Canberra motorists no longer need to renew their driver’s licences in person, with renewals going online this month.
Most motorists can now just go to the Access Canberra website, fill in some information and pay the fee and their licence will be renewed using the last photograph they had taken.
The exceptions are when an eye test is needed or when upgrading from a learner to a P plate licence or when there are overdue parking fines, speeding fines or a licence suspension. In these situations, drivers will still need to visit a service centre.
ACT Regulatory Services Minister Gordon Ramsay said online driver licence renewals were the latest service to go digital, making it even easier for Canberrans to do business with government.
“We know that Canberrans are increasingly seeking to transact online with more than 60 per cent of those engaging with Access Canberra doing so digitally and this number continues to grow,” Mr Ramsay said.
“Each year Access Canberra renews about 65,000 driver licences and up until now all motorists have needed to go into a service centre to get their photograph re-taken.
“We know that people’s lives are busy so we have been working on a simpler and easier process for customers to renew by allowing their last photo to be re-used in most cases,” he said.
“From September 2017 most drivers who have had their photograph taken in the past five years can simply go online, click a few boxes on the digital form, pay the renewal fee and that’s all they need to do to renew.
“If you renew online, you will automatically be issued with a valid month-long temporary licence that you can download and keep driving straight away. You will receive your new physical card in the mail within three weeks.
“This will be particularly convenient for those drivers who leave renewing to the last minute with the valid temporary driver licence issued as soon as the payment is made. No longer will people need to wait until a service centre opens – you can renew right up to midnight on the day it’s due.”
Mr Ramsay said that information about whether a licence is eligible to be renewed online will be provided on driver’s licence renewal notices and the Access Canberra website.
The online service itself will also validate a person’s eligibility and direct them to a contact point for help if they cannot complete the service online.
“This is an important part of ensuring customers still have someone available to talk to if they need help or are unsure about something. Customers who need help will be directed to the appropriate channels where someone can assist them,” Mr Ramsay said.
“It’s a service model that better supports the modern digital age, and makes sure those with the most complex needs are best supported.”
What do you think of this change? Will renewing your licence online save you a lot of time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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