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 0.10* reading and
• had your licence cancelled.

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

*Note: A combined drink and drug-driving offence with an illegal BAC reading at any level (even below 0.10) will be managed by the Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates' Court

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

• First time drink-driving offences committed before 1 October 2014 with a BAC between 0.07 and less than 0.10*
• All first time drink-driving offences with a BAC of 0.10 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
• 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. Complete an accredited driver education program (if required). Find out more under ‘Driver Education Programs’ below. 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 for you to get your licence back. 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 education 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 driver education program, obtain a licence eligibility report or undergo an assessment through an accredited driver education and assessment agency. If you’re not sure what you need to do, find out more from the Magistrates’ Court website under Drivers licence eligibility order guide and Drivers licence eligibility orders FAQ.
   • You may need a record of your driving history (see Driving Record below).
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. You may be asked to have an interview with Victoria Police before your court hearing.
4. Serve your cancellation period in full. 
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 at least a minimum period of time that will be shown on your LEO.    
6. Go to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with your LEO and education certificate of completion (if required) 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

The accredited driver education agency (see Driver education programs below) 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 a LEO.

Visit Check driver history to get your driver history report.

You may have to complete a driver education program. These programs are run by accredited driver education and assessment agencies and help you learn more about:

• how alcohol and drugs affect your ability to drive
• what your legal obligations are
• the health effects of alcohol and drugs.

You’ll need to complete an accredited driver education program if any of the following apply to you:

• You were under 25 years of age at the time of your offence
• The Court requires you to complete it
• You committed a combined drink and drug driving offence (If you repeat a combined drink and drug-driving offence, you’ll need to complete an education program each time.)

Find an accredited driver education and assessment agency

For a directory of accredited driver education and assessment agencies and locations near you

• call DirectLine on 1800 888 236

Note: There could be waiting times to attend a program, so make sure to allow for this when planning your steps to get your licence back. 

• original Licence Eligibility Order (LEO) (if required)
• original accredited driver education program certificate of completion (if required)
• 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’d be caught here

This means that your Victorian licence will get cancelled and you'll have conditions like driving with zero blood alcohol added to your licence. You'll also need to have an alcohol interlock installed to any vehicle you drive.  

For more information contact the Victorian Alcohol Interlock Program on 1300 723 790 or [email protected]