Order a New Zealand Drivers Licence: What You Need to Know

Today, I want to talk about how I got my New Zealand driver’s licence. It wasn’t too bad, but there were a few steps involved.

First off, I had to figure out if my existing licence from back home could be used here. Turns out, since I wasn’t from one of the exempt countries, I couldn’t just swap it over. I had to start from almost scratch.

So, I went to a specialist overseas conversion site. I booked in for a theory test, which is basically a written test on the road rules here. They call it the “road code” in New Zealand. I studied up on the road code, which was a bit of a pain, but necessary.

• Booked a theory test. This was the first real step.
• Studied the New Zealand road code. Different rules here, gotta know them.
• Passed the theory test. Big relief!

After I passed the theory test, they gave me a New Zealand driver’s licence, but with a catch. It had a “supervisor condition” on it. This meant I could only drive with a supervisor sitting next to me who had a full New Zealand licence. Kind of like when you’re first learning to drive.

Now, here’s the kicker. Apparently, after you’ve been in New Zealand for a year, you have to get a full New Zealand driver’s licence anyway, even if you had converted your old one. So, it’s not like you can avoid the process forever. This involves not just the written theory test, but a practical driving test too.

The Waiting Game

I had to wait for 12 months before I could apply for the full licence. I was already driving with the supervisor condition, but still, you know, it’s not the same as having your full licence.

• Drove with a supervisor for a year. It was a bit annoying, but I got used to it.
• Waited for the 12-month period to end. Felt like forever!

Getting the Full Licence

Once the year was up, I booked in for my practical driving test. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I’d been driving around with a supervisor for so long that I felt pretty confident.

• Booked a practical driving test. The final hurdle!
• Took the driving test. Showed them what I could do.
• Passed the driving test! Finally, a full New Zealand driver’s licence in my hands.

So yeah, that’s how I got my New Zealand driver’s licence. It was a bit of a process with the theory test, the supervisor condition, and then the final driving test. But I got there in the end! Now I can drive around New Zealand without a supervisor, just like a local! Well, almost like a local, I still have to work on my Kiwi accent.