[Caroline and Dave]

Although we have not been in NZ long and are away again at the moment we have met a lot of very interesting people who have given us tips etc and I thought I'd share some with you.

Driving in New Zealand

When we first came over we had heard many reports on how bad the driving was and we have seen an element of this but not as bad as back home.That well known species known as "White Van Man" in the UK does not appear to exist in NZ. This is replaced with the "Boy Racer" or Hoon, young men driving around in illegaly modified overpowered cars. Fortunately because of the lesser population they are far less a commoditie than "White Van Man" though still a big problem in NZ.There seems to be a distinct lack of courtesy and consideration with driving in NZ.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world. Most of these cars are second hand Japanese which are reasonably cheap. European cars are more expensive mainly due to importing costs and expensive spares.
When buying a second hand car it is best to get an independent mechanic to check it out for you. Some garages do offer this but an independent check is usually more thorough. An excellent and sometimes funny guide is http://www.dogandlemon.com
Petrol is reasonably cheap but is rising. If you use diesel fuel then you will have to pay road user charges of approx $26 per 1000km.
In NZ the UK MOT is replaced with the Warrant of Fitness which is every 12 months for a new car and every 6 months for an older car. This costs between $25 to $50 depending on the vehicle.
You have to place the sticker in the top right hand side of your windscreen.
You will also have to have a Vehicle Licence Certificate which is around $210 for 12 months. This is displayed in the bottom left of your windscreen.

Your UK driving licence is acceptable in NZ for 12 months.Before that time expires you will have to get a NZ licence. You will need to pass a theory test consisting of multiple choice questions where you will have to get 32 out of 35 questions right.

The Land Transport Safety Authority publish the New Zealand Road Code
Book where all the questions are answered.
If you do not have a driving licence there are 3 stages to obtaining a full licence.
Stage 1 Learner Licence: You must be at least 15 years old(Yes I do mean 15) Pass an eyetest and the multi choice rd test. You must also provide a Passport or Birth certificate.
All drivers on a learners licence must display an L plate and be accompanied by a fully qualified driver at all times. This driver must have held their licence for more tha 2 years.

Stage 2 : Restricted Licence: After holding a learner licence for 6 months,you will have to pass a practical test to hold a restricted licence.This will allow you to drive a car yourself under restricted conditions. The main condition is you can only drive a car alone between 5 am and 10pm.Outside of these hours you must be accompanied by an experienced driver who has held a full licence for more than 2 years.

Stage 3: Full Licence: When you have held a restricted licence for more tha 18 months you can then take the full practical test to gain your full licence.

Always carry your Driving Licence with you when Driving as you can be fined for not having it with you. If you have a UK card licence you must have the paper part available too as this shows any endorsements.

Turn Right Rule.
Traffic turning left must give way to traffic turning right into the same rd.This has caught me out several times and I am now getting used to it but now I am temporarily in the UK this does not apply.Another difference between UK and NZ cars is the indicator and windscreen wiper indicators are reversed. Seat belts are compulsory and an instant fine of $150 is given to anyone not wearing one.Adults are also responsible for ensuring anyone under 15 years wears a belt.
Third party insurance is NOT compulsory in NZ which means there are many uninsured drivers around so fully comp insurance is reccommended.
Advice for new drivers in NZ
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html
For the road code
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/index.html

I may have missed some things out but you can find all the info on these websites
Hope this helps

Dave and Caroline

[Belmont Babes]

Great help, thank you for taking the time to post

[M&J]

[QUOTE=Caroline and Dave;134999]
Your UK driving licence is acceptable in NZ for 12 months.

This might be a stupid question but what address do you put on your uk driving licence when living in NZ?? :roll

[swissmissdesigner]

This is another great post!

Thank you.

[IanW99]

Good post,

A few minor corrections / omissions

If you use diesel fuel then you will have to pay road user charges of approx $26 per 1000km.

The road user charges include a transaction fee and a sliding scale of charges for the number of Kms you pre-pay for.

More details can be found here:-http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/38.html


the Warrant of Fitness which is every 12 months for a new car and every 6 months for an older car

It is 12 months for cars that were first registered anywhere less than 6 years ago, so older cars are those that are more than 6 years old.

You will need to pass a theory test consisting of multiple choice questions where you will have to get 30 out of 33 questions right

I believe it is actually 32 questions correct out of 35 question.

Ian

[jubjub]

[quote=Caroline and Dave;134999]
Your UK driving licence is acceptable in NZ for 12 months.

This might be a stupid question but what address do you put on your uk driving licence when living in NZ?? :roll

You dont, I asked them when I moved, you just leave it as it was, and if you ever go back to the UK change it to your new address then, you cant have an overseas address on the UK licence.

[tiefchord]

I'm getting quite fed up with this anti-"boyracer" mentality I see quite commonly. New Zealand has a rich motorsports history and if people can't figure out why young kids are enthralled by automotive sports, self-modifications, and cars, then perhaps they should just stick to minding their own business instead?

Want to become another US with a law for every single damn thing?

No - I do not think it's cool for kids to take off their exhaust and blast 130 dB exhaust notes at every oppurtunity. Yes, I do think it's cool that there is a hell of alot more freedom in NZ, motorsports wise, compared to other heavily regulated places.

[RayBCO]

I have never read the Driving Test book or driven in NZ, but I took the test online and using common sense and my UK experience I got 7 answers wrong...so with a little reading and experience I think it will not be too bad !!! Possibly as easy as the California Driving Test I have also passed in the same manner.

So if you have experience of driving in the UK and have 12 months on the road in NZ, you should not have any worries with the test...theory only required I believe.

[swissmissdesigner]

Raybco: could you give me the website for the driving test in NZ?
Thanks

anna

[IanW99]

There is some useful info from the forum regarding online tests here (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11376&highlight=driving+test)

A good place to start is the theory test (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/theory-test-questions/) as it has every question, it also has the links to where to find the answers.

If you want a test that is a little more fun then would recommend this online test (http://www.communitylaw.org.nz/licence/test.php?q=dHlwZT0nR2VuZXJhbCBxdWVzdGlvbnMnIE9SIHR 5cGU9J0xpZ2h0IHZlaGljbGUgcXVlc3Rpb25zJw==&lclass=Classes+L1+and+Class+1+(light%20vehicles)&questions=General+questions+and+Light+vehicle+ques tions)

Note: That it only asks 33 questions when the real test is 35.

Ian

[ellenmelon]

after being away three years, i found that the driving wasnt too bad..its better than where i was living in ireland anyway. wellington drivers are dire but i dont let them wind me up so i drive 'properly' ie drive to the speed limit, indicate at least three sec's before making a turn, i think im fairly considerate with letting people into traffic flow. my only 'bad' thing is that often im at a roundabout and often people are all waiting for each other to go, hence they sit there longer than neccessary. i often zip through cause im not going to be held up by other peoples lack of knowledge! lol :D

i got my licence at 16 but didnt get my restricted licence till i was 18 (just before my family moved to ireland) because i was very nervous. i think the licence age should be raised to 17 as ive yet to meet a 15 year old that should be allowed to drive!
im now on my restricted still, as i had only driven for 6 months before moving to ireland, and ive been back 8mths so even though ive had my restricted for 4 years i dont think im ready to sit my full! my partner can be in the car with me at any time (your long term partner or dependants can be in the car with you on your restricted) and i drive home from work after ten frequently. ive been breath tested before and had a licence check after ten and they never say anything, i just get sent on my way. if you've a car full of teenagers and you're on your restricted and driving erratically then yes. you usually get the 400 dollar fine but the cops have enough common sense to see that a 22 year old female driving home from work at 12am isnt causing any trouble. LOL! :)

anyway, thats my experience of driving in new zealand..sorry to ramble on!

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I have to say I find driving around Hamilton no worse than dealing with the idiots jockeying for position in the tailbacks around Leeds Edinburgh or Chester (the three UK cities I have a lot of experience of driving in)

Maybe that's a reflection on Hamilton, or maybe as I'm not working yet I've just not had enough experience of the worst driving times in NZ. I suspect the former and that Auckland and Welly driving experiences are worse.

Pobably I'll change my mind over time, but at the moment I don't have any major gripes about the driving (compared to the UK anyway)

[incredible hulse]

Another rule in NZ not mentioned is the "close the gap rule". This requires you to accelerate when in traffic to avoid the possibility of traffic trying to enter the carriageway to actually do so. After preventing access to your fellow motorists it is quite acceptable to slow back down to the speed you were travelling at

[willowshouse]

Another rule in NZ not mentioned is the "close the gap rule". This requires you to accelerate when in traffic to avoid the possibility of traffic trying to enter the carriageway to actually do so. After preventing access to your fellow motorists it is quite acceptable to slow back down to the speed you were travelling at

:laugh :laugh :laugh

[debnjohn]

Another rule in NZ not mentioned is the "close the gap rule". This requires you to accelerate when in traffic to avoid the possibility of traffic trying to enter the carriageway to actually do so. After preventing access to your fellow motorists it is quite acceptable to slow back down to the speed you were travelling at

:clap Yes, never thought of it that way. Same goes if you are a pedestrian trying to cross the road, and the traffic ahead is at a standstill on red lights - the cars keep on coming fast.

The '3' second rule for indicating is just that - you can spot the Kiwi driver as they follow that old mnemonic 'mirror signal manouever' but being the southern hemisphere it is done in reverse. Just watch for the indicators after they have slowed down, usually illuminating as the car swerves.

The right-hand turning rule is designed to create aggression and accidents. As soon as you indicate left anyone travelling in the opposite direction wanting to turn right will race to beat you to it - at the same time traffic behind you will swerve in an exagerrated fashion to overtake you. Actually, thinking about it, Kiwi drivers don't seem to think ahead when following traffic, or actually enjoy performing these sudden wide swerving motions.

We almost came a cropper when we first arrived, as my wife made the mistake of indicating too early to drop me off at the pavement some way ahead. In between the drop-off point and us was a turning on our left, resulting in an on-coming Kiwi accelerating towards us and cutting across the front of us (my wife had to brake severely to avoid a collision - there was no way she could have turned left at the her speed).

I've tried to make sense of the obvious lack of courtesy on the roads, as it is the opposite to what you get in all other walks of Kiwi life. I thing it is down to two things
1) A few silly rules - the 'right-hand rule', which just leaves everyone in the dark as to who has the 'right of way' and the '3 second rule' (it doesn't cost anything to indicate earlier so why is 3 seconds legislated?
2) The lack of traffic on NZ roads in general. European roads are much more congested, and a direct result is European drivers are much more aware of other traffic on the road. Another side effect of this congestion is that European drivers subconciously know how to keep traffic moving. It is habit to let someone out when waiting in a queue, so this looks like good manners (when in fact it is just common sense - one day it will be you waiting to come out).

Anyway, that's my opinion :)

Cheers,
John

[RayBCO]

Raybco: could you give me the website for the driving test in NZ?
Thanks

anna

Hi Anna,

Here is the test I have tried. It is the full 35 questions...

Regards, RayBCO

http://www.communitylaw.org.nz/licence/learn.php

[migratory birds]

Caroline and Dave,

you could write a very useful guide to emigrating for all of those yet to come who are/will be on the market for a book with tips as useful and concise as those you've given before your move (ie your pre-move organizing checklist of a few weeks ago) and this, after arriving.

Seriously, consider it...I've purchased "Living and Working in NZ" (Chesters) and "Buying a House in NZ" (author?) and would buy another if it were as chock full of helpful hints such as yours.

[swissmissdesigner]

RayBCO: Thanks so much for the info!


anna

[Jo Jo]

Great post - thanks for putting all this info together.

Just one clarification about the restricted license - the length of time you have to hold this is dependent on your age and whether or not you take an advanced driving skills course. The following shows how soon you can apply for a full license after gaining your restricted license:



at least 18 months if you're under 25 years old
at least 12 months if you're under 25 years old and have completed an approved advanced driving skills course. (Note: you must have held your restricted licence for at least six months before completing this course)
at least six months if you're 25 or older
at least three months if you're 25 or older and have completed an approved advanced driving skills course.


http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-licences/stage-3-full.html

[Caniwi]

You should try driving in Vancouver!!! The rule is....the more expensive your car, the less rules (laws) you have to follow! :P

[ellenmelon]

You should try driving in Vancouver!!! The rule is....the more expensive your car, the less rules (laws) you have to follow! :P

that goes for pretty much everywhere in ireland too :uhoh

[swissmissdesigner]

I failed the practice test! Huhhh.

[ellenmelon]

I failed the practice test! Huhhh.
i failed it first time too!

[The Hodges]

You should try driving in Vancouver!!! The rule is....the more expensive your car, the less rules (laws) you have to follow! :P

Nah, it's the same everywhere, but I won't name makes just yet... :D I thought that the most expensive cars had their indicators removed, just to keep the rest of us guessing.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Some cars are specially marked e.g SRi = Sales Rep Inside :laugh

[beano_bill]

I failed the practice test! Huhhh.

Me too, but I passed the motorbike one - I took this as a sign that I'll be on two wheels (two, not one; no hoon am I), OH took it as a sign that we need to start "setting money aside for important things, like a house" :wah

Meanie.

Beano

[mish&al]

Some cars are specially marked e.g SRi = Sales Rep Inside

Funny :laugh

[bumpffslam]

On rural roads it is common for slow trucks going up hill to pullover and drive on the hard shoulder so that any following cars can go by. However the hard shoulder is of variable width and may suddenly change from wide to narrow.

CAUTION - don't overtake unless you can see well enough ahead that there is sufficent length remaining of hard shoulder for the truck to stay on the hard shoulder. If there is sufficent length and your car has good acceleration, don't dawdle, put your foot down and zoom by. If there isn't then be patient and live longer!

Otherwise you might find yourself sandwiched between a car coming the other way and the lorry pulling out. In this situation the lorry has nowhere else to go other than back on the main carriage way. And you'll comeoff worse than him!

[Caroline and Dave]

Please note.
Some of this info may now be outdated although the bulk of it is ok.
Please check here for all the latest

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/