Driver licensing resources

There is a wide range of resources available to you if you’re learning to drive, or you want to help someone learn. 

The graduated driver licensing system

The graduated driver licensing system is designed to provide you with the skills and experience to become a safer driver on New Zealand roads.

You can use the resources on this page to help you gain confidence behind the wheel. With regular practice you can achieve your full licence, opening up many employment and training opportunities where driving is essential or helpful.

Learning to drive

Here is some information you may find helpful to complete each stage of the graduate driving licence system:

Before you start Learner licence Restricted licence Full licence

Identification required

About the learner licence

About the restricted licence

About the full licence

Eyesight requirements

The theory test

Restricted test guide [PDF, 3.3 MB]

Full test guide [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Medical requirements

NZ road code

NZ road code

NZ road code

Organ donation

Drive – learner’s licence(external link)

Test day checklist(external link)

Test day checklist

Pathways Awarua(external link)

Drive resources – learner’s licence(external link)

Drive – restricted licence(external link)

Advanced driving courses

NZ Road code

Pathways Awarua(external link)

Community Driver Mentor Programme

Drive – full licence(external link)

Where to go to get your licence

Driver licensing credits (NCEA)(external link)

Drive resources – restricted licence(external link)

Drive resources – full licence(external link)

    Pathways Awarua(external link) Driver licensing credits (NCEA)(external link)
   

Driver licensing credits (NCEA)(external link)

 

Visit the Drive website for frequently asked questions on the restricted and full practical tests, plus more information and tips on progressing through the graduated driver licence system.

Drive website(external link)

What fees you will need to pay

Find out about licence fees, including conditions, changing or cancelling your test, and replacement licence costs.

Licence fees

Driver licensing support programmes

Below is information on programmes currently running that are specifically set up to help drivers through the driver licensing process. You may be interested in using this information in your own community.

Community Driver Mentor Programme

(Restricted licence)

The Community Mentor Driver Programme (CDMP) is designed to help young people overcome barriers to achieve their restricted licence. The programme model relies on community collaboration between local organisations, volunteer mentors and young drivers.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, with partner and sponsor support, helped to initially develop and support six CDMPs around New Zealand. If you are interested in setting up and running a CDMP for your local community, the following resources are available to assist you:

Drive

(Learner, Restricted, Full licence, teach someone to drive)

Drive is a free website and learning tool designed to help young people become safe, capable drivers. There are games and quizzes in an interactive road code, free video lessons and driving tips, and video guides to the practical tests. Plus you can read coaching guides to help you teach someone to drive.

Drive website(external link)

Drive was created by Waka Kotahi and ACC.

Driver licensing credits (NCEA)

(Learner, Restricted, Full licence)

Students can earn credits that can be applied to the qualifications framework by passing tests for the Class 1 driver licence. If a student is currently enrolled in a school or tertiary education organisation, they can show their licence (learner, restricted or full) to have it authenticated. The school or tertiary organisation then reports the credits on behalf of Waka Kotahi to NZQA.

More information is available on New Zealand Qualifications Authority website(external link).

Pathways Awarua

(Learner, Restricted)

Pathways Awarua(external link) is a tool developed by New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Commission to support adult learners in strengthening numeracy and reading and writing competencies. From 2016, the Ministry of Education has supported its use in state and integrated schools with year 9–13 students.

Waka Kotahi worked with Pathways Awarua to develop a Road Code learning module.