Car licences
With a car (class 1) licence you can drive:
most ‘light’ vehicles, like cars, vans and utes — but not trucks
all terrain vehicles (ATVs)
mopeds — but not motorbikes.
Learner licence
You can apply for your learner licence once you turn 16.
To get your learner's, you'll have to pass a theory test to prove you know the road rules.
Download a copy of the NZ road code
Theory test questions
Drive — free road code quizzes, video guides and resources
Buy official road code test papers
On your learner licence, you:
can only drive with a supervisor sitting beside you — they have to have a current full NZ car licence without a supervisor condition that they've held for at least 2 years
have to display learner (L) plates on the front and back windows of your car.
can carry passengers if your supervisor agrees.
Restricted licence
You can apply for your restricted licence if:
you've held your learner licence for at least 6 months
you're at least 16½.
The test for your restricted licence is a practical driving test.
Restricted licence test guide
Drive — free guides, video lessons and resources
On your restricted licence, you:
can drive on your own — but not between 10pm and 5am
can only drive a manual car if you sat your test in a manual car
can't carry passengers unless you have a supervisor with you who's held their full licence for more than 2 years. The only passengers you can carry without a supervisor are:
your partner
your parent or guardian
a child who lives with you and is under the care of you or your partner
a relative who lives with you and who receives certain benefits
someone you look after as their primary caregiver.
Full licence
You can apply for your full licence if you are 17 and a half years old.
If you apply before you turn 18, you must:
have had your restricted licence for 12 months
completed an approved advanced driving skill course.
If you are 18 years old, before you apply you must have had a restricted licence for at least 18 months.
The test for your full licence is a practical driving test.
Full licence test guide
Drive — free guides, video lessons and resources
Advanced driving skills courses
Apply and book driving tests
Apply in person for your learner licence
Book a driving test online for your restricted or full licence