Acceptable ID for vehicle and licence transactions

You must prove your identity (ID) for most driver licensing and vehicle registration transactions.

For some transactions you must also prove you live in the ACT with proof of residency documents.

What you'll need

You can prove your identity with either:

• your ACT driver licence card
• 3 original proof of identity documents (which must include at least one primary proof of identity).

Proof of identity documents for individuals

There are 2 levels of accepted proof of identity documents:

• Primary proof of identity
• Secondary proof of identity.

Primary proof of identity

The following documents are accepted as primary proof of identity:

• a photographic driver licence issued in Australia and current or expired up to 2 years (NSW Digital Driver Licence may be accepted).
• Australian birth certificate (not a commemorative certificate or extract). If the certificate is not in your current name, you’ll need to supply linking documentation such as a marriage certificate.
• Australian passport current or expired up to 3 years
• overseas passport current or expired up to 3 years
• Australian Citizenship Certificate or Naturalisation Certificate
• Department of Home Affairs travel document valid up to 5 years after date of issue
• Department of Home Affairs Evidence of Immigration Status (EIS) ImmiCard valid to date of expiry
• Department of Home Affairs Permanent Resident Evidence (PRE) ImmiCard valid to date of expiry
• Department of Home Affairs Australian Migration Status (AMS) ImmiCard valid to date of expiry
• current Police Officer Photo Identity Card issued in the ACT only
• Australian proof of age card, proof of identity card or NSW Photo Card with appropriate security features that display the date of issue by the authority and current or expired up to 2 years.

Secondary proof of identity

The following documents are accepted as secondary proof of identity:

• current Medicare Card
• current credit card or account card with signature and embossed name from a bank, building society or credit union. These need to be sighted by Access Canberra staff, do not submit photocopies.
• current student identity document with photograph and signature issued by an educational institution
• current Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs Concession Card
• KeyPass Identity Card issued by Australia Post, current or expired up to 2 years
• security guard or crowd controller identity card with photograph issued by an Australian state or territory, current or expired up to 2 years
• Firearm Licence with photograph issued by an Australian state or territory current or expired up to 2 years
• current Consular Identity Card with photograph issued by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• current state, territory or federal Government employee identity card with photograph
• current Australian Defence Force Identity Card with photograph
• current ACT Government Services Access Card
• Working with Vulnerable People Registration Card, current or expired up to 2 years
• ACT High Risk Work Licence, current or expired up to 2 years.

Proof of identity documents for businesses

Authority to Act as an Agent

In some cases, an agent can complete a transaction on behalf of someone else.

You can do this if:

• you're an individual and unable to complete a transaction yourself
• you're a business.

Once you've nominated an agent they'll be able to complete a transaction for you or your business. If you need them to complete another transaction you'll need to nominate them again.

How to nominate an agent

You'll need to complete the Authority to Act as an Agent (PDF 156KB) form and provide it to Access Canberra.

You can submit the form to Access Canberra when completing the transaction. You can do this by contacting Access Canberra or attending an Access Canberra Service Centre.

For individuals

If you hold an ACT driver licence, you'll need to provide:

• a copy of your ACT driver licence (as the person granting authority to the agent)
• an original primary proof of identity document for the agent
• a completed ‘Authority to Act as an Agent from’ or authorisation letter with the details you and your nominated agent's details.

If you do not hold an ACT driver licence, you’ll need to provide:

• 2 forms of identify documents, one of which must be a primary identity document containing a photo (as the person granting authority to the agent)
• an original primary proof of identity document for the agent
• a completed 'Authority to Act as an Agent' form or authorisation letter with yours and your nominating agent’s details.

For businesses

If the agent is acting on behalf of an organisation or company, the agent must provide:

• an original primary proof of identity documentation for the agent
• an Authority to Act as an Agent (PDF 156KB) or Authorisation letter containing the company letterhead.

Authorised representatives

For individuals

If you hold an ACT driver licence, you'll need to provide:

• a copy of your ACT driver licence (as the person granting authority to the agent)
• an original primary proof of identity document for the agent
• a completed 'Authority to Act as an Agent from' or authorisation letter with the details you and your nominated agent's details.

If you do not hold an ACT driver licence, you’ll need to provide:

• two forms of identify documents, one of which must be a primary identity document containing a photo (as the person granting authority to the agent)
• an original primary proof of identity document for the agent
• a completed Authority to Act as an Agent form or Authorisation Letter with yours and your nominating agent's details.

How to nominate a representative

You'll need to complete the Authorised Representatives (PDF 223KB) form and provide it to Access Canberra.

You can submit the form to Access Canberra when completing a transaction. You can do this by applying online or attending an Access Canberra Service Centre.

For individuals

You or the nominated representative must provide:

• a copy of primary proof of identity documentation for all authorised representatives
• a completed Authorised Representatives form signed by the applicant
• a copy of the applicant's Driver Licence or full Proof of Identity.

For businesses

You or the nominated representative must provide:

• a copy of primary proof of identity documentation for Authorised Representative/s
• a completed Authorised Representatives form
• an authorisation letter containing the company letterhead from the organisation or company Director or authorised person. You must provide evidence of Directorship or authority.

Examples of evidence include:

• a business card
• a full ASIC certificate containing evidence of Directorship
• written confirmation on the company/organisation's behalf.

Once a business nominates an authorised representative they'll be able to update the businesses contact details on the Access Canberra website, including the businesses:

• physical address
• postal address
• email address
• phone numbers.

Please note businesses authorised representatives:

• must have a primary proof of identity
• will be listed on all applicable Registration Renewal notices
• only current and accurate as per the date of issue of each notice.

To add, remove or update an authorised representative contact Access Canberra.