Factsheet 45 – April 2009

Learning to drive: How to get your car licence

Three stages to get your licence

New Zealand's graduated driver licensing system has three stages:

• stage 1 – learner licence
• stage 2 – restricted licence
• stage 3 – full licence.

Each stage has a test you have to pass. There's a theory test to begin stage 1, and driving tests to begin stages 2 and 3.

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

You must always have your licence with you when you're driving, and you must be at least 15 years old before you can apply for a car driver licence.

How much does it cost?

	Fee
Learner licence application fee	$39.30
Learner licence test	$39.70
Restricted licence application fee	$39.30
Restricted licence test	$48.90
Full licence application fee	$44.30
Full licence test	$70.80
Total	$282.30

All fees include GST and are non-refundable.

Where can I apply?

You need to go to a NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) driver licensing agent. These are selected branches of:

• Automobile Association (AA)
• Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)
• Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ)

Check the organisation's website or look in the Yellow pages to find a branch near you.

Driver Responsibility

Legal alcohol limits for driving

The law says you must not drive if the amount of alcohol in your blood or breath exceeds certain age-related limits.

If you're under 20 years old, the legal alcohol limit is 30 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, and 150 micrograms per litre of breath. This is effectively a zero limit – consuming one drink will mean you can be charged with drink driving.

If you're over 20, the legal alcohol limit is 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood and 400 micrograms per litre of breath.

Do I need to carry my licence?

You should have your licence with you at all times when you are driving. The law requires that you produce your licence to an enforcement officer when requested. The failure to do so may result in a fine.

Stage 1 – learner licence

Before you learn to drive on the road you must get a learner licence. You'll need to:

• fill out an application form
• produce your full birth certificate*, passport or other proof of your identity and age (see Factsheet 20, Identification for driver licensing)
• produce evidence of your current address (see Factsheet 20)
• pay the fees for the learner licence application and the test
• provide an eyesight certificate from a New Zealand-registered doctor or New Zealand-registered optometrist (this must not be more than 60 days old), or pass an eyesight check
• have your photograph taken and provide a signature
• pass the learner licence test; this is a theory test that assesses your knowledge of the road rules.

When you pass the test you'll be given a temporary learner licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your photo driver licence in the mail. (It should arrive within two to three weeks.)

* Older-style birth certificates that do not include your parents' details are no longer accepted by many government agencies (including the NZTA) as evidence of identity.

Learner licence conditions

• You must not drive on your own. You must be accompanied by a supervisor, who must always sit in the front passenger seat beside you. A supervisor is someone who holds a current full New Zealand car driver licence and has held it for at least two years.
• If you are learning to ride a moped, you must not ride it between 10 pm and 5 am.
• You must display L (learner) plates on the vehicle at all times when you're driving. You can obtain L plates from the NZTA driver licensing agents.
• There's no law stopping you from carrying passengers. However, if you do, your supervisor (who will must be seated next to you in the vehicle) must agree to this – the supervisor is responsible for everyone in the vehicle and for what happens when you're driving.

Stage 2 – restricted licence

After holding a learner licence for at least six months, you can book a time at a driver licensing agent to sit your restricted licence test. The restricted licence test is a practical test of your driving.

To get your restricted licence, you must:

• have held your learner licence for at least six months
• produce evidence of your identity (see Factsheet 20, Identification for driver licensing)
• produce evidence of your current address (see Factsheet 20)
• pay the fees for the restricted licence application and test
• provide an eyesight certificate from a New Zealand-registered doctor or New Zealand-registered optometrist (this must not be more than 60 days old), or pass an eyesight check
• have your photograph taken and provide a signature
• pass the restricted licence test (see Factsheet 3, Restricted licence: How to get your restricted car licence for more details).

When you pass this test you'll be given a temporary restricted licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your photo driver licence in the mail. It should arrive within two to three weeks.

Restricted licence conditions

• 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 this for at least two years.
• You must not ride a moped between 10 pm and 5 am.
• If you sat the test in an automatic vehicle, your licence will say that you can only drive automatic vehicles (unless accompanied by a supervisor).
• 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 to 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.

Stage 3 – full licence

You can apply for a full driver licence after 18 months on your restricted licence if you're under 25 years old, or after six months on your restricted licence if you're 25 or older.

If you're under 25 years old and you successfully complete an approved course, you can apply for your full licence after 12 months instead of 18 months. (Please note that you must have had your restricted licence for at least six months before you complete the course.)

If you're 25 or older and you successfully complete an approved course, you can apply for your full licence after three months. Present the course certificate to the driver licensing agent when you apply for your full licence.

To get your full licence, you must:

• pay the fees for the application and the test
• produce evidence of your identity (see Factsheet 20, Identification for driver licensing)
• produce evidence of your current address (see Factsheet 20)
• provide an eyesight certificate from a New Zealand-registered doctor or New Zealand-registered optometrist (this must not be more than 60 days old), or pass an eyesight check
• have your photograph taken and provide a signature
• pass the full licence test (see Factsheet 58, Full licence test for driving a car for more details).

When you pass the test you'll be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until your full licence arrives in the mail. It should arrive within two or three weeks.

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz
• Call our driver licensing contact centre: 0800 822 422
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 4161