WA Drivers Licence (schools, living, dangerous)

[Feybie]

Hi all,

As some of you know, my husband and I are moving from Australia (most likely to WA).

I heard a really crazy story that in order to obtain a drivers license I may have to resit the written and the actual driving test once I arrive? Is this TRUE?

[MichaelinWA]

Yes.

WA State Licensing: Moving? Get WA license

Originally Posted by Feybie

Is this TRUE?

[Feybie]

Oh excellent.

That website says that I WONT have to resit the test so long as all my health checks come back positive.

[Feybie]

Oh wait. I can drive on my Australian licence for a year. It doesnt say what the process is after that. I'm pretty happy with that, though. At least after one year in the country I should be confident enough on the roads to take a test if I need to.

[allforcats]

How experienced and skilled are you at driving on the right side of the road, instead of the left, with all the that entails including parking, side streets, having the steering wheel and all controls on the left side of the car, etc.?

Here's one of our very best driving schools. I employed them many years ago because I had been living abroad for many years and wanted to brush up on my driving skills to avoid being an outright danger to myself and others. Sears Driving Schools. Excellent and safe instruction.
Welcome to Sears Authorized Driving School

[Feybie]

I'm not experienced with driving on the other side of the road at all, which is why I'm supremely happy that I've got a year to practice and learn on my Australian licence before I'm required to do any kind of testing (if at all).

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Feybie

I'm not experienced with driving on the other side of the road at all,

EZ rule of thumb. (As long as you have a 'locally' configured car)

Keep the steering wheel toward the center of the road and if coming from a British area, watch your left turns (swing wide!!)

for us right hand drivers WATCH Right turns (swing very wide) It can be disturbing to turn tight and face 6 lanes of crazy drivers heading your way (as in Hong Kong and Singapore). It become a stretch when crossing 'the channel into UK with your Euro car, but after a few 'circles', you are all acclimated.

In US (and Germany) Do be careful NOT to linger in the center lane on multi lane highways. You may get run over by a high speed driver or emergency vehicle. (it is also very dangerous for potential 'head-on' collisions with wrong way drivers, and getting smashed by someone losing control and crossing the center line., these are rare, but as a professional driver for 35 yrs, I have seen LOTS of fatal accidents). In some states it is illegal to use left lane UNLESS passing, and also illegal to not get over a lane when passing patrol or emergency vehicles that are on the sides of the road. WA is pretty ez on rules and has courteous drivers (for the most part). You will do fine, tho read up and be courteous and a defensive driver. Many Californians fail the driving portion of the test a few times before passing. (Often because they are keen on showing the test agent how "good" of a driver they are )

[jinj]

Originally Posted by Feybie

Oh wait. I can drive on my Australian licence for a year. It doesnt say what the process is after that. I'm pretty happy with that, though. At least after one year in the country I should be confident enough on the roads to take a test if I need to.

You can drive on your Australian license unless you are becoming a resident in WA, if you are, then you need a WA license after 30 days.

You can keep both though.

[Feybie]

I'm hearing so many different things. I've put some emails in and I'm waiting a response. The website that I was directed to told me I'm able to drive on my licence for a year before needing to do anything about it....

Oh wells. 30 days is certainly not enough time to get used to driving on the other side of the road/car. I'll need a car pretty much as soon as I get there though...

[Anders15]

WA State Licensing: Driver licensing customer service