uk licsence in NZ

[wil]

Hi guys, will i need to take my test again on bike and car for nz??

[Lou Girardin]

If memory serves me, just theory tests.

[old farts]

Hi Wil i think you can ride / drive on a uk licence for up to a year

[MisterD]

S'right, you can ride for 12 months on your uk licence then you have to do a "scratch and win" theory test. Takes about five minutes for the test and 25 for the form filling/eye testing/photo taking.

The bugger is you might have to do it twice (once for car, once for bike), I only had my UK car licence when I came over so I can't confirm on that score..it's $84 a pop BTW, but the road code book has all the questions you might see on the test so it's a piece of P.

Cheers

[leenok]

S'right, you can ride for 12 months on your uk licence then you have to do a "scratch and win" theory test. Takes about five minutes for the test and 25 for the form filling/eye testing/photo taking.

The bugger is you might have to do it twice (once for car, once for bike), I only had my UK car licence when I came over so I can't confirm on that score..it's $84 a pop BTW, but the road code book has all the questions you might see on the test so it's a piece of P.

Cheers

You will need to do it twice but the bike one is cheaper, I think I payed $134 for both.

[Karma]

This is dependant on how long you've had your UK license for as well.

If you've had it for more than 2 years then it's just a theory test before your year is up. If less than two years you have to do the practical as well.

Oh, and you have to do each test for every license category you wish to use over here. Means I have to do car theory, bike theory, and bike practical. Pain in the ass.

[wil]

not so bad then, had the car licence 19 years and the bike 7.

[Biff]

There is a nuance in the law - and it caught me out. You must sit your test(s) within 12 months of first arriving in NZ. The clock starts ticking the minute you first arrive in NZ, even if it's for an interview, after which you go home, and don't move here 'proper' until 6 months later. The good news is that not many cops know this law either, and if they did they'd have to check your passport for the first date of entry. The clock resets should you leave NZ and not return within a 1 months period. Confused?

[pyrocam]

There is a nuance in the law - and it caught me out. You must sit your test(s) within 12 months of first arriving in NZ. The clock starts ticking the minute you first arrive in NZ, even if it's for an interview, after which you go home, and don't move here 'proper' until 6 months later. The good news is that not many cops know this law either, and if they did they'd have to check your passport for the first date of entry. The clock resets should you leave NZ and not return within a 1 months period. Confused?

1 month? I dont think thats right, as far as im aware you were right the first time. us insurace claim decliners would say your license is invalid if you came here for a holiday 2 years ago and then came back

[Biff]

1 month? I dont think thats right, as far as im aware you were right the first time. us insurace claim decliners would say your license is invalid if you came here for a holiday 2 years ago and then came back

Apologies, that's a typo. It should read 12 months. I was told this by the LTSA, the third time I rang them. The previous couple of times they didn't know the rules themselves. Hence the reason I was (alledgedly) driving around illegaly for several months before Vero put me onto the right track.

[pyrocam]

Apologies, that's a typo. It should read 12 months. I was told this by the LTSA, the third time I rang them. The previous couple of times they didn't know the rules themselves. Hence the reason I was (alledgedly) driving around illegaly for several months before Vero put me onto the right track.

dont trust those knobs at vero they ... they.... shit well I cant find anything bad about them, which is odd as I worked under them for a while. I would ask who-ever your insured with first as some have different policies. when I was at AA I never used the 12 month thing, I used to shout into the phone 'FROM FIRST DATE OF ENTRY! THERES NO POINT ARGUING! WITH ME IM ALWAYS RIGHT!"


and on that point im calling up my mate to see if that rule has changed....... and no it hasnt. but that might be vero's policy.


edit: wait he just called me back,

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

I do have a current overseas driver licence or international driving permit

If you do have a current overseas driver licence or international driving permit, you can drive using that for a maximum of 12 months from the date you arrive in New Zealand. (You can only drive the types of vehicle covered by your overseas driver licence or international driving permit.)

Each time you visit New Zealand, you can drive for a further 12-month period on a valid overseas licence or international driving permit, as long as you stay for no more than a year at a time.

What happens after one year?

If you are using an overseas licence or an international driving permit, you must convert it to a New Zealand driver licence before one year has passed. (Apply for a conversion early, to make sure you have a new licence before the one year is up.)

Forms to use to apply for an overseas licence conversion are available from Land Transport New Zealand driver licensing agents.

You will have to pass a theory test and, depending on the country you have come from, you may have to pass a practical driving test as well.

[boomer]

I was here almost 4 years on my International UK licence. Just never got round to changing it over.

Every time i got pulled up and asked how long i'd been in the country i told them a couple of months, which strictly wasn't a lie as i travelled with work overseas regularly and used my last re-entry date as my 'time in the country'. I figured they wouldn't ask to see my passport

got my licence(s) now though

[Biff]

dont trust those knobs at vero they ... they.... shit well I cant find anything bad about them, which is odd as I worked under them for a while. I would ask who-ever your insured with first as some have different policies. when I was at AA I never used the 12 month thing, I used to shout into the phone 'FROM FIRST DATE OF ENTRY! THERES NO POINT ARGUING! WITH ME IM ALWAYS RIGHT!"


and on that point im calling up my mate to see if that rule has changed....... and no it hasnt. but that might be vero's policy.


edit: wait he just called me back,

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

Well I'll be buggered. Vero were indeed full of shite. But they were closer than the LTSA peeps I spoke to. Ta for that.

[Karma]

One thing I wonder is if they can relate the two licenses?

Could take my NZ license early, then if (or when) I get stopped for dangerously driving 30ks over the limit then I could show them my UK license?

[SARGE]

One thing I wonder is if they can relate the two licenses?

Could take my NZ license early, then if (or when) I get stopped for dangerously driving 30ks over the limit then I could show them my UK license?

i keep my US license current in case i get done for Road Rage .. once the cops see that, they understand..

not as good as a SA license i hear though...