Getting your driver licence

Indy moving from Learner to Restricted to Full licence

Getting a driver licence in New Zealand happens in three stages: learner, restricted and full. Here is what you need at each stage, the rules you have to follow, and the free Learn2Live resources that help.

Stage 1: Learner licence

You can apply from age 16.
Pass the theory test: 35 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes, and you need 32 right. Bring proof of identity, and you will need to pass an eyesight check.
You must always have a supervisor in the front passenger seat. They need a full licence held for at least 2 years.
Show L plates on the front and back of the car, and carry your licence.
You can carry passengers only if your supervisor agrees.

Get ready: practice questions by topic and the full practice theory test.

Stage 2: Restricted licence

Hold your learner licence for at least 6 months before you sit the restricted test.
From 25 January 2027, drivers under 25 must hold their learner licence for 12 months. You can bring this back to 6 months by logging supervised practice hours or completing an approved course. NZTA has proposed 60 logged hours, recorded in its new digital logbook, but the final number hasn't been confirmed yet. Drivers 25 and over stay at 6 months.
Pass the practical restricted test. NZTA recommends about 120 hours of supervised practice first.
You can drive on your own from 5am to 10pm. From 10pm to 5am you need a supervisor.
No passengers without a supervisor, except your partner, a child you live with and care for, your parent or guardian, a relative who lives with you and is on a benefit, or someone you are the main caregiver for.
If you sit the test in an automatic, you can only drive automatics on your own.

Get ready: the NZ driving test checklist, our free tips sheets and the skills guides.

Stage 3: Full licence

Until 24 January 2027: after your restricted period you sit the full licence test. The restricted period is 18 months if you are under 25 (12 with an approved course) or 6 months if you are 25 or over (3 with a course).
From 25 January 2027: there is no full licence test. Once you have finished your restricted period, you move to a full licence. The restricted period is 12 months if you are under 25 and 6 months if you are 25 or over, and courses no longer shorten it.
Demerit points now make your restricted period longer. Each time you get demerit points on a restricted licence from 7 May 2026, 6 months is added to your restricted period. This applies if you are still on your restricted licence on 25 January 2027. Fines with no demerit points, like most speed camera fines, don't count.
Fees also drop from 25 January 2027. The restricted licence application goes from $167.50 to $160.50, and there is no full licence test to pay for. Check nzta.govt.nz for current fees.

Which rules apply to me?

Everyone moves to the new licence rules on 25 January 2027, whatever stage they're at. Here's how it works for a few typical learners. The names are made up, but the dates show how the rules work.

Aroha, 17, got her learner licence on 1 June 2026: She reaches 6 months on 1 December 2026, so she can sit her restricted test before the change. Once she's on her restricted licence, the new rules give her a 12-month restricted period (instead of 18), and she won't need a full licence test.

Sam, 16, got his learner licence on 1 September 2026: He reaches 6 months on 1 March 2027, after the change. As he's under 25, he needs 12 months on his learner licence. He can bring that back to 6 months by logging supervised practice or doing an approved course.

Mia, 30, got her learner licence in September 2026: No change for her. Drivers 25 and over still need 6 months on a learner licence and 6 months on a restricted licence. She won't need a full licence test.

Jay, 19, on his restricted licence since March 2026, got demerit points in August 2026: On 25 January 2027 his restricted period changes to 12 months. Because his demerits came after 7 May 2026, 6 months is added.

Tama, 22, on his restricted licence, passes his full licence test in December 2026: He's on a full licence before the change, so demerits he got after 7 May 2026 don't extend anything.

Not sure where you fit? Ask us a question or check drive.govt.nz.

Alcohol

Drivers under 20 have a zero alcohol limit.
Drivers 20 and over must stay under 250 mcg per litre of breath (50 mg per 100 ml of blood).
The Government has announced a zero alcohol limit for all learner and restricted drivers, but has not set a start date yet.

Rules can change. Check drive.govt.nz for the latest information.

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