Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Standard56 · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 12:29 am Post subject: Manual

Manual gearbox cars have virtually disappeared from the roads here in Australia... If you want a new car with manual gearbox, then, it's a special order and a long wait .

Most drivers under 30 have no idea how to drive a manual gearbox.

bjacko · Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 5:53 am Post subject: Manual Cars

And more expensive than Autos opposite to what it used to be.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

I don't know if many Australians still come over here for a few years like they used to. The driving licence exchange rules seem to have changed for those staying longer than 12 mths.

"After 12 months you must exchange your licence to keep driving. You can exchange it up to 5 years after becoming resident, if it has not expired.
If your licence allows you to drive manual vehicles, you can usually exchange it for a UK licence that allows you to drive manual vehicles.
To get a UK licence to drive a manual vehicle, you may need to show proof of passing your driving test in a manual vehicle. You?ll need to do this if your driving licence was issued from one of the following territories:

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wale
Northern Territory
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria

If your driving test was taken in an automatic vehicle, you can only drive an automatic vehicle.

What is different about Queensland and Western Australia, that they do not appear on that list?
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Rusty · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2025 1:34 am Post subject:

Standard56 · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 6:12 am Post subject: License

That's interesting, the arrangements in Western Australia seem to be more relaxed than over here.

If you sat for a driving test in a automatic car, the license in Victoria used to be marked 'automatic', which meant you could only drive a automatic transmission car. There are so few manual cars on the roads now , they might have changed the license restrictions.

Not sure why QLD and WA weren't included in the UK license exchange arrangements.

bjacko · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:38 am Post subject: Driving Licences In Victoria

I believe the rules have changed in Victoria. if you pass your test in and auto (or a manual) you go on to P Plates, red for the first year and green for the next two years, but only driving the type of car you passed your test in. Then they can apply for a full licence which allows them to drive both Auto and Manual.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Standard56 · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Driving Licences In Victoria

Rusty · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:06 am Post subject:

Looks like they still haven't standardised quite a lot. My step kids all got their licences a few years ago now, the youngest is 24 and the oldest 30, but when they did get them, we made them do it in a manual, which was required for the youngest to have a manual and automatic licence, but not for the other two who got it automatically even though they did sit it in a manual anyway. It sounds like the rules relating to "P plates" are pretty much the same as WA, but I haven't heard of any "night driving" requirements, and I haven't heard of any reductions in requirements for applicants over a certain age either. There has been talk of bringing in MOT type inspections, and on our farm that would be hard to handle. Our closest inspection station is in the regional centre 100 KLM away, and with cars, utes trucks motorbikes and other vehicles there would be about 15 licenced vehicles, it would take "weeks" to drive them all over there to be inspected, so I hope that one falls over.

bjacko · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2025 7:03 am Post subject: Licences in Australia

To learn you have a learners licence which requires and on line test or test at a Vicroads site, then before they can take a driving test they must do 100 hours of recorded supervised driving including some night driving. After they pass the driving test and get their red P plates they are not allowed any alcohol or drugs whilst driving, only allowed to carry one of their mates and can lose their licence quickly with speeding etc. Then they go on to the green P plates and I think there are some more liberal restrictions, then after 2 years on green P plates they can apply for a full licence, but before they get it their driving history is assessed and they may not get it depending on the history.
The P plates have to be on the front and rear and clearly visible. They are the same size as UK L plates.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP