Your VicRoads Letter Lists Two Programs — What That Means for Booking

You opened your relicensing letter expecting one instruction and found two programs listed instead. That's not a mistake, and it doesn't mean the system has doubled up on you.

In Victoria, your drink and drug driving behaviour change program requirements are worked out offence by offence, so a letter naming two programs is usually telling you there are two separate boxes to tick before you get your licence back. Knowing why they're both there, and which one to book first, can save you weeks of delay and a fee you'd rather not pay twice.

Key Takeaways

• A VicRoads letter can list two programs because Victoria requires a behaviour change program for every offence, not one per person.

• The other common reason is timing: if you're doing the Intensive program because your offence was for drink driving, you'll also need to complete a separate 2-hour pre-interlock removal program much later, near the end of your interlock period.

• Booking the wrong program means it won't count towards your relicensing, so you'll have to do the correct one anyway.

• All programs must be completed in person or via zoom if permission has been obtained from Vic Roads, and you'll need your VicRoads letter on hand before you book.

• If anything in the letter is unclear, it's worth confirming the exact programs before you pay for a session.

Why Does My Letter List Two Programs?

The simplest explanation is written into the rules themselves. Under Victoria's relicensing requirements, you must complete a behaviour change program for every offence, even if you've completed a program before. So if your record includes two offences, your letter reflects two obligations.

That can happen in a few ways:

• You might have picked up a drink-driving offence and a separate drug-driving offence

• You might have a prior offence sitting on your history alongside the one that just cost you your licence

• You may have a combined offence that carries the Intensive program plus a follow-up requirement attached to your interlock

In each case, the letter is mapping out the full path back.

The Two Programs Aren't Always For Right Now

If your letter lists the Intensive program and a 2-hour pre-interlock removal program, those belong at opposite ends of your journey. The main program comes first, before you apply to get your licence back. The pre-interlock removal program comes much later, towards the end of your alcohol interlock period, and only when you're preparing to have the interlock condition taken off.

Booking both up front is a common and understandable mistake. The pre-interlock removal program asks you to revisit the behaviour change plan you made earlier and talk through what's worked while the interlock has been fitted. It should only be done once you've been driving with the device for a while. Book it too early, and it won't line up with where you are in the process.

This is the "right programs, right order" part that trips people up. Two programs on a page can look like a single to-do list, but it's really a timeline.

Which Drink and Drug Driving Behaviour Change Program Applies To You?

Victoria runs three main programs, and the type you're directed to depends on the details of your offence.

Drink Driving Course

The drink driving behaviour change program is for a first offence with a blood or breath alcohol reading under 0.15 and no drugs in your system. It runs over two sessions of about 3.5 hours each, a week apart.

Drug Driving Course

The drug driving course is for a first offence involving illicit drugs. It follows the same two-session format, with a facilitator guiding a small group.

Intensive Drink and Drug Driving Course

The intensive drink and drug driving course is for more serious circumstances, including a second or later offence, a reading of 0.15 or above, having both alcohol and drugs in your system, a refusal offence, a DUI or DWI charge, or other serious driving offences. It's longer, running four sessions across three weeks, including a one-on-one counselling session before the third group session. 

Every drink- and drug-driving behaviour change program in Victoria is delivered in person, with online attendance approved only in limited circumstances.

Booking the Right Program the First Time

The reason this matters so much is the money and time involved. If you complete the wrong program, it won't count towards getting your licence back, and you'll still need to book the correct one. In addition to each provider's fee, every program includes a fixed cost-recovery amount paid to the Department of Transport and Planning. You want to avoid paying that twice.

A quick check before you book helps. Match each program named in your letter to the descriptions above, note whether one of them is a later-stage pre-interlock removal program, and confirm the timing.

If you're not certain, a good provider will read the letter with you and point you in the right direction. You can compare accredited programs through the full list of VicRoads behaviour change programs, and start with the one that applies to your current stage.

Why the Process is So Strict

The requirements exist because the stakes are real. According to the Transport Accident Commission, around 1 in 5 drivers killed on Victorian roads have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 or higher. The programs are built to help you understand what led to the offence and reduce the chance of it happening again, which is also why the correct program has to be matched to your specific situation.

Get Support For Booking & Completing Your Programs

If your letter has left you second-guessing, it's easily sorted. At Drink Drive Victoria, our accredited drug and alcohol professionals can look at your VicRoads letter, confirm exactly which drink and drug driving behaviour change program applies and in what order, and get you booked into the right session near you.

Programs run across Melbourne, Geelong, Shepparton, Wodonga and Warrnambool, so there's usually one within reach. Call 1300 123 723 or Explore Drink Drive Victoria to book online and take the guesswork out of your next step.