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Driving in Australia
The most important thing to remember in Australia when driving is that Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road. For people coming from the USA and Europe this is going to be a big change, so if planning on driving using either a local or international licence, it may help to practise a little before venturing out onto main roads and highways.
Another important point is that while in most countries the majority of vehicles are manually geared with only a small percentage of cars being automatic, in Australia this is not the case. Here, fifty percent of vehicles on the road are automatic and fifty percent are manual. This is important to remember, particularly when borrowing or hiring a vehicle.
Furthermore, each state in Australia has its own rules and regulations for driving, which involve not only speed limits, but also factors such as seat belt use and child restraints in vehicles.
International Driving
If you hold of a French driver’s licence, you must convert your licence to the local state’s licence. If your licence is written in English, you can convert it easily at the nearest Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) Office. If it is not written in English, you must provide both the licence and an official translation of the licence. Furthermore, you must also provide your Australian address, prove your identity, pass an eyesight test, pass a knowledge test of local road rules and regulations, pass a driving test and pay a licensing fee. However, for drivers from France who already hold a driver’s licence, you may be exempt from the knowledge test and/or driving test (only for car licences), as France is one of the nationally recognised countries that have comparable licensing standards to Australia. However, it is still recommended that you familiarise yourself with local road rules and regulations. These can be found in the Road Users’ Handbook.