South Australia’s world-first ‘supercar licence’ requirement has caught one motorist out on its first day in force, with a Lamborghini Huracan driver copping a fine for not completing an hour-long course.
The Huracan was stopped on Queensborough Avenue, Hillcrest at about 7:30am on December 1, after police officers noticed it didn’t have a rear licence plate.
A police officer identified the Lamborghini as an ultra high-powered vehicle (UHPV), which requires a ‘U class’ licence to be driven by South Australian motorists.
From December 1, 2024, all South Australian drivers of a UHPV – classified as those with a power-to-weight ratio of 276kW per tonne or higher – must hold a U class licence which can be obtained by passing an online course.
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The course, which takes less than an hour to complete, costs $61.
Motorists are also required to pay a one-off $20 fee for their standard licence to be replaced.
The maximum penalty for driving a UHPV without holding a U class licence is $2500 for a first offence, with subsequent offences resulting in a potential one-year imprisonment.
Unfortunately for this Lamborghini driver, they have been made an example of after being the first caught behind the wheel of a UHPV without the U class licence.
The 36-year-old man was issued with an expiation notice for driving with an expired licence for the class of vehicle he was behind the wheel of.
It’s not known if he received the full $2500 penalty, or how much he was also fined for not having a rear number plate.
South Australian motorists have been reminded to use the state’s EzyReg smartphone application, click the ‘High Powered Vehicles’ tab and enter their vehicle’s registration details to find out if it is a UHPV.
Hundreds of vehicles in the Australian market fit criteria of being above the power-to-weight limit, from the supercharged Ford Mustang R-Spec at the lower end of the price spectrum to all Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren models at the top end.
Modified vehicles are also considered UHPVs if they have a power to weight ratio of 276kW/tonne or more. According to the South Australian Government, it’s the responsibility of the driver to know whether they’re driving a UHPV.
Regular C class licence holders are permitted to test drive a UPHV through a car dealer, however that exemption doesn’t apply to private sales. Supercar experiences and rentals are also subject to the U licence requirements.
At the start of this year, South Australia brought in new driving laws which could result in fines of up to $5000 if UHPV drivers disable the car’s anti-lock braking, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), electronic stability control (ESC) or traction control systems.
The changes to South Australia’s road safety laws follow the death of teenage pedestrian Sophia Naismith, who passed away in 2019 after being hit by a Lamborghini Huracan outside a restaurant at Glengowrie.
The Lamborghini’s driver was acquitted of causing death by dangerous driving.
MORE: Why a special licence for high-powered sports cars is a great idea
