Getting your car licence

On 1 August 2011 the minimum age for obtaining class 1 (car) and class 6 (motorcycle) learner licences increased from 15 years to 16 years. New minimum ages for obtaining restricted and full licences also apply.

How driver licensing works

New Zealand has a graduated driver licensing system. This means you get your car licence in three stages. (These stages apply regardless of your age when you first apply for a licence.)

The stages are:

Stage 1 - Learner licence
Stage 2 - Restricted licence
Stage 3 - Full licence

As you graduate from one stage to the next, you're given a new licence with different requirements and more responsibilities. Normal road rules apply at all stages.

Note that you must carry your licence with you at all times when you're driving.

How much do car licences cost?

please visit http://www.drivingschool.net.nz/driver_licence_fee_schedule

What happens if I don't pass a test?

If you don't pass a test, you will be required to rebook that test. When you rebook you will be charged another test fee, but not another application fee.

Getting your car learner licence

How to apply for a learner licence
Conditions
'L' plates

Before you learn to drive on the road, you must get a learner licence.

How to apply for a learner licence

Go to your local driver licensing agent. You'll need to do the following:

Fill out an application form. (You'll be asked if you want your licence to identify you as an organ donor)
Produce identification that shows your identity and age
Produce evidence of your address, to ensure we send your licence to the right place
Pay for the theory test ($39.70) and the learner licence application ($39.30)
Pass an eyesight check (or present an eyesight certificate)
Provide a signature and have your photograph taken
Pass a theory test. (There are 35 questions - you must answer at least 32 questions correctly to pass the test.)

When you pass the test you'll be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your learner licence in the mail.

Your learner licence should arrive within two to three weeks.

Learner licence conditions

You must not drive on your own. A supervisor must be sitting in the front passenger seat beside you when you're driving. Your supervisor must hold (and have held for at least two years) a current full New Zealand driver licence.
You must display 'L' (learner) plates on the front and rear of the vehicle.
You must have your learner licence with you when you're driving.

If you're under 20 years old, the legal alcohol limit is 30 mg/100 ml of blood. This is effectively a zero limit - one drink means you can be charged with drink driving.
If you're over 20 years, the legal alcohol limit is 80 mg/100 ml of blood. Your driving, however, may be affected well before you reach the legal alcohol limit.

For more information on penalties, read:

Our 'enforcement' factsheets
Information on penalties and offences in the legal section of this website.

'L' (learner) plates

If you're driving with a learner licence, you must display 'L' plates on your vehicle. (This requirement applies to drivers of cars, motorbikes, mopeds and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).)

If you're driving a Class 1 vehicle (eg, a car, van or ute), you must display an 'L' plate on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

The 'L' plate must be clearly visible to other road users and must not restrict your front or rear vision.

L plate

The 'L' plate must be at least as large as the dimensions shown above.

'L' plates are available from:

the Automobile Association (AA)
Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)
Vehicle Identification New Zealand (VINZ)
On Road New Zealand.

Getting your car restricted licence

Resources

Restricted licence: How to get your restricted car licence - Factsheet covering the application process, the driving test and the restricted licence conditions.
Driver licensing courses (for driver licensing and endorsements) - You can reduce the minimum time you have to spend on a restricted licence by completing an approved advanced driving skills course (factsheet).

Information

Applying for a restricted licence
Conditions
Fees
Becoming a safe thinking driver
Moving to a full licence

You can apply for a restricted licence after you've held a learner licence for at least six months.

Applying for a restricted licence

You'll need to:

fill out an application form at your local driver licensing agent. (You'll be asked if you want your licence to identify you as an organ donor)
produce identification and evidence of your address.
pay the fees for the practical driving test and the restricted licence application
pass an eyesight check (or present an eyesight certificate)
provide a signature
have your photograph taken
apply for a date and time to sit your practical driving test.

When you pass the test you'll be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your restricted licence in the mail.

Your restricted licence should arrive within two to three weeks.

Restricted licence conditions

Holders of a restricted licence must adhere to the following conditions:

You can drive on your own, but not between 10 pm and 5 am. Between these times you must be accompanied by a supervisor, who must sit in the front passenger seat beside you. Your supervisor must hold a current, full New Zealand driver licence and have held this for at least two years.
If you sat the test in an automatic transmission vehicle, your licence will say that you can only drive automatic vehicles.
You must not carry passengers unless you have a supervisor with you

Remember that you must carry your restricted licence with you at all times when you're driving.

If you're under 20 years old, the legal alcohol limit is 30 mg/100 ml of blood. This is effectively a zero limit - consuming one drink will mean you risk being charged with drink driving.
If you're over 20 years old, the legal alcohol limit is 80 mg/100 ml of blood. Your driving, however, may be affected well before you reach the legal alcohol limit.

Fees

People applying for a restricted car licence (Class 1R) pay a fee of $48.90 to sit the practical driving test.
There is also a fee of $39.30 for the issue of the restricted licence.

All fees include GST and are non-refundable.

Moving to a full licence

You can apply for a full driver licence:

after 18 months on your restricted licence if you're under 25 years of age
after six months on your restricted licence if you're 25 years of age or older.

If you successfully complete an approved course, the length of time you must hold your restricted licence for may be reduced:

to 12 months for those aged under 25 years
to three months for those aged 25 or older.

You must present the course certificate to the driver licensing agent when you book the practical test.

For under 25 year olds who wish to complete an approved course, the course must be undertaken after you have held your restricted licence for at least six months.

The two approved cours are

a New Zealand Defensive Driving Course (Phone or TXT 027 287 9893 for more information).

Getting your car full licence

Resources

Full licence test for driving a car - Factsheet explaining in detail what the test involves, how it is scored and how you should prepare for it.

Information

How to get a full licence
Applying for a full licence

How to get a full licence

All restricted licence holders (Class 1 licence) need to sit and pass a full licence test before graduating to a full licence.

The full licence test involves a thorough examination of your driving skills and how you detect and respond to driving hazards.

You can apply for a full driver licence after 18 months on your restricted licence if you're under 25 years of age, or after six months on your restricted licence if you're 25 years of age or older. This time can be reduced if you successfully complete an approved course.

Applying for a full licence

You'll need to:

pay the appropriate fees for the test and full licence application
have your photograph taken
provide your usual signature
pass an eyesight screening check (or provide an eyesight certificate)
produce identification and evidence of your address.
pass the full licence test.

When you've passed the full licence test you'll be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your full licence in the mail.

Your full licence should arrive within two to three weeks.

Remember that you must carry your driver licence with you at all times when you're driving.