Check your WA license status through the Department of Transport website

You can check your Western Australian driver's license status online using the Department of Transport's License Status Check tool. This free service tells you whether your license is current, suspended, cancelled, or expired. You'll need your driver's license number and date of birth to look it up.

The check takes about two minutes and gives you an when ready result. This is the fastest way to find out your license standing without calling or visiting an office in person.

Key Takeaways

  • The Department of Transport's online License Status Check tool is free and shows your license status in real time using your license number and date of birth.
  • You can also call the Department of Transport on 13 10 84 during business hours if you prefer to check by phone instead of online.
  • A suspended or cancelled license means you cannot legally drive in Western Australia until the issue is resolved.
  • If your license has expired, you will need to renew it before you can drive again, and the process depends on how long it has been expired.

What the online check tool tells you

The License Status Check tool shows one of four outcomes: your license is valid and current, your license has expired, your license is suspended, or your license has been cancelled. Each status means something different about whether you can legally drive.

A valid and current license means you can drive. An expired license means your renewal date has passed and you need to renew before driving again. A suspended license means you cannot drive for a set period, usually because of unpaid fines, demerit points, or a court order. A cancelled license means it has been permanently revoked and you will need to reapply for a new one through the full licensing process.

How to use the Department of Transport's online tool

Go to the Department of Transport website and find the License Status Check section. Enter your driver's license number exactly as it appears on your card, including any letters or numbers. Then enter your date of birth in the format requested (usually DD/MM/YYYY).

Click the search button and wait for the result to appear. The system will show your current status when ready. If the tool cannot find your license, double-check that you entered your license number and date of birth correctly. If the information is still not found, contact the Department of Transport directly.

Checking your license by phone

If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak to someone, you can call the Department of Transport on 13 10 84. This is a local call rate number. Have your driver's license number and date of birth ready when you call.

Phone lines are open during standard business hours, Monday to Friday. Wait times can be longer during peak times, so calling early in the day or mid-week may be faster. The staff member will look up your status and tell you the result over the phone.

What to do if your license is suspended

A suspended license means you are not allowed to drive during the suspension period. Driving while suspended is a serious offence and can result in fines, a criminal record, and further suspension.

Find out why your license was suspended by contacting the Department of Transport. Common reasons include unpaid traffic fines, accumulating too many demerit points, or a court order. Once you know the reason, you can take the steps needed to resolve it — such as paying fines or waiting out the suspension period. The Department of Transport will tell you when your suspension ends and how to get your license back into valid status.

What to do if your license has expired

An expired license cannot be used to drive legally. How you renew depends on how long ago it expired. If your license expired less than two years ago, you can renew it by mail or online through the Department of Transport without sitting a new test. If it expired more than two years ago, you will usually need to sit the written test and possibly the road test again, depending on your age and license class.

Visit the Department of Transport website to start a renewal or contact them by phone to find out which renewal path applies to you. Renewal fees vary depending on your license class and how long you want the license to be valid for.

Checking a license you hold from another state or country

If you hold a driver's license from another Australian state or from overseas, the WA License Status Check tool will not show that license's status. That tool only works for Western Australian licenses.

If you want to know the status of a license from another state, contact that state's transport authority directly. If you hold an overseas license and want to drive in Western Australia, you may be able to use it for a limited time as a visitor, or you may need to convert it to a WA license. The Department of Transport can tell you what applies to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my license status?

You only need to check if you think there may be a problem — for example, if you received a notice about unpaid fines or demerit points, or if your renewal date is coming up. There is no need to check regularly if your license is current and you have no outstanding issues.

Can I check someone else's license status?

No. The License Status Check tool requires the license number and date of birth, and is designed for the license holder to use. You cannot look up another person's license status through this tool.

What if the online tool says my license is suspended but I did not know about it?

Contact the Department of Transport when ready to find out why. You may not have received a notice, or it may have been sent to an old address. Once you know the reason, you can take steps to resolve it. Do not drive until the suspension is lifted.

Does checking my license status online cost anything?

No. The License Status Check tool is free. You only pay fees if you need to renew your license or take other action based on what the check shows.

How long does it take to get a result from the online check?

The result appears when ready after you enter your information and click search. If the system is slow or you get an error, try again in a few minutes or call the Department of Transport instead.