DKT- A suspended, cancelled or disqualified driver is not allowed to drive.
- Suspension is for a set period; cancellation means the licence is no longer valid.
- Disqualification takes away permission to drive or to apply for a licence or permit.
Three different outcomes
| Outcome | What it means |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Your licence or learner permit is withdrawn for a set period and you cannot drive. In most cases the same licence is handed back afterwards. If the suspension changes your licence conditions, a new licence has to be issued. |
| Cancellation | Your licence or permit is no longer valid. When the cancellation period ends you must apply to have it reissued before you drive again. |
| Disqualification | You lose permission to drive, or to apply for a licence or learner permit, after a cancellation or suspension. A person with no licence or permit can also be disqualified from getting one for a set time. |
What can lead to them
- A court conviction.
- A Traffic Infringement Notice.
- Too many demerit points. See demerit points.
- Action by Fines Victoria. See fines and infringement notices.
- Action by VicRoads.
Getting your licence or permit back
After a cancellation, being reissued can mean one or more of these steps, depending on your case:
- Passing a knowledge test on road law, a practical driving test, or both.
- Following an order from a court to be relicensed.
- Completing an education course.
- Meeting other VicRoads requirements, such as paying the licence fee or fitting an alcohol interlock device.
- Starting again on a probationary licence, if the offence happened while you were a probationary driver.
Do not drive in the meantime
Driving while suspended, cancelled or disqualified brings severe penalties, and in some cases your vehicle can be impounded. See unlicensed and disqualified driving and vehicle impoundment. For what a suspension does to your probation, see penalties for learners and probationary drivers.
Based on the Victorian Road to Solo Driving handbook and the VicRoads learner and probationary pages. Rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.
Quick answers
What is the difference between a suspended and a cancelled licence in Victoria?
A suspension withdraws your licence for a set time, and you usually get the same licence back. A cancelled licence is no longer valid and you must apply to have it reissued after the cancellation period.
What do I need to do to get my licence back after cancellation in Victoria?
It depends on the case. You may need to pass a knowledge test and a driving test, follow a court order, complete an education course or meet other VicRoads requirements such as fitting an alcohol interlock.