About the practical riding tests

The full licence practical riding test

What is the full licence practical test?

The full licence practical test is the test that restricted licence holders must pass to graduate to a full licence. It is designed to test whether the skills of the motorcyclist are at a level where they can safely ride without the conditions of the restricted licence.

The test is conducted on a motorcycle provided by you.

The full licence practical test will take about one hour. This time allows for vehicle checks before the test, the test itself and time for the testing officer to give you feedback on your performance after the test.

During the test you will be expected to demonstrate safe riding practices in a wide range of situations.

The things you will be asked to do are designed to see if you can safely handle situations that present the greatest crash risk to people in their first five years of riding. You should be prepared to ride in a variety of situations and on many different types of roads.

When can I apply to sit the full licence practical test?

You can apply for a full licence after you've had your restricted licence for at least:

  • 18 months if you're under 25 years old
  • 12 months if you're under 25 years old and have completed an approved advanced skills course (which must be undertaken not less than six months after receiving your restricted licence)
  • six months if you're 25 or older
  • three months if you're 25 or older and have completed an approved advanced skills course.

How should I prepare for the full licence practical test?

During the test, you will be required to demonstrate safe riding behaviours across a wide range of traffic situations and road conditions. Because of this, you need to have a skill level where you are able to ride on all types of roads and in all traffic conditions.

Because of the dangers involved in gaining the experience necessary to pass the full licence test, it is strongly recommended that you get professional training. You will need a level of skill and experience that enables you to ride competently and to identify and remember traffic hazards.

What does the full licence practical test involve?

The full licence practical test is divided into three parts.

Each part has set criteria and the testing officer scores your test on a simple yes/no basis. This means they will record a 'yes' for each skill you perform to the required standard and a 'no' for any that don't meet the standard.

You must achieve at least 80 percent of 'yes' scores in part 1 to progress to parts 2 and 3. The testing officer will tell you the result of part 1 as soon as you've completed it.

If you have scored less than 80 percent in part 1, you have failed the test and won't progress to parts 2 and 3.

If you have successfully completed part 1, you will then need to score at least 80 percent of 'yes' scores across parts 2 and 3 to successfully complete and pass the full licence test.

Part 1 - Test of basic riding

The aim of part 1 is to confirm that:

  • you can ride without breaking the road rules
  • you have the basic skills needed to deal with the four road and traffic situations that typically prove the most hazardous for recently licensed motorcyclists:
    • riding straight
    • riding through intersections
    • turning left at 90-degree intersections
    • turning right at 90-degree intersections.

You will be asked to ride:

  • on laned and unlaned roads
  • in speed zones ranging from 0 to 60km/h
  • in all types of traffic
  • through controlled (with Give Way or Stop signs) and uncontrolled intersections.

Part 1 will take approximately 10 minutes.

Part 2 - Detecting and responding to riding hazards in built-up areas

In part 2 you will be required to perform tasks such as:

  • making a U-turn
  • turning left at an intersection when facing a Give Way or Stop sign
  • turning right at an intersection when facing a Give Way or Stop sign
  • turning right at an uncontrolled intersection.

As well as being marked on how well you performed each task, the testing officer will ask you to observe and remember the hazards that you see as you perform some of the tasks listed.

After each task pull over to the kerb and stop. The testing officer will ask you what hazards you saw and where they were in relation to you.

A hazard is anything that is moving, or has the potential to move, that could pose a clear and direct threat to you in carrying out your riding task. Some examples of hazards are:

  • other vehicles
  • children playing on the footpath
  • pedestrians
  • cyclists.

You will be marked on how well you performed the task, plus how well your identification of the hazards matches those noted by the testing officer.

All of the tasks set in this part of the test will take place in busy, built-up areas. This means you will be riding in and around towns or suburban areas, where the speed zone ranges from 0 to 60km/h.

Part 2 will take approximately 15 minutes.

Part 3 - Riding in higher-speed zones

In part 3 you will perform tasks in higher-speed zones (on highways or motorways, where the speed limit ranges between 70 and 100km/h).

The sort of tasks you can expect to be set in this part of the test include:

  • riding straight
  • riding around curves
  • merging into the traffic flow.

You will be marked on how well you perform each task.

Part 3 will take approximately 20 minutes.

What the testing officer will be observing

Refer to the table for information about riding behaviours that the testing officer will be looking for.

What could cause me to fail the test?

You will fail the test if you score less than 80 percent on part 1 of the test, or less than 80 percent across parts 2 and 3 of the test.

You could also fail the test (with the test being terminated) if you:

  • ride 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 riding 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.

What happens at the end of the test?

At the end of part 3, the testing officer will tell you whether or not you have passed the test. They will also go over any errors you made and give you advice on what you can do to correct these errors in future.

If you pass the test, you will have earned your full licence. The testing officer will keep your restricted licence and you will be given a temporary full licence. This is valid for 21 days and must be carried with you when you drive. Your full photo driver licence will be mailed to you. (If you don't receive your new licence within the 21-day period, then you should call the NZTA's driver licensing contact centre on 0800 822 422.)

If you fail the test, the testing officer will return your restricted licence to you.

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Last updated: 25 June 2010