Extraordinary Driver's Licence applications

Who can apply for an EDL?

You can apply if you have been disqualified from driving by a court.

You cannot apply if:

• you are under a roadside disqualification notice from the police
• you have a Licence Suspension Order for unpaid fines or infringements
• your licence is disqualified because of excessive demerit points (including breaching Double or Nothing), or
• your licence is disqualified in another state.

If you were disqualified from driving and your licence was also cancelled, the court may make an order that you re-sit your test before you are allowed to drive under an EDL. This may be helpful to you because:

• you will not have to wait until after your disqualification has ended to reapply for a licence
• you will not have to wait in a queue before you re-sit the test
• when the EDL ends, you will be allowed to continue driving because you will already have sat your test and have your licence back.

What reasons do I need to give for wanting an EDL?

The court will not give you an EDL unless you can show that if you cannot drive:

• you or a family member will be unable to get urgent medical treatment for an existing illness, disease or disability, or
• it will take away the main source of earning money and cause an undue financial burden on you or your family, or
• you or someone in your family has no other practicable means of transport for getting to and from work.

When can I apply for an EDL?

There are certain waiting periods that apply from the date that you are  disqualified before you can apply for an EDL. The amount of time you have to wait depends on why your licence was disqualified and whether you have other traffic convictions.

To find out the waiting period that applies to you, either contact the registry of the court where you are making the application or get legal advice.

If your application is refused, you must wait six months before you can apply again.

Where do I apply for an EDL?

You make your application to the court that disqualified you. For example, if you were disqualified by a magistrate, you apply to the Magistrates Court.

How do I apply for an EDL in the Magistrates Court?

You must complete an application form with an affidavit in support, pay the fee, and lodge your application with the Magistrates Court. There is full information about how to do this in the Infosheet: Extraordinary Driver's Licence Applications.

What does the court consider?

In deciding whether to grant your application, the court will consider a number of factors including:

• the amount of hardship to you or your family if you are not given an EDL
• the safety of the public
• your character
• the nature of the offence(s) that led to you being disqualified from driving, and
• your conduct since you were disqualified from driving.

What conditions might be attached to my EDL?

Every EDL has conditions of some kind. The court will include conditions on your EDL that are appropriate for your situation. Some common conditions are:

• the days and times when you can drive
• the reasons you can drive (eg to get to work or for medical appointments)
• the places where you can drive
• the vehicle/s you can drive
• having to keep a logbook of all the times you drive under your EDL.

You can apply to change or vary the conditions of your EDL by making an application to the court at any time. It is important to do this if you are having difficulty following a condition or if your circumstances change, because it is an offence if you do not follow the conditions of your EDL.

When can I drive under my EDL?

Generally, if a court orders that you can have an EDL, you can drive once you give the court order to a licensing centre of the Department of Transport and they issue you with your EDL. They can then issue your EDL and you can start to drive under the EDL.

However, if your disqualification was for an alcohol interlock offence, you might have to fit an alcohol interlock to your vehicle before you can drive under your EDL.

What if I don't follow the conditions of my EDL?

If you don't follow the conditions of your EDL, you are committing an offence. The penalty is a fine and your EDL will be cancelled, unless there are special circumstances. If you don't follow the conditions about the time when you can drive, the reason you can drive or the place where you can drive, your vehicle will also be impounded by the police.

Resources from Legal Aid WA

• Infosheet - Extraordinary Driver's Licences
• Fact sheet - Lost your licence?
• Infosheet - Traffic - Part 1: How to deal with your traffic offence
• Infosheet - Traffic - Part 2: Common offences and penalties

More information

Magistrates Court of WA

• Extraordinary Driver’s Licences
• Court locations and contacts

Department of Transport

• Alcohol Interlock Scheme

 

Reviewed: 9 September 2026