Getting ACT licence after moving here from NSW

so just after I posted this I got a friendly call from someone from the registry or the ministers office. I can’t remember. they mentioned they had read this post on riot act and we had the issue sorted very quickly

big thanks to whoever called me, I didn’t write down your name

and big thanks to riot act for helping to make my voice heard

I had to renew my license AND change my address today (all within the ACT) and I didn’t need to provide anything! Just verbally gave the lady at the counter my new address while filling out the form and bam – new licence with my new address on it. No paperwork (apart from the renewal form), no questions, hassle free. I just wish every time I went to Canberra Connect it was that easy…

Wow and affidavit, that’s pretty extreme.
So considering they want an affidavit must mean that they want to use the document in court, seing though it is a document used for evidence in a court proceeding.

Surely they would just need a stat dec in this instance…..

Aeek said :

So why don’t they accept your NSW liscence as proof of identity?

Proof of Identity and Proof of Residency are two separate issues.
Your NSW Driver Licence proves WHO you are, it doesn’t prove where you live for the issue of an ACT Driver Licence.

So why don’t they accept your NSW liscence as proof of identity?

Antagonist said :

johnboy said :

It might have changed but twice in recent years I just went down to the dickson registry with my housemate and signed a bit of paper saying they lived at the stated address.

^^^ This. Statutory Declaration. Simple.

They REALLY don’t like to let people do these though anymore. I went to get a proof of age card from Canberra Connect while I was in a similar situation as the OP. I literally had nothing on the approved list of proof-of-residency documents so after about 45 minutes of explaining it to the CC staff they very reluctantly let me sign a stat dec. The irony is that after all that they didn’t even write down my address properly, they had me listed as living somewhere in Watson instead of Tuggeranong.

Rollersk8r said :

Other than that I completely agree with you – the motor registry are indeed total bastards. I have fought with them before and will no doubt fight with them again because their only joy comes from making people wait an hour and a half, then inventing a reason for them to come back again tomorrow.

TBH, I have been to the motor registry approximately once. It was to transfer both the rego on a vehicle and my license.

I didn’t have to wait more than maybe 10 minutes on either – despite being told one of my tyres was unroadworthy. They told me if I was be able to make it back within 3-4 hours, I wouldn’t need a new appointment. Later that day (after a trip to the tyre shop), I was seen and a few minutes later inside to finish the paperwork for new plates and license..

Reply

Antagonist said :

johnboy said :

It might have changed but twice in recent years I just went down to the dickson registry with my housemate and signed a bit of paper saying they lived at the stated address.

^^^ This. Statutory Declaration. Simple.

You’d think so, but my stepdaughter recently moved to the ACT and was unable to get her Learner’s Permit with statutory declaration from her mother (who was with her) as proof of address. Fortunately she (my stepdaughter) had just submitted a tax return with her ACT address on it and was able to use that, otherwise I have no idea how she would have been able to prove her residency.

She was told that they’re “cracking down” on proof of address because people from NSW have been fraudulently obtaining ACT licences. I don’t think they’ve really thought it through, as there’s a significant percentage of the population who simply won’t have the ability to provide the proof that they need.

johnboy said :

It might have changed but twice in recent years I just went down to the dickson registry with my housemate and signed a bit of paper saying they lived at the stated address.

^^^ This. Statutory Declaration. Simple.

tactless said :

So the point is, this is not just a ‘Driver Licence’ but a piece of primary ID. You rock up to Canberra Connect/RTA with no evidence supporting where you live, yet you expect to be issued primary ID with some address that you have nominated with no supporting docs?
I would also suggest that they can ask you for as much information as they deem necessary to ensure that they are issuing this piece of primary ID correctly, I would also hope that you could see why.

I think you’ll find that a drivers licence is secondary ID.

Primary ID is a passport, full birth certificate, or other evidence of citizenship.

farout said :

BimboGeek said :

Does this mean that homeless people aren’t allowed a drivers license? Because I’ve known people who lived in their van for several months while they figured out what to do next.

And just how will they get their speeding tickets or rego renewal notice if they have no address?

All you have to do is be homeless! I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a small price to pay for speeding indemnity.

And to think, back in the day, all one had to do was go into your bank tell them you’ve moved to the ACT, pluck any old address out of the air, and ask could you please send me a new bank statement in the mail. Then take that statement into the ACT shopfront and say can I please transfer my NSW licence to an ACT licence, here’s my address.

Apparently, it was all the rage when the ACT didn’t have demerit points, so I’ve been told.

Even better, I’m led to believe, the bank didn’t even charge for sending the statement!

BimboGeek said :

Does this mean that homeless people aren’t allowed a drivers license? Because I’ve known people who lived in their van for several months while they figured out what to do next.

And just how will they get their speeding tickets or rego renewal notice if they have no address?

It’s really not that big of a deal.

For a start the 3 months to change you licence over is just a guide – it is not enforced by anyone. Unless you have a specific need I’d keep my NSW licence (and car rego) for as long as possible – it’s cheaper! And if you happen to be pulled over 12 months down the track you just say you didn’t get around to changing it over because you didn’t have a permanent address. All sorts of people spend the majority of the year in Canberra without changing their licences.

You have as long as you want to get a few bills sent to your current address – and hey presto you’ll have enough ID.

Other than that I completely agree with you – the motor registry are indeed total bastards. I have fought with them before and will no doubt fight with them again because their only joy comes from making people wait an hour and a half, then inventing a reason for them to come back again tomorrow.

BimboGeek said :

But then they would be screwed if they needed to renew their license!!

Interestingly, you only need to prove residence once and that is upon first time issue of the Driver Licence. You can change addresses within the ACT as often as you like once you have your licence and all it takes is a phone call or even a simple internet transaction to change your address.

Bank statements have always worked for me. Does this mean that homeless people aren’t allowed a drivers license? Because I’ve known people who lived in their van for several months while they figured out what to do next. The office had a shower, a friend would offer the use of a laundry or laundromats are cheaper than renting an entire house and of course food is no challenge if you’re happy to eat simply or even use a park barbecue sometimes. But then they would be screwed if they needed to renew their license!!

So the point is, this is not just a ‘Driver Licence’ but a piece of primary ID. You rock up to Canberra Connect/RTA with no evidence supporting where you live, yet you expect to be issued primary ID with some address that you have nominated with no supporting docs?
I would also suggest that they can ask you for as much information as they deem necessary to ensure that they are issuing this piece of primary ID correctly, I would also hope that you could see why.

It might have changed but twice in recent years I just went down to the dickson registry with my housemate and signed a bit of paper saying they lived at the stated address.