Frequently asked questions
Applying for a new card
Do I have to change my laminate card to a new card straight away?
No, you can wait until your current laminated card is due for renewal.
Do I have to change my laminate card 18+ to a new adult proof of age card?
No, if you currently hold a card 18+ moving to the new adult proof of age card is optional. However the new adult proof of age cards will be given to all new applicants.
Do I need to pay for both a new driver licence and a heavy vehicle driver licence?
No. The process for applying for a heavy vehicle driver licence has not changed.
You will only need to pay the one fee for the issue of the driver licence. You will only be issued with one licence.
When you are issued your driver licence, the licence will show only the highest class or classes of vehicle that you are eligible to drive. This means you are allowed to drive each type of vehicle listed for that licence code. However, motorbike class RE or R will appear separately on the licence.
If you apply for a class HR (heavy rigid), HC (heavy combination) or MC (multi-combination) licence you will receive a magenta heavy vehicle driver licence. If you only hold a class C (car), LR (light rigid), MR (medium rigid), RE (learner approved motorbike) or R (unrestricted motorbike) licence you will receive a yellow (gold) licence.
What happens if I am applying for a higher class of licence?
If you are applying for another class of licence and you hold a current driver licence, you will only need to pay the one fee for the practical driving test. The colour of the licence sent to you will depend on the class of licence applied for.
For example, if you hold a class C licence and you wish to apply for a class HR licence, you will need to visit a driver licence issuing centre, complete the application form, pay the practical driving test fee and pass the test. If you have not already passed the road rules test for the heavy vehicle class (10 questions), you will need to pay the road rules test fee and pass the test.
You will not be required to pay an additional fee for the replacement of your existing driver licence card.
The new card you receive will be valid for the remainder of your current driver licence period. So, if you upgrade to a higher licence class your current licence expiry date will not change.
Do I need to pay for a marine licence indicator card and a new driver licence?
If you hold a valid driver licence and a marine licence, your marine licence will be indicated on the back of your new Queensland driver licence.
If you are applying for a marine licence and you already hold a new driver licence, you will be issued a new driver licence with your marine licence indicator on the back. You will only need to pay the one fee for the marine licence. You will not be required to pay an additional fee for the replacement of your existing driver licence card. Your existing driver licence expiry date will not change.
All new marine licence applicants who do not hold a Queensland driver licence will be given a separate marine licence indicator card. For existing marine licence holders, moving to the new marine licence indicator card is optional. Existing marine licences, which are virtual, will still be valid.
Will there be concessional discounts available with the new licence?
No. The deparment does not currently offer concession (including pensioner) discounts on licence products and this position will remain with the introduction of the new cards.
How do interstate and overseas customers renew their licence?
Queensland driver licence holders and industry authority holders who are temporarily living interstate or overseas will be able to renew their driver licence by completing a driver licence renewal kit.
Two current photographs must be sent in with the application and, if they meet the photographic guidelines, your photograph will be scanned and matched with other images before your application is approved. Once your application is approved, your card will be sent to you in the mail.
If the photographs do not meet the photographic guidelines, a laminated licence (valid for one year) may be approved and sent to you instead.
Back to top
Compliant image
Can I wear glasses when I have my photo taken?
You are required to remove your glasses or sunglasses to have your photograph taken.
Can I wear any head attire when I have my photo taken?
You must remove your hat or cap. If you wear headwear for religious reasons, it must be adjusted so that all facial features from the bottom of your chin to top of your forehead (including both edges of your face) are clearly shown.
Can I smile when I have my photo taken?
When you have your photo taken, you will be asked to maintain a neutral expression with your mouth closed.
Back to top
PIN and shared secrets
Why do I need a PIN?
Your Personal Identification Number (PIN) is a four digit number that allows you to view and control access to protected information that is stored on the card chip, such as your name, address and licence/authority information. Your protected information is secure even if you haven’t selected a PIN.
Specially configured card readers are used at licence issuing centres and by Police Officers to view information stored on your card. You do not need to use a PIN to release information in these situations.
Third parties, such as car rental businesses and insurance companies may, in the future, develop computer applications that interact with the card. If you wished to release your protected information to a third party, you would need to enter your PIN when the card is inserted in a card reader connected to the third party’s computer system.
What are shared secrets?
Your shared secrets are the answers to two questions you can choose to provide from a list of security questions. The shared secret function will, in the future, allow you to conduct secure online transactions with the department.
Your shared secrets must:
- be between 4 and 30 characters
- consist of alpha and/or numeric characters (i.e. no special character for example, %, #, @)
- not have a space as the first or last character
- not have two or more spaces entered consecutively.
The letters are not case sensitive.
Shared secrets are captured at the first issue of a card (e.g. driver licence) and applied to all other cards that you may hold (e.g. industry authority, adult proof of age card).
What are the security questions I can choose from?
- What was the name of the first school you attended?
- In what type/make of vehicle did you learn to drive?
- What was the name of the first foreign country you visited?
- What was the name of the first live concert you attended?
- What was the name of the first street you lived in?
- What was the name of your first pet?
- What was the last name of your favourite teacher at school?
- In what town/city was your mother born?
- What was your childhood nickname?
- What was the name of the suburb/town of your first job?
Back to top
Privacy
What will be stored on the card's chip?
Information stored on the card's chip will include:
- the standard product information (as shown on the face of the card), including
- the licence/authority/card number
- type and/or classes of licences or industry authorities held (except for the adult proof of age card)
- expiry date, or dates relating to various licence/authority types and classes (except for the adult proof of age card)
- condition codes/indicators (except for the adult proof of age card)
- your personal details (as shown on the face of the card) including
- name
- date of birth
- gender
- height (except the adult proof of age card)
- address
- PKI and digital certificates (allowing authentication of the card and authorisation of access to information stored on the card's chip)
- your PIN and shared secrets.
What will not be stored on the card's chip?
Information that will not be stored on the card's chip includes:
- your digital photo or signature
- your driving history, driving offences, fines or demerit points
- the status of your licence or authority (for example current, suspended or cancelled)
- details relating to dealings with other government agencies
- donor information (organ and tissue donation is no longer recorded on driver licences in Queensland. Australia has the single national Australian Organ Donor Register. This register is now the only place to record a legal decision to donate organs and tissue for transplantation)
- your medical or financial information
- record of access
- any information not directly related to licence, authority or proof of age cards issued by the department.
Will the Queensland Government keep a copy of my digital photo and signature on file?
Your photo and signature will be captured digitally and securely stored by the department so the necessary checks associated with facial image recognition can be undertaken.
This means Queensland will join all other Australian states and territories in storing digital images of licence holders.
Who will have access to my photo?
The department's Identity Management Unit will be the only area who can access a customer's digital photograph. (Please see next question for details relating to Police access).
Will Police Officers have access to photos?
Police Officers can access digital photos in an emergency if the officer suspects there is an actual or imminent serious risk to a person's life or health or to public health or safety, and immediate access to the photo is likely to help reduce that risk. However, the Police Officer is required to obtain a Post-Access Approval Order from a Justice of the Peace (qualified) or a Justice of the Peace (magistrate's court) authorising the release.
Police Officers can also access digital photos stored on the database for the investigation, enforcement and prosecution of transport related offences that fall under the:
-
Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995
-
Transport Operations (Passenger Transport) Act 1994
-
Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994
-
Tow Truck Act 1973
-
Adult Proof of Age Card Act 2008.
A Police Officer can also access digital photos to investigate, prosecute and enforce the criminal law, but only when they apply to a Justice of the Peace (qualified) or a Justice of the Peace (magistrate's court), for an Access Approval Order, and only where the justice is satisfied it is reasonably necessary to access the digital photo for that purpose.
Police cannot search the digital photo database by date of birth, ethnicity, physical description or using facial recognition technology.
Back to top
