Police

Driving an unregistered vehicle on a public road anywhere in Australia is illegal and carries heavy penalties, but there are some exceptions.

Can I buy a car without a licence in Australia? The answer is: yes.CarsGuide contacted the various roads and traffic authorities around Australia who confirmed that you absolutely do not need a driver’s licence to buy a car in Australia.Ah, we hear you say, but what happens when you need to transfer the registration? This is where it can get trickier, but the truth is you don’t have to hold a driver’s licence to do this either.In Western Australia the Department of Transport told us you don’t need a licence to buy a car – you just need to be at least 16-years-old, be able to show them proof of identity and you also must be a WA resident. This means if you’re learning to drive or on a learner’s permit you can buy a car and have yourself registered as the owner.In New South Wales a spokesperson for the RMS said that there is no road transport law or policy requirement to possess a driver’s licence to purchase a vehicle and that one wasn’t needed to transfer the registration either.The same goes for Queensland, Victoria and South Australia where you are not required to hold a driver’s licence to buy a car or even transfer the registration, but you must supply proof of identity.Australia’s states and territories have differing methods for transferring ownership and while a driver's licence isn’t required, it’s important that new owners follow the proper processes.In NSW, for instance, within 14 days of acquiring a registered vehicle the previous owner must submit a notice of disposal and the new buyer must then pay a transfer fee, stamp duty and additional costs.The new owner must also provide proof of identity and proof of registration entitlement – such as a bill of sale, receipt, tax invoice or motor dealer sales contract.There's a catch. Well it's not really a catch but you should be warned: once the car is owned by you and registered in your name you will be sent the fines and penalties for whoever happens to be driving it.

If you ever want to outrun the police in the USA it could be about to get a whole lot easier; just keep driving for 524km.

Evading the police just got a whole lot harder in Victoria, with two new BMW M5 Competitions joining its changing fleet of offical vehicles.

The Northern Territory Police have chosen Kia's bi-turbo Stinger to replace its ageing Holden Commodore SS Fleet.

Why driving without a licence is a terrible idea

Driving around I have noticed there doesn't seem to be many Kia Stingers on the road. Given the massive hype pre-launch, I was wondering if you had some numbers on how sales have been since it was introduced? Has it gone the same way as the other sedans and been neglected in favour of the SUV or ute? Despite sales, have they lived up to everyone's expectations?

NSW Police has debuted a new member; a fully liveried Honda Civic Type R that will join the fleet for the next 12 months.

The next set of flashing lights you see in your rearview mirror could belong to a Passat 206 TSI Proline Wagon, with Victoria Police ordering 15 of the practical and potent Volkswagens to join its highway patrol and specialist division fleets.

No, driving in sandals isn’t illegal but if it impairs your ability to be in full control of your vehicle, then you could still be pulled over. Sandals, slides, thongs, Crocs, jandals, flip-flops - there’s a wide variety of loose-fitting footwear out there and lots of colourful names for the stuff that we slip on our feet in a rush. But whatever you wear and whatever you want to call it, none of it is illegal. Unless, of course, driving while wearing sandals causes you to drive carelessly. There are often different rules (or variations of the same rule) for roads across Australia, but all states and territories are subject to Australian Road Rules. And according to Australian Road Rule 297, you must not drive a vehicle unless you have proper control of the vehicle. You can get pinged for this law by driving while having an animal or person on your lap, being distracted by hands-free technology, or wearing footwear that slides around and impairs your ability to use your pedals properly. A good idea is to drive barefoot instead of wearing sandals if it comes to that, since that means your feet won’t be slipping or sliding around. The penalties for driving without proper control of your vehicle vary across the nation but in New South Wales, according to NSW Roads and Maritime Services demerits schedule, you’re potentially risking a $448 fine and three demerit points.In Victoria, as per VicRoads information on demerit offences, careless driving can set you back three demerit points and, in some cases, result in a requirement to complete a safe driving program. Similar penalties apply across the country. It’s also important to remember that if you could be found to be driving illegally, you’re risking any insurance agreement you may have in place. While you should always check your specific agreement for details, be aware that if you get into an accident while you’re not in proper control of your vehicle because you’re wearing sandals, your insurance agreement may be voided. But if you can speed down the highway in Crocs without it impairing your driving, then the only cops you have to worry about are the fashion police.This article is not intended as legal advice. You should check with your local road authority to verify the information written here is suitable to your situation before driving in this manner.