Factsheet 3 – November 2009

Restricted licence: How to get your restricted car licence

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

What do I have to do to get my restricted licence?

You'll need to go to a NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) driver licensing agent and complete an application form.

You'll also have to:

• produce identification (eg your learner licence – see Factsheet 20, Identification for driver licensing for further information)
• produce evidence of your current address (eg a recent bill or bank statement – see Factsheet 20)
• provide a current eyesight certificate from your doctor or optometrist or pass an eyesight check
• pay the fees ($39.30 for the application and $48.90 for the practical driving test)
• apply for a date and time to sit your practical driving test
• pass the practical driving test.

The application fee and the fee for the restricted licence practical test both include GST and are non-refundable.

Eyesight checks

You must prove that your eyesight meets the required standard each time you apply for a new licence class or endorsement or renew your licence. To do this you can:

• present a satisfactory eyesight certificate issued by a New Zealand-registered optometrist (this certificate must be no more than 60 days old)
• present a satisfactory medical certificate issued by a New Zealand-registered medical practitioner (this certificate must be no more than 60 days old)
• pass an eyesight screening check at a driver licensing agent

Note: the agents’ eyesight screening machines eliminate the need for many drivers to be test by an optometrist or medical practitioner. However, if you don’t pass the screening check then you must provide one of the certificates listed before your application can proceed.  Some drivers choose to supply a certificate instead of taking a screening check.

If you have vision in only one eye (monocular vision) you must present an eye certificate from a doctor or optometrist.

How do I pass the driving test?

The testing officer must be satisfied that you can drive safely and with due regard for other road users, without supervision. The test is designed to examine your driving skills in the areas of speed, control, search and manoeuvres. You can pass the test the first time around if you're well prepared.

Before you sit the test, make sure you get good instruction from someone who can give you experience in different traffic conditions and on different roads. They should choose suitable places for you to practice reversing, hill starts, three-point turns and parking.

Professional or private driving instruction?

You can choose from either a qualified professional driving instructor, or private driving instruction.

Professional driving instructors

Driving instructors charge a fee for training and are approved by NZTA. They must:

• hold a driving instructor endorsement for those classes of licence they wish to teach
• sit in the front passenger seat when they're instructing you.

Before your first lesson, ask the instructor to show you proof that they hold a current driving instructor endorsement.

Private driving instructors

A private instructor is someone you know who is willing to teach you how to drive. They're called your supervisor, and they must hold a current full New Zealand car licence, and have held this for more than two years. They must also sit in the front passenger seat.

Your supervisor should:

• carry their driver licence
• be prepared to commit to the time needed for you to practice
• be a responsible, skilled and confident driver
• be an effective communicator, able to get information and ideas across clearly
• have the patience to instruct you effectively
• be able to teach and build on previous lessons
• review, evaluate and assess your progress.

Planning your practice sessions

A planned approach to learning is essential, especially in the early stages. Each lesson should be matched to your needs and abilities. There are no short cuts to becoming a safe driver.

Your practice sessions will need to cover the following:

Pre-driving checks:

• Checking that the vehicle is safe.

Cockpit drills:

• Knowing the controls, where and when to use them, and how they work.

Getting going:

• signals
• moving off straight ahead
• stopping
• steering
• moving off at an angle
• gear changing
• intersections
• cornering
• negotiating steep gradients
• overtaking
• town driving
• rural driving
• motorway driving
• making an emergency stop
• night driving.

Manoeuvres:

• reversing
• moving off uphill
• moving off downhill
• three-point turns
• parking (parallel and angle).

Observation:

• 2-, 4- and 12-second rules (see the Road code)
• hazard identification
• zones of vision.

Seeing, thinking and acting:

• seeing road hazards
• thinking about what might happen
• acting in time to remain safe.

Automotive dynamics – how the vehicle reacts:

• when cornering
• when braking
• on ice
• in wet weather
• on different road surfaces.

There is a driving skills syllabus in the Road code to help your coach teach you the skills you need.

You should also learn how to handle driving emergencies (such as breakdowns and situations requiring first aid).

The restricted licence practical test

The restricted licence practical test is a chance for you to show how well you can drive.

You need to allow 30 minutes for sitting the practical test. The test is on a set route that is designed to measure your driving performance against set criteria. It is also designed to test your ability to recognise and cope with existing and potential road hazards.

What happens on the day of the test?

Don't be late

Don't be late for your restricted licence test. The test can't be rushed, so if you're more than five minutes late, your test will have to be cancelled. You'll have to pay again when you book another test.

If you can't make the appointment, or need to change it, please contact your driving licensing agent . If you don't advise your driver licensing agent of a cancellation or change at least two working days (excludes weekends and public holidays) before the date of your appointments, the fee will not be refunded.

If your test booking has been arranged using the telephone or on-line booking system you will need to allow an extra 30 minutes prior to your appointment to allow all the pre-test requirements to be completed, such as to confirm your eyesight meets the required standard, have your photograph taken and present evidence of your identity and address.

What happens on the day of the test?

On the day of the test you'll need to:

• show the testing officer your learner licence. (You must carry your licence at all times when you're driving, so if you don't have it, you can't sit the test)
• have the use of a car, station wagon or light van that:
  • has a current warrant of fitness (WoF) or certificate of fitness (CoF), and meets WoF requirements
  • has a current vehicle licence label
  • has a current road user charges licence, if required (eg if it's a diesel vehicle)
• ensure that you have two learner licence plates ('L' plates) displayed correctly on the vehicle you're using for the test
• ensure the passenger seat is in a clean and tidy state for the testing officer to sit on
• check that you've got enough petrol or diesel to complete the test.

If your vehicle doesn't meet any of the requirements listed above, the test will be cancelled. You'll need to book and pay for another test, and the test fee won't be refunded.

The testing officer will check the vehicle's tyres, lights, horn, body work, mirror positions etc. If the vehicle isn't roadworthy, even if it has a current WoF or CoF, the test won't proceed. The testing officer can't take you out for the test in a vehicle that doesn't meet safety requirements.

What does the test involve?

The practical test is divided into three parts. Each part has set criteria and the testing officer scores your test on a yes/no basis, as to whether you meet the criteria. To pass the test you must achieve at least 80 percent of 'yes' scores across all three parts.

During all three parts the testing officer decides whether your behaviour is satisfactory or unsatisfactory in the following areas:

• mirror use – checking appropriate mirrors before and after moving
• position on road – should be safe and legal at all times
• braking – smoothly and effectively
• headchecks – look over shoulder before moving
• signal use – indicate for at least three seconds before changing position on the road
• speed control – driving at a legal speed suitable for the conditions
• gap selection – select a safe gap before moving into traffic flows
• search – look to the front, both sides and to the rear to identify any potential hazards.

Part 1

This is conducted in a low-speed area (up to 60 km/h) and assesses your ability to safely and legally control your vehicle in simple driving situations:

• leaving and returning to the kerb
• driving straight
• turning left.

Part 2

This is conducted in a low-speed area, but assesses your ability to safely and legally control your vehicle in more complex driving situations, such as:

• reversing (three-point turn, reversing into a driveway, reverse parallel parking)
• turning at Give Way signs, Stop signs or traffic signals
• driving straight ahead through a roundabout.

Part 3

This is conducted in higher-speed zones of up to 100 km/h and assesses your ability to safely and legally control your motor vehicle in these driving situations.

• driving straight
• driving straight on a multi-lane road or driving around a curve (left or right)
• entering traffic flow.

Taking a support person

Before the start of the practical driving test, you can request to have a support person accompany you during the test. If you choose to have a support person in the vehicle with you, the support person:

• must be a person over 20 years of age
• must not be accompanied by any other person or animal (except a guide dog)
• must supply their name and contact details to the testing officer prior to the test beginning
• must not talk, offer assistance to, or distract the driver or testing officer at any stage during the test (should this occur, the testing officer will terminate the test and you would need to book and pay for another test)
• must not interrupt the testing officer as they are providing feedback at the end of the test.

The testing officer may refuse to accept any person as a support person if the testing officer believes on reasonable grounds that:

• his or her personal safety could be, or is, threatened or endangered, or
• the support person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or is noisy or violent, or
• there is no suitable seating available in the rear of the vehicle presented for the test.

What happens at the end of the test?

At the end of the test, the testing officer will:

• go over any errors you made and give you advice on what you can do to correct these in the future
• tell you whether or not you have passed the test.

What happens if I pass the test?

If you pass the test, you will earn your restricted licence and may drive under the conditions specified. The testing officer will keep your existing licence. You will be given a temporary restricted licence, valid for 21 days, to use until your photo driver licence arrives in the mail.

Why might I fail the test?

You might fail your practical test if you:

• score less than 80 percent across all three parts of the test
• drive recklessly, dangerously or inconsiderately
• are involved in a crash for which you are wholly or partly responsible
• are unable to carry out the instructions given by the testing officer because of lack of driving ability
• exceed the speed limit
• fail to comply with give way rules or Give Way signs
• fail to comply with traffic signals or Stop signs
• use a hand held cellphone while driving during the test
• send or receive a text message while driving during the test.

What role does the testing officer play during the practical test?

The testing officer will concentrate their attention on your overall driving behaviour in each of the three test parts and carry out four activities:

• observing
• giving directions
• recording
• keeping a watch on safety.

Common problems identified by testing officers

Testing officers have identified some common problems people sitting the restricted licence practical test have.

These include:

• arriving in a vehicle that doesn't meet warrant of fitness requirements
• arriving late (so the test has to be re-booked and another fee paid)
• being unprepared for the practical test
• being unable to show the testing officer their learner licence at the time of the practical test
• not bringing all the right documents when applying to take the test
• Not having 'L' plates displayed on the vehicle.

Please note:

Animals cannot accompany applicants during the test without the testing officer’s specific permission.

What are the conditions for a restricted car licence?

Conditions

• You must always have your restricted licence with you when you're driving.
• You can drive on your own, but not between 10 pm and 5 am. Between these times you must have a supervisor in the front passenger seat who holds a full New Zealand car licence, and has held it for at least two years.
• If you sat the test in an automatic vehicle, your licence will say that you can only drive automatic vehicles.
• You must not carry passengers unless you have a supervisor with you. The only passengers you can carry without a supervisor are:
  • your spouse or person you live with as if you were married, or with whom you are joined in civil union
  • children who live with you and are under the care of you or your spouse (you or your spouse are their parent or guardian)
  • relatives who live with you and who are on a social security benefit (domestic purposes, widow's, invalid's, unemployment or sickness)
  • someone you look after as their primary caregiver.
• If you’re under 20 years old, the legal alcohol limit is 150 micrograms per litre of breath and 30 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. This is effectively a zero limit – consuming even one drink may mean you can be charged with drink driving.
• If you’re 20 years or older, the legal alcohol limit is 400 micrograms per litre of breath and 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.

Penalties

All drivers must carry their licence when driving. You could be fined $55 if you can't produce your driver licence when an enforcement officer asks you to do so.

If you drive with passengers or drive between 10 pm and 5 am without a supervisor, you risk a ticket at the roadside, a fine of $400 and 25 demerit points. If you're summonsed to appear in court the fine could be up to $1000, as well as 25 demerit points.

Licences are suspended for three months if you get 100 or more demerit points within two years (note: the suspension does not take effect until such time as you are served with the suspension documents).

In addition to more court action, vehicles can be impounded for 28 days if you're caught driving with a suspended licence.

Where you can find out more

• See the latest version of the Road code for full details on how to get your restricted licence. You can find it in bookshops, driver licensing agents and libraries or read it on the website.
• Phone our driver licensing contact centre on 0800 822 422.
• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency
  Private Bag 6995
  Wellington 6141.