DKT- If your licence or learner permit is suspended or cancelled, you are not permitted to drive.
- The handbook says severe penalties exist for unlicensed, suspended or disqualified driving.
- You can be charged with unlicensed driving for practising without a permit, even in a car park.
What counts as unlicensed driving?
- Driving with no licence or permit at all.
- Driving while your licence or learner permit is suspended or cancelled by a court, a Traffic Infringement Notice, Fines Victoria or VicRoads.
- Driving while disqualified from holding a licence.
Practising without a learner permit
Do not practise before you hold a learner permit. Without one you cannot practise on public roads or in car parks, and doing so can lead to a charge of unlicensed driving. Once you pass the test, a paper receipt lets you practise until the card arrives. See learner permit conditions.
Repeat offences and your vehicle
Repeat offences of unlicensed or disqualified driving are among the offences that can get your vehicle impounded. Police can impound it for 30 days, and courts can add 45 days to 3 months more. See vehicle impoundment.
Other things that must be in place
- You must carry your licence or permit when you drive. See carrying your licence.
- The vehicle must be roadworthy and have current registration.
- To get a probationary licence you must not be disqualified from driving in Victoria, in Australia or overseas.
How to get licensed again
After a suspension or cancellation, the steps to be relicensed vary. Read suspension, cancellation and disqualification. A cancelled probationary licence also restarts probation, as shown in 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
Can you practise driving in a car park without a learner permit in Victoria?
No. Without a learner permit you cannot practise on public roads or in car parks, and doing so can lead to an unlicensed driving charge.
What is the penalty for driving while suspended in Victoria?
The handbook says severe penalties apply for driving while suspended, unlicensed or disqualified. Repeat offences can also lead to your vehicle being impounded.