About the practical driving tests

The full licence practical driving test

What is the full licence practical driving test?

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

The test is conducted in a vehicle provided by you.

The full licence practical test will take about one hour. This time allows for vehicle checks before the test, the driving 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 driving practices in a wide range of driving 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 drivers in their first five years of driving. You should be prepared to drive in a variety of situations and on many different types of roads.

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

You can apply for a full driver licence after you've had your restricted driver 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 driving 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 driving skills course.

How should I prepare for the full licence practical driving test?

To prepare for part 1 of the test, you should regularly drive in all types of traffic situations.

To pass parts 2 and 3, you should practise talking aloud about detecting and responding to hazards. It is a good idea to ask a friend or relative who is an experienced driver to help you practise. That person should sit in the front passenger seat and play the role of testing officer while you drive.

Practise describing hazards aloud until you can confidently and clearly describe the hazards you are looking at and what you are doing in response to them.

What does the full licence practical driving test involve?

The full licence practical driving 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.

To pass the test, you must achieve at least 80 percent of ‘yes' scores in part 1 and then at least 80 percent of 'yes' scores across parts 2 and 3.

Part 1 – basic confirmation test drive

The aim of part 1 is to confirm that:

  • you can drive without breaking the road rules
  • you have the basic driving skills needed to deal with the three road and traffic situations that typically prove the most hazardous for recently licensed drivers:
    • driving in a straight line (this will be tested once)
    • turning left at 90-degree intersections (this will be tested twice)
    • turning right at 90-degree intersections (this will be tested three times).

You will be asked to drive:

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

Part 1 will take approximately 10 minutes.

You need to achieve a score of 80 percent or more to proceed to part 2. If your score for part 1 is less than 80 percent, then you will have failed the test and won't progress to parts 2 and 3.

Part 2 – detecting and responding to driving hazards in built-up areas

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

  • driving through a roundabout
  • crossing or turning at an intersection.

You will also be asked to observe and remember the hazards you see as you peform each task.

As you finish each task, the testing officer will ask you to pull over to the side of the road. They will then ask you to explain what hazards you saw and where those hazards were in relation to you. Some examples of hazards are:

  • other vehicles
  • children playing on the footpath
  • pedestrians
  • animals not on a leash
  • cyclists.

You will be marked on how well you performed the task, plus how well your descriptions of the hazards match 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 driving 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 – detecting and responding to hazards in higher-speed zones

Part 3 is similar to part 2 except that you will be asked to:

  • perform tasks in higher-speed zones (on highways or motorways, where the speed limit ranges up to 100km/h)
  • describe the hazards that you see and how you are responding to them as you are driving.

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

  • driving straight
  • crossing or turning at an intersection
  • negotiating curves
  • performing a U-turn
  • merging into the traffic flow.

You will be marked on how well you perform each task, plus how well your verbal descriptions of the hazards (and how you are responding to them) match those noted by the testing officer.

Part 3 will take approximately 20 minutes.

What the testing officer will be observing

What's being observed What you must to do meet the criteria
Mirror use (using mirrors both inside and outside the vehicle) Check appropriate mirror(s) before and after moving, including when you are:

  •   turning
  •   changing lanes
  •   driving in a straight line
  •   stopping or slowing down
  •   pulling out or returning to the kerb.
Position on road Position your vehicle in a safe and legal position on the road at all times.
Braking Brake smoothly and effectively.

Don't drive with the vehicle in neutral or coast unnecessarily with your foot on the clutch.
Head checks Look over your shoulder in the appropriate direction before moving, including when you are:

  •   leaving the kerb
  •   parking
  •   turning
  •   changing lanes
  •   merging with other traffic.

Always check your blind spots.
Signal use Put your indicators on for at least three seconds before changing your position on the road. This includes when you are:

  •   turning
  •   changing lanes
  •   merging
  •   negotiating a roundabout
  •   pulling out or returning to the kerb.
Speed control Don't exceed the posted speed limit.

Drive at a speed that is suitable for the conditions (ie, slow down in poor conditions, such as when it's raining).

Drive at a speed that means you are not holding up traffic behind you.
Gap selection Select a safe gap, where you will not place other road users at risk, before moving into traffic flows. This includes when you are:

  •   leaving the kerb
  •   merging
  •   changing lanes
  •   at intersections.
Search Look to the front, both sides and to the rear to identify any potential hazards.

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:

  • 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.

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 your future driving.

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 an interim full licence. This temporary licence 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 photo driver licence within that 21-day period, 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.

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Last updated: 13 May 2010