Where a person has been disqualified for certain drink and drug driving offences, and they seek to re-apply for their licence at the conclusion of their disqualification period, they may be required to undergo a drug or alcohol dependency assessment prior to their licence being re-issued.

An applicant will be required to undergo an assessment where the offence for which they were disqualified for was:

An offence may be taken into account as committed or allegedly committed within the period of 5 years beforehand regardless of whether or not they had been convicted of or expiated the offence at the time of their commission of the disqualification office [s 79B(7a)]. In these instances, prior to issuing a licence the Registrar of Motor Vehicles must direct the applicant to submit to an alcohol dependency assessment to show they are not dependent on alcohol [see Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 79B(1)]. The Registrar can issue the licence without requiring the applicant to submit to an assessment, if they are satisfied that the applicant has successfully completed an alcohol dependency treatment program not more than 60 days before applying for the licence [see Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 79B(1)].

Similar provisions apply to certain drug driving offences. An applicant for a licence will be required to undergo a drug dependency assessment before being issued a licence, where the licence or permit was cancelled under section 81D(2)(a) or where the offence for which they were disqualified for was:

An offence may be taken into account as committed or allegedly committed within the period of 5 years beforehand regardless of whether or not they had been convicted of or expiated the offence at the time of their commission of the disqualification office [s 79B(7a)]. For these offences, prior to issuing a licence the Registrar of Motor Vehicles must direct the applicant to submit to a drug dependency assessment to show they are not dependant on drugs [see Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 79B(2)]. The Registrar may issue the licence without requiring the person to submit to an assessment, if they are satisfied that the applicant has successfully completed a drug dependency treatment program not more than 60 days before applying for the licence [see Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 79B(2)].

If a person undergoes a drug or alcohol dependency assessment, and on the basis of the report produced from that assessment they are deemed to be dependant on drugs or alcohol, the Registrar must refuse to issue them a licence until they are satisfied the person is no longer drug or alcohol dependant [see Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) ss 79B(4) and 79B(5)]. The Registrar can consider reports from approved drug and alcohol assessment providers in determining whether to issue the licence to the applicant. The applicant is liable for the cost of the drug or alcohol dependency assessment and any participation in a treatment program.