The open road speed limit is 100km/hr and in the cities it isIt is recommended students new to New Zealand take one or two years to become familiar with the road conditions and road rules before considering if they should drive in New Zealand. In the past 12 months over 470 people have been killed in car accidents in New Zealand. Make sure you travel with a responsible and experienced driver.

The law requires the car driver and all passengers to wear seat belts at all times. Also helmets are compulsory for all motorcyclists and cyclists in New Zealand.

All cars must have current registration and a Warrant of Fitness (WOF) before they are allowed on the roads. Car insurance is also very necessary and can be expensive for new or young drivers.

More information on driving in New Zealand can be obtained from the Land Transport Safety Authority.

Driving Licences

The Land Transport Safety Authority is the organisation that administers driving tests, issues driving licences and publishes the New Zealand Road Code booklet. This booklet outlines all the driving and road rules. There are three stages to obtaining your driving licence.

Learner Licence

To get a Learner Licence you must be at least 15 yrs old, supply a birth certificate or passport, pass an eyesight test and the multi-choice road code test.

All drivers on a Learner Licence must display an L-plate sign on their vehicle and must be supervised and accompanied in the car at all times by a fully licensed driver that has held their licence for more than two years.

Restricted Licence

When you have held a Learner Licence for more than 6 months, you need to pass a practical driving test to be issued a Restricted Licence. A Restricted Licence allows you to drive a car by yourself under certain conditions. The main condition is that you can normally only drive between 5am and 10pm and outside of these hours a supervisor who has held their licence for more than two years must be in the car with you.

Full Licence

When you have held a Restricted Licence for 18 months, you can take the practical driving test (the Full Licence test). None of the restrictions on a Learner or Restricted Licence applies to a Full Licence holder.

All driving licences include a photo and personal information on the holder.

Driving lessons cost about NZ$30-NZ$40 per hour and use the instructor's car.

Overseas Licences

If you have a driver's licence from your home country or an international driving permit, you can drive in New Zealand for a maximum of one year. After that, you need to apply for a New Zealand driver's licence and go through the three stages. Some exemptions do apply. If you come from Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, the United States or the European Union and have held a current licence from that country for two years, you can apply for the exemption from the practical driving test but must still sit the theory test.

Other Licences

The car driving licence only authorises you to drive a car. Separate licence approvals are also required for motorcycles, buses, trucks, heavy machinery etc.

Laws regarding driving in New Zealand

It is New Zealand law that you must carry your driver's licence with you whenever you are driving otherwise you may be fined (issued a ticket).

The drinking of alcohol combined with driving a motor vehicle is illegal in New Zealand and can incur penalties such as loss of licence, large fines and even prison. Obtaining a driver's licence should be thought of as a privilege and one that should not be abused