A member of the defence force includes:
- a current serving member of the defence forces (full time or reserve)
- a member who has been discharged and holds a defence force licence that has not expired by more than five years
- some civilian staff who are tested by the defence forces.
The dependants (including the spouse) of a member of the defence forces are not eligible to drive in Victoria if they have resided in Victoria for a continuous period of more than three months unless they hold a Driver Identification Document issued by the Commonwealth Department of Defence.
The minimum age at which a Defence Force member can convert their licence or learner permit to a Victorian licence is 16 for a car learner permit, 18 for a motorcycle learner permit and 18 for a driver licence.
Serving members of the defence forces, who hold:
- a valid and current interstate licence or permit, and
- a valid Driver Identification Document issued by the Commonwealth Department of Defence,
are exempt from having to convert their civilian interstate licence to a Victorian driver licence (ie may continue to drive on this document) while they are serving in Victoria. However, on expiry this civilian licence needs to be renewed in Victoria.
Commonwealth legislation allows the holder of a military licence to drive any military vehicle specified on the licence, on any road. Victorian legislation does not permit driving of civilian vehicles by a person who only holds a military licence (ie does not hold a civilian licence).
The holder of an armed forces licence can request the issue of a 3 or 10 year Victorian licence, the applicant will be required to produce:
- their Defence Force identification (if producing a paper licence), or
- a photo licence issued by the defence forces, as well as complying with normal evidence of identity requirements.
A current unrestricted or restricted Defence Force licence must be produced. (A licence restricted to 'base only' it is not eligible for conversion).
No tests are required to convert a Defence Force Licence to a Victorian Licence.
You will need to pay a fee for the issue of a Victorian driver licence or learner permit (see Driver Licence and Learner Permit fees) unless you are converting a current civilian licence from any other State or Territory of Australia. In this case, the expiry date of that licence will be transferred to your Victorian licence.
Overseas defence force personnel may drive on their overseas licence, provided it remains current and is in English or is accompanied by an English translation (see Using an Interpreter or translator for more information), for the duration of their stay in Victoria. If they enter Australia under a permanent visa or become a permanent resident and if the permanent visa was issued when the person was outside Australia they have up to 6 months to convert to a Victorian licence from the date the person arrived in Australia, or if the visa was issued when the person was in Australia up to 6 months from the date the visa was issued.
Officers are considered Exchange Duty Officers if:
- they are members of any overseas Defence Force
- they are dependants of members of any overseas Defence Force,
and are on exchange duty with the Australian Defence Forces (ie an Exchange Duty Officer) can be issued with a driver licence or learner permit by providing evidence of identity and paying a licence fee.
Australian defence forces issue driver licences only. However, a defence force member may hold a learner permit issued from another state or Territory in Australia.
Serving members of the defence forces who hold an interstate learner permit (eg. for a car) may apply for a learner permit (eg. for a motorcycle) in Victoria whilst holding a learner permit or a licence in a different category issued elsewhere. However, before a permit is upgraded to a licence, any interstate licence must be converted to a Victorian licence to ensure only one Australian licence is held.
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