kasi im planning to take my driving lessons and apply na din ng license. kung worth it ba mahal kasi driving lessons dito. abutin ng $2500 including un exams sa pag apply ng license.

Filamokio · September 2013

@rooroo @sharean07 Actually, parang wala ngang information with regards to the minimum period na hawak mo yung Singapore driver's license mo. Pero, when we had a briefing with our migration agent (He is Australian) we also asked the same very question. kasi yung misis ko, learner din dito sa SG, then sabi ng agent namin, even if u get ur SG license, u need also take the theory and practical exam sa Ausie since yung license mo ay minimum 1 yr dapat at the time of ur entry in Ausie. Means, if u obtained ur license in SG on 23-Jul-12 at magpapa convert ka ng 23-Jul-13, then ok yun. pero kung ang license mo sa SG is obtained only on 6-Dec-12 at mag entry ka ng Oct, 2013 (wala pang 1 year), then need mo pa ring mag take ng exam at practical test sa ausie.

Pero sa case nyo, which is only conversion of PH License to SG License, go for the theory exam. wala namang mawawala. Get ur SG license, at pagdating nyo sa ausie, kung ma convert then well and good at kung hindi naman, then no choice but to take the test. And besides, u still have 3 months to drive there while ur preparing ur exam (if required).

in my case, magpapaconvert pa lang naman din ako (SG to ausie license) be end of this month. Pero yun nga lang, yung SG license ko is 4 yr na kya ok lang.

Filamokio · September 2013

Pahabol, so yung misis ko, nag prapractice na lang here sa SG ng driving para mafamiliarize sa pagmamaneho. Pero hindi na sya kukuha ng final theory test at practical test, kasi based sa agent namin, hindi rin mapapakinabangan considering na punta na sila sa ausie by this nov.

jayp · September 2013

Eligibility to qualify for a Victorian licence
Victorian full driver licence
To obtain a Victorian full driver licence you must:
•be 21 years of age or older; and
•hold an overseas full driver licence; or
•have held an overseas probationary driver licence for at least three years from your 18th birthday (you must provide evidence).

Your overseas driver licence must be current or not expired by more than five years. Any period where you have been suspended or disqualified from driving is excluded when calculating the period of time you have held a licence.

Does this mean no need for learner's and probationary licences?

TasBurrfoot · September 2013

Eligibility to qualify for a Victorian licence
Victorian full driver licence
To obtain a Victorian full driver licence you must:
•be 21 years of age or older; and
•hold an overseas full driver licence; or
•have held an overseas probationary driver licence for at least three years from your 18th birthday (you must provide evidence).

Your overseas driver licence must be current or not expired by more than five years. Any period where you have been suspended or disqualified from driving is excluded when calculating the period of time you have held a licence.

Does this mean no need for learner's and probationary licences?

I have held a PH license for more than 5 yrs... Kuha lang ng theory, Hazard Perception Text and actual driving and meron ka na VIC license.

I didn't need to get a learners kasi pwede pa gamitin PH license ko to drive in VIC.

StickyNote · September 2013

@TasBurrfoot, regarding Victoria driver's license, if ever bumagsak sa actual driving pero pasado naman sa theory at perception test, yung actual driving test na lang ang uulitin? Magkano po ang fee sa pag re-take? Magkano naman po kaya kung one take lang eh pasado mo na yung tatlong test? Thanks!

TasBurrfoot · September 2013

@TasBurrfoot, regarding Victoria driver's license, if ever bumagsak sa actual driving pero pasado naman sa theory at perception test, yung actual driving test na lang ang uulitin? Magkano po ang fee sa pag re-take? Magkano naman po kaya kung one take lang eh pasado mo na yung tatlong test? Thanks!

@StickyNote - yup no need to retake yung theory and hazard perception, just the actual lang ang i-retake mo...

Happened to me, I flunked the actuals on first try!

Fee is still the same, walang pagbabago, around $50 sya... google mo nalang yung vicroads site, the fees are publish naman dun.

StickyNote · September 2013

@Tasburrfoot, salamat! Pagdating namin diyan sa December, gamitin ko muna yung Philippine driver's license ko mga until April or May saka ako mag-apply ng Victoria license para makapagpraktis nang matagal tagal. Valid naman up to 6 months ang Phl license sa Victoria.

lock_code2004 · September 2013

As far as i know, for PR visa holders, you only have 3 months to use your overseas license and convert to AU license.. Pagkatapos ng 3 mos di na pwde gamitin yan at back to L license kayo..

Please validate with your respective states.
Let us know if this is correct for all states.. Bow..

StickyNote · September 2013

@lock_code2004

Eto po ang nasa vicroads.vic.gov.au. Up to 6 months sa Victoria compared po sa other states na 3 months lang.

"The requirement to change your overseas driver licence to a Victorian driver licence depends on whether your stay in Victoria is temporary or permanent.
If you are in Victoria on a temporary visa, you can drive on your overseas driver licence for as long as it is current providing it is in English or accompanied by an English translation or International Driving Permit. There is no requirement to get a Victorian driver licence.
If you have entered Victoria on a permanent visa issued under the Migration Act 1958, you may drive on your overseas driver licence for:
six months from the date you first entered Australia if the permanent visa was issued before you entered Australia; or,
six months from the date when the permanent visa was issued to you if the permanent visa was issued to you whilst in Australia.
If you want to continue driving in Victoria after this time you must change your overseas licence to a Victorian driver licence.

New Zealand residents who hold a current licence are treated as interstate drivers."

StickyNote · September 2013

@TasBurrfoot I read before na kumuha ka ng certification from LTO. DId vicroads require you to submit it when you applied for a Victorian driver license?