This page lists any updates to The official New Zealand road code since the last published edition. These changes will usually have been caused by a legislation change.
The current version of The official New Zealand road code is 2023.
We're changing the wording for some questions and adding new questions. We’ll ask these questions in theory tests from 1 December 2025.
We’re publishing them in advance to give you time to learn them.
Download new theory test questions PDF [PDF, 1.1 MB]
C1 You must turn on your vehicle's headlights when you can't clearly see a person or vehicle ____ metres away.
Night driving
C12 Under normal driving conditions, what rule should you use to allow a safe following distance?
C15 When driving at night on a road with lanes you must be able to stop in half the length of clear road you can see in front of you. True or false?
C19 The legal definition of a road includes beaches, bridges, carparks, streets and motorways. True or false?
C32 How must you signal when travelling straight ahead at a roundabout?
C38 When coming out of a driveway you must give way to anyone using a footpath, cycle path, shared path or the road. True or false?
C39 You're driving along a road with an 80km/h speed limit. There's a 100km/h speed limit sign ahead. When can you start to increase your speed?
C40 You're driving along a road with an 80km/h speed limit. There's a 60km/h speed limit sign ahead. When must you be going 60km/h?
C41 You're driving slower than the speed limit and notice there are vehicles following you. What should you do?
S3 This sign recommends a safe speed of 35km/h for the curve in good driving conditions. True or false?
S21 What must you do at a give way sign?
S26 Can you use a right-turn bay to overtake a vehicle travelling straight ahead?
Making a right turn from a right-hand bay
S43 You're driving along a beach where this sign is displayed. There are people on the beach up ahead. What is the speed limit?
Beach and river variable speed limit signs
S44 What does a solid yellow line on your side of the centre line mean?
S45 What does this marking painted on the roadway mean?
S47 You are coming up to some roadworks and see a roadworker holding out this sign. What must you do?
RP2 You are turning right. Which lane must you turn into?
RP7 You are turning left. Which lane must you turn into?
RP8 You are driving the blue car and want to turn right. Can you use the flush median and wait for a safe gap in the traffic?
Turning on or off a road with a flush median
RP9 There's a row of cars waiting to turn left. Can car A stop on the cycle lane while waiting to turn left?
B6 When passing a cyclist, how much room should you allow?
Sharing the road with cyclists
B15 Can you use a hand-held cellphone for calls while driving?
Responsible driving – cellphones
B17 Alcohol can seriously affect your driving. It can slow your reaction times and affect your senses. True or false?
B38 Drugs, including drugs prescribed by your doctor, may affect your driving. They can slow your reaction times and affect your senses. True or false?
B39 Are you allowed to make a U-turn on a motorway?
B40 Can you use a hand-held cellphone when driving to create, send or read a message?
Responsible driving – cellphones
B41 What is the best way to merge when 2 lanes are merging into one lane?
B42 How must you signal when turning right at a roundabout?
I30 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I35 Does the blue car have to give way?
I36 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I37 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I38 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I39 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I40 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I41 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I42 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I43 You are the driver of the blue car. Do you have to give way to car B?
I44 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I45 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I46 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I47 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
I48 You are the driver of the blue car. Do you need to give way?
I49 You are the driver of the blue car. Who must you give way to?
17 When you have a learner licence you must always have a supervisor in the vehicle with you. Where in the vehicle must the supervisor sit?
23 What should you do if your car breaks down on a motorway?
25 Where must a learner driver display L plates on a car?
Updated the text to refer to the Government’s New Zealand Road Safety Objectives.
Added Fijian language to the theory test options.
Stage 1 – learner licence - speech or language needs
Changed the How much does it cost to get your class 1 driver licence? section:
Your application fee includes your first test, and a second test if you need it.
For example, a learner licence application includes 2 theory tests, and a restricted licence application includes 2 restricted practical tests.
If you need 3 tests or more, you'll need to pay a test fee for each test.
All fees include GST and are non-refundable.
| Car (class 1) | Application fee (includes 2 tests) | Test fee for each test from 3rd attempt |
| Learner | $96.10 | $54.60 |
| Restricted | $167.50 | $102.80 |
| Full | $98.90 | $71.90 |
If you need to change, cancel or rebook your test, you may need to pay a fee. If you do it at least 2 full working days in advance, the fees will be lower.
Fees to change or rebook a test
How to get your driver licence - updated road code content
Deleted this text:
Note: this amount doesn’t include fees for re-sitting tests if you fail the first time. If you need to re-sit a test you’ll need to pay another test fee, but you won’t be charged another application fee.
Changing or cancelling your test
You’ll have to pay a further fee if you want to change or cancel your test.
Where there are 2 or more completely working days between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you’ll need to pay a rescheduling fee of $16.40.
This covers the time and costs included when a test is cancelled or rescheduled.
Where there are less than 2 complete working days between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you won’t pay a rescheduling fee but you’ll need to pay another test fee.
You can apply for a refund of the first test fee paid. If the test time is filled by another person. Then the test fee may be partly refunded – a processing fee of $16.40 will be deducted.
Updated How do I apply for a learner licence? section to:
You’ll need to go to a driver licensing agent to:
If you don't pass the theory test the first time, you can rebook to sit it again. You can sit it a second time without having to pay any extra fees. If you need to sit it 3 times or more, you'll need to pay a test fee of $54.60 each time.
Added this text:
If you fail the test twice on the same day, you’ll need to wait 10 working days before you can sit the test again. This is to give you more time to learn the road rules, and to make sure other people also have a chance to take their test.
Added Thai language to the theory test options.
Stage 1 – learner licence - updated road code content
Updated the How do I apply for a restricted licence section to:
To get your restricted licence, you need to pass the restricted licence practical driving test.
To book your restricted licence practical driving test, you must either:
OR
Book your practical test online(external link)
If you book online, you’ll need to complete the application process at a driver licensing agent before your new licence can be issued. You should allow at least 30 minutes before or after your test to do this.
Check the agent opening hours, as they may not be open 30 minutes before your test appointment. In that case you can complete the application process before the day of the test or after the test.
Restricted licence practical driving test
If you don't pass the restricted test the first time, you can rebook to sit it again. You can sit it a second time without having to pay any extra fees. If you need to sit it 3 times or more, you'll need to pay a test fee of $102.80 each time.
Stage 2 – restricted licence - update road code content
Updated the How do I apply for a full licence section to:
To get your full licence, you need to pass the full licence practical driving test.
To book your full licence practical driving test, you must either:
OR
Book your practical test online(external link)
If you book online, you’ll need to complete the application process at a driver licensing agent before your new licence can be issued. You should allow at least 30 minutes before or after your test to do this.
Check the agent opening hours, as they may not be open 30 minutes before your test appointment. In that case, you can complete the application process before the day of the test or after the test.
The full licence practical driving test
If you don't pass the full practical test the first time, you can rebook to sit it again. You can sit it a second time without having to pay any extra fees. If you need to sit it 3 times or more, you'll need to pay a test fee of $71.90 each time.
Stage 3 – full licence - updated road code content
Updated image: Passing on the right at an intersection with more than one lane on your side of the road
We've moved the arrow showing the vehicle in the lane closest to the centre line turning right into the far left lane, to show the vehicle turning into the lane closest to the centre line. 
Passing on the right - updated road code content
Added new beach and river variable speed limit signs.
These speed limit signs can be used at beaches or rivers. If pedestrians are present, the speed limit is 30km/h. If there are no pedestrians, the speed limit is 60km/h.
Beach and river variable speed limit signs - updated road code content
Added text about reflective warning triangles, and made it clearer that Police use Crash and Accident warning signs rather than reflective triangles at crash sites.
At a crash site the police may use signs, flashing lights and flares to warn approaching drivers.
When coming up to a crash site, slow down and drive carefully. The road may be blocked and there could be injured people lying on it.
Police put these signs near a crash site. They mean you must ride at 20km/h or less until you pass the crash site. Watch out for emergency workers and injured people.
This is a reflective warning triangle. It means there's a breakdown or crash ahead. Anyone can put a warning triangle on the side of the road to warn other road users.
Crash warning signs - update road code content
In November 2022 we released the 2023 version of The official New Zealand road code.
This road code has had a refresh to make it more accessible for learner drivers.
We removed information that isn't essential to preparing for a learner test, and it's available on our website instead.
We also updated most of the pictures to make them clearer for learner drivers. The pictures were updated in the computerised theory test from 1 December 2022.
There are no changes to road rules or driving regulations, so learner drivers can still use older versions of the road code to prepare for their test.
