This information will help you if you are driving a vehicle that is registered overseas - whether you are visiting temporarily or have recently become a permanent resident.
Visitors
Visitors travelling in a vehicle that is registered overseas need to apply for an international visitor’s permit to drive the vehicle in South Australia.
New residents
You must apply for a licence and register your vehicle in South Australia within three months of moving here permanently.
If you have imported a vehicle from overseas it must be registered here before it can be driven on the road.
Registering an overseas registered vehicle
If you wish to register a vehicle previously registered overseas the vehicle must satisfy the following requirements:
After the vehicle has been inspected you can apply to register the vehicle at Service SA customer service centre by providing:
You will receive a registration certificate and label.
Applying for an international visitor’s permit
An international visitor’s permit cannot be issued until the vehicle has arrived in Australia and a compulsory third party insurance fee will apply for the period the vehicle is to be used in Australia.
Complete an application for an international visitor’s vehicle permit at a Service SA customer service centre.
You will also need to provide evidence that the vehicle has entered Australia legally. The following documentation may be used as evidence:
- carnet - a custom’s licence permitting motorists to take their cars to various countries
- triptych - similar to a carnet, but valid for one trip only
- bond – a document lodged with Australian Customs Service.