Getting your licence back

VicRoads

You can apply directly to us to get your licence back if this was your first drink-driving offence and you:

• committed your offence on or after 1 October 2014 in Victoria and
• had a BAC reading below .10
• didn't have any illicit drugs in your system and
• had your licence cancelled.

Find out how to get your licence back under 'VicRoads managed drivers' below.

Magistrates' Court

If you committed any of the below offences in Victoria, you'll need to attend a Victorian Magistrates' Court before you can get your licence back:

• all first time drink-driving offences with a BAC of .10 or more
• all repeat drink-driving offences
• all drug-driving offences where your licence is cancelled
• serious alcohol-related offences such as culpable driving
• all offences relating to refusal to be tested for alcohol or drugs
• first time drink-driving offences committed before 1 October 2014 with a BAC between .07 and less than .10*
• all combined drink and drug-driving offences committed on or after 1 August 2015
• all other offences that may require an alcohol interlock condition.

Find out how to get your licence back under 'Court managed drivers' below.

*Note: First time drink-drivers who were required to attend court for an offence committed prior to 1 October 2014, with a BAC less than 0.07, can apply directly to VicRoads to have their licence reissued.

1. If your offence was committed on or after 30 April 2018, complete a Behaviour Change Program. Make sure you get an original certificate of completion as you’ll need that to get your licence reissued.
2. Serve your cancellation period in full.
3. Go to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to apply to get your licence back. See ‘Get your driver licence reissued’ below for details.
4. Follow the conditions on your reissued licence. This will include an alcohol interlock ‘I’ condition and a zero BAC ‘Z’ condition. By law, we have to impose alcohol interlock and zero BAC conditions upon getting licensed. Find out more about the ‘I’ & ‘Z’ licence conditions below.

The removal of your alcohol interlock licence condition will also be decided by us, not the Court. See Completing the Alcohol Interlock Program.

You'll need to get a Licence Eligibility Order (LEO) from the Magistrates' Court before we'll reissue your licence.

You'll need to follow these steps to get your licence back:

1. Plan ahead and find out what reports you need and/or Behaviour Change Program you need to complete. Some requirements may need to be done several months before your court hearing.
   • Depending on the offence you committed and when it was committed, you may need to complete a Behaviour Change Program, obtain a licence eligibility report or undergo an assessment through an accredited assessment agency. If you’re not sure what you need to do, find out more by contacting your nearest Magistrates’ Court for further advice.
   • You may need a record of your driving history. See 'Driving record' below for details.
2. Book your Licence Eligibility Order (LEO) court hearing:
   • To get a LEO, attend a Magistrates’ Court at least 28 days before your licence cancellation period ends to arrange a hearing.
   • The court will set a hearing date at least 28 days ahead, but not before your cancellation ends.
3. Participate in, where required, an interview with Victoria Police before your court hearing.
4. Serve your full cancellation period. 
5. Attend your court hearing. The court will decide whether to issue you with a Licence Eligibility Order.
   • Depending on the offence you committed and when it was committed, your LEO may have an alcohol interlock condition imposed for a minimum period of time that will be shown on your LEO.    
6. Go to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your LEO to apply to get your licence back. See ‘Get your driver licence reissued’ below for details.
7. Follow the conditions on your reissued licence. This may include an alcohol interlock ‘I’ condition depending on your offence and will include a zero BAC ‘Z’ condition. Find out more about the ‘I & Z licence conditions' below. The removal of your alcohol interlock licence condition will be decided by the court. See Completing the Alcohol Interlock Program.

If you have committed a drink or drug-driving offence prior to 30 April 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services accredited driver education agency (if you are completing a driver education program) and the Magistrates' Court may need a record of your driving history.

You won't need to get your driving history if you don't need to complete a driver education program or get an LEO.

Visit Check driver history to get your driver history report.

If you have committed a drink or drug-driving offence on or after the 30 April 2018, you will need to complete a Behaviour Change Program (BCP) before you can get your licence back.

The BCP is designed to help you to identify the underlying reason for your drink and or drug-driving offence and to help you to identify actions to reduce the risk of re-offending in the future. 

Please wait until you receive a letter in the post from us so you know the right program to book into. 

The specific type of BCP you need to complete depends on the details of your offence. Refer to Drink-driving penalties, Drug-driving penalties or Combined drink and drug-driving penalties for more information.

To find a BCP provider, see Behaviour change program providers or call DirectLine on 1800 888 236.

Once you’ve served your cancellation period and met all other requirements, you’ll need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to apply to get your driver licence reissued. You’ll need to bring your:

• original Licence Eligibility Order (LEO) (if required)
• original certificate of completion (BCP or equivalent accredited driver education program)
• original evidence of identity documents
• driver licence or learner permit re-issue fee.

If you haven’t held a current Australian or overseas driver licence in the last five years or need to reissue an expired motorcycle learner permit, you’ll also need to be retested before your licence or learner permit is issued. Visit Renew your licence or learner permit for information about what tests are required and how to make an appointment.

When you‘re relicensed you’ll receive the same type of licence you had before it was cancelled, but it may have conditions ‘I’ for Alcohol Interlock and ‘Z’ for zero BAC on it.

If you have a probationary licence or a learner permit, a zero BAC is automatically applied as a condition of driving, so the ‘Z’ condition is not shown separately.

Visit About the Victorian Alcohol Interlock Program for more information on alcohol interlocks.

For more information on licence conditions visit Licence conditions.

From 31 January 2018, if you hold a Victorian licence and get caught drink-driving interstate, the same rules apply as if you were caught here.

This means that your Victorian licence will get cancelled and you will have conditions like driving with zero blood alcohol added to your licence. You will also need to have an alcohol interlock installed to any vehicle you drive, and may need to complete a Behaviour Change Program.  

For more information, contact Driver Relicensing Services on 1300 723 790 or [email protected].