Free replacement driver licence and ID cards for victims of crime
From 1 October 2025, Queenslanders impacted by crime will not have to pay a fee to replace affected driver licences, photo identification cards and industry authority cards.
Affected number plates can also be replaced for free.
On this page:
- Who is eligible for free replacement?
- Cards eligible for free replacement
- How to apply for a free replacement
- Need more help?
Who is eligible for a free card replacement?
You don’t have to pay a fee to replace an eligible card if:
- it has been stolen
- it has been damaged, destroyed or lost because of a crime or misdemeanour committed by someone else
- confidential information on your driver licence has been (or is suspected to have been) accessed by or disclosed to an unauthorised person (for example, in a data breach).
Cards eligible for free replacement
If you’re eligible, you don’t need to pay a fee to replace the following cards issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads:
- driver licence (unless your licence has been suspended, disqualified or cancelled)
- photo identification card
- some industry authority cards:
- Driver accreditations and assistant accreditations
- Driver trainers, rider trainers, pilot/escort vehicle drivers and traffic controllers.
Note: There is no fee to replace marine licences, driver authorisations and dangerous goods licences.
About replacement cards
Replacement cards will have the same customer reference number (or licence number) as your previous card but the card number will change.
When your driver licence is used as identification with organisations such as banks and phone companies, they need to use both your card number and customer reference number to verify your identity through the Australian Document Verification Service. When you replace your driver licence, the details from your previous card won’t be accepted by the system because your card number has changed.
Find out more about replacement cards.
How to apply for a free replacement
If you’re eligible, you can:
- apply for a free replacement driver licence online, in person or by contacting us
- apply for a free replacement industry authority or driver authorisation in person
- apply for a free replacement photo identification card in person.
When you apply for a replacement card, you will need to declare that the information you have provided for the application is true and correct.
The penalty for providing false or misleading information is up to $10,000.
Apply online
If you’re eligible, you can use the replace driver licence service to apply for a free replacement driver licence.
You can’t use this service to replace a photo ID card, industry authority card or driver authorisation.
You can only replace your licence online once every 12 months
If you have already replaced your licence online (for example, if you lost it) and you are then a victim of a crime within the same year, you will need to apply for a free replacement in person or by contacting us.
Apply by contacting us by phone or messaging
If you’re eligible, you can message us or call 13 23 80 to apply for a free replacement of your driver licence, industry authority or driver authorisation once in a 12-month period.
You can’t contact us by messaging or phone to replace a photo ID card.
Apply in person
If you’re eligible you can apply for a free replacement driver licence, photo identification card, industry authority or driver authorisation at a transport and motoring service centre.
You will need to bring evidence of identity.
Note: Photo ID cards can only be replaced in person. When we issue a replacement photo ID, we need to capture your photo and digital signature. Your replacement photo ID will be valid for 10 years.
Need more help?
To find out more about free ID card replacements for victims of crime, you can message us or call 13 23 80.