Lost your licence and need to keep driving? This free tool asks a few questions about your situation and tells you whether you may be eligible to apply for a restricted licence under Tasmanian law. It takes about two minutes.
Describe your situation in plain English. No legal jargon needed.
We'll ask about the details that matter — like your licence type, the offence, and any prior history.
You'll see a clear assessment of whether you may be eligible, with next steps if you want to proceed.
Under section 18 of the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 (Tas), a person whose licence has been (or is about to be) suspended or cancelled may apply to the Magistrates Court for a restricted licence. Common situations include:
If you've accumulated too many demerit points and your licence has been suspended, you may be eligible — provided you weren't offered a Period of Good Behaviour that you chose not to accept.
If you were convicted of exceeding 0.05 with a blood alcohol reading below 0.15, you held a full licence, and you have no prior drink driving disqualifications within the last 3 years, you may be eligible.
Drug driving offences have different rules. Learner and provisional licence holders are not automatically excluded (unlike drink driving), and eligibility depends on your driving history.
If your licence was cancelled or suspended by a court for excessive speed or another traffic offence, you may be eligible for a restricted licence, subject to the general exclusions.
The law sets out specific situations where a restricted licence is not available. You are not eligible if any of the following apply:
DUI conviction — You were convicted of driving under the influence (impairment-based, under section 4 of the RSA Act), as opposed to exceeding the prescribed concentration.
Blood alcohol of 0.15 or above — A reading of 0.15 or higher automatically disqualifies you from applying.
Refused a breath test or blood test — Refusing or failing to provide a sample makes you ineligible.
Learner licence — If you held a learner licence at the time of the offence, you cannot apply for a restricted licence. While a limited exception exists for drug driving offences, there are significant practical hurdles for learner drivers — we'd recommend speaking with a lawyer.
Provisional licence (drink driving) — If you held a provisional licence at the time of a drink driving offence, you cannot apply. Provisional licence holders may still be eligible for other offence types, including drug driving, speeding, and demerit point suspensions.
Prior disqualification or offending during disqualification — If you committed the offence during a period of disqualification, or within 3 years after the end of a previous disqualification under the Road Safety Act, you are not eligible.
Period of Good Behaviour not accepted — If you lost your licence for demerit points and were offered a Period of Good Behaviour but chose not to take it, you cannot apply for a restricted licence.
Driving a prescribed vehicle (drink/drug driving only) — If you were driving a taxi, bus, luxury hire car, or a vehicle over 4.5 tonnes at the time of a drink or drug driving offence, you are not eligible. This exclusion does not apply to speeding, demerit point suspensions, or other non-road-safety matters.
Never held an Australian licence — You must have held an Australian driver licence at some point to be eligible.
If you're eligible, the next step is preparing your application for the Magistrates Court. Our lawyers handle restricted licence applications across Tasmania and can guide you through the process.
Oxley Barristers & Solicitors · Launceston, Tasmania