Australia - Driving on a 457

Posting this up in case someone else find it useful.

Here's bit of my experience in getting my car/driving stuff done here in Sydney. As you know, I only hold a 457 Visa, which by all means, is considered temporary. Because of this, I am not allowed (yet) to apply for an Australian Driver's License, which is the number one identification required for many things related to driving, including buying a car, registering a car, getting toll tags, applying for related accounts, etc, etc.

So if you are in the same boat as me, here are some tips:

1. Buying a car
   
   Dealers don't care about you. They just want to make a sale. So just give them your passport, tell them that you have a valid license (which English text) and they'll be happy to sell you the car.
   
   Note, I had a stupid mistake of not checking the vehicle identification number that the dealer wrote on the deed of sale. It is important that all the information are correct, otherwise RTA (the transport authority) will not accept your registration. I had to waste an afternoon going back and forth between the dealer and registry.
    
2. Registration of your car
   
   There are 2 important things that you need when you register your car:
   (1)  your identification - austrlaian driver's license
   (2)  your address - proof of billing (utility bill)
   Both of them require proofs, of course, which is not easy for us who are new to the country. And note that you only have 14 days from the date of purchase of your car to do this registration.
   
   Here's what you can provide in the absence of those:
   (1) identification - your passport, a credit card with your name on it
   (2) address - any utility bill addresses to your house and a reference letter from a person you know stating their name, australian drivers' license number, and their quick statement on how long they have known you and that they can confirm your current address.
   
   
3. Toll tag
   
   If you travel often using the Motorways, Tunnels and the Harbour Bridge, you will have to pay toll. Freeway are of course FREE. For Sydney, all the tolls are no longer manned, hence cash payment is no longer an option. So you will need one of their automated payment means.
   
   It is best if you can get a Toll Tag right away (a small device you put on your windshield that tells the Toll where you extract your payment), but you won't be able to get one until after you have registered your car. So, the quick and easy way is to get a temporary Visitor Pass from Roam. It's cheap and fast. You just go to their site, sign up, and that's it. You can say until when you want it going then they will send you your invoice after. Now when you've settled your registration, you again go to Roam and get yourself a permanent Toll Tag. You can rent the device for cheap ($1.50/mo I think) or buy it straight up for $40.
   
   Roam's website is www.roam.com.au
    
4. Parking
   
   Well that's an entirely different ballgame. More on that when I get the chance later.

Happy driving!