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Getting your car licence
Resources
- Learning to drive: How to get your licence - Factsheet outlining where to get a licence, the fees and the requirements at each stage.
- The official New Zealand road code for car drivers - You'll need a copy of this to pass your licence. You can buy it from most bookshops, and some libraries have it.
Information
At what age can I apply for a driver licence?
You must be at least 15 years old before you can apply for a car driver licence in New Zealand.
How driver licensing works
New Zealand has a graduated driver licensing system. This means you get your car licence in three stages. (These stages apply regardless of your age when you first apply for a licence.)
The stages are:
- Stage 1 - Learner licence
- Stage 2 - Restricted licence
- Stage 3 - Full licence.
As you graduate from one stage to the next, you're given a new licence with different requirements and more responsibilities. Normal road rules apply at all stages.
Note that you must carry your licence with you at all times when you're driving.
How much do car licences 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 costs include GST and are non-refundable.
What happens if I don't pass a test?
If you don't pass a test, you will be required to rebook that test. When you rebook you will be charged another test fee, but not another application fee.
Last updated: 30 September 2005