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Learning to drive: How to get your car licence (Factsheet 45)

Published: 07 2010

This factsheet tells you how to get your car licence which allows you to drive a light vehicle (up to 4500 kg). Cars, vans and utes are light vehicles. It outlines the three graduated stages (learner, restricted and full), the process to get each stage and any conditions which you must comply with when driving.

Learning to drive: How to get your licence

This factsheet tells you how to get your car licence which allows you to drive a light vehicle (up to 4500kg). Cars, vans and utes are light vehicles. It outlines the three graduated stages (learner, restricted and full), the process to get each stage and any conditions which you must comply with when driving.

Three stages to get your licence

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

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
 $47.20
Learner licence test fee $44.70
Restricted licence application fee
 $47.20
Restricted licence test fee $58.60
Full licence application fee
 $48.50
Full licence test fee $84.70
Total $330.90

Where can I apply?

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

Check our website or look in the Yellow pages to find a branch near you.

Driver responsibility

Legal alcohol limits for driving

It is illegal to drive, or attempt to drive, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

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.

An enforcement officer can require you to undergo tests if they have good cause to suspect you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You may be required to undertake compulsory impairment and/or blood tests if you are suspected of being under the influence of drugs. 

If you are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, breath and/or blood tests may be required.

Do I need to carry my licence?

You should have your licence with you at all times while driving. The law requires that you produce your licence to an enforcement officer immediately 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 name and current address (see Factsheet 20)
  • pay the learner licence application and test fees
  • 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 10pm and 5am and you must not carry any passengers.
  • When learning to drive a light motor vehicle (car, van or ute) you may carry passengers, provided your supervisor agrees.
  • You must display learner (L) plates on the vehicle at all times when you're driving. You can obtain L plates from the NZTA driver licensing agents.

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:

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, between 5am and 10pm.
  • If driving between 10pm and 5am 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.
  • 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:

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.

Changing or cancelling your test

If you have booked a theory or practical test and want to change or cancel your test, you will have to pay a further fee.

Where there are two or more complete working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you will need to pay a rescheduling fee of $16.

This is a regulated fee to cover the time taken and costs incurred when a test is cancelled or rescheduled.

Where there are less than two complete working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you will not pay a rescheduling fee but will need to pay a further test fee. This further test fee is not refundable.

You may be eligible for a refund of the first test fee paid where the cancelled test time was subsequently filled by another person. If the test fee is refunded, a processing fee of $16 will be deducted.

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, Transport Registry Centre, Private Bag 11777, Palmerston North 4442