[liveAdream]

On exchanging a UK licence, do they withhold my current one (meaning I would lose it)?

Is it true that a UK licence holder may exchange without undertaking a theory test after May 2008?

Thanks.

[Asli&Mark]

What we have done was taking the exam and getting a temp driver's licence there and then. You do not give your UK licence away.

I don't know the answer for the 2nd question.
Asli

[IanW99]

On exchanging a UK licence, do they withhold my current one (meaning I would lose it)?

Is it true that a UK licence holder may exchange without undertaking a theory test after May 2008?

Thanks.

You don't really exchange a license, you just pay for a new NZ one (after passing the theory test of course).

There is a change going through at the moment that will mean that you will no longer need to take the theory test.

I've not seen a confirmed date for this change yet, last I heard it was in April but that isn't looking likely now? But as you have up to 12 months before you need to convert your license then I'm sure that it will be passed by then.

Ian

[dilanium]

Does anyone know if the change is only for UK licenses?

[IanW99]

Does anyone know if the change is only for UK licenses?

This is the proposed rule change:-
This proposed amendment to the Rule would remove the theory test requirement for persons with overseas licences applying to convert to New Zealand Class 1 (light four-wheeled vehicles) and Class 6 (motorcycles) licence. This would apply to licence holders from countries whose licence holders are exempted from a practical driving test.

And these are the rules to determine who don't need to take a practical test.

You don't have to sit the practical test if:

you have a licence from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America, and
your licence is current (or has expired within the past 12 months), and
you've held that licence for more than two years.

So, no it isn't just for UK and does include USA :nice1

Ian

[dilanium]

YAY! that makes things easier for me!

:)

[StevieD]

I think in some ways this would be a bad move (after having done the theory test recently :mad: )

It really was valuable doing those theory questions as it really did highlight some of the differences that you encounter when driving here and some of the different rules involved...... just my slant on it anyway.

And I take it you will still have to stump up the dollars to get your license anyway, owt for nowt and all that.

[IanW99]

I think in some ways this would be a bad move (after having done the theory test recently :mad: )

It really was valuable doing those theory questions as it really did highlight some of the differences that you encounter when driving here and some of the different rules involved...... just my slant on it anyway.

And I take it you will still have to stump up the dollars to get your license anyway, owt for nowt and all that.

Agreed, there is nothing quite like having to take a test to get people to actually read the rules.

They are actually considering this point:-

The removal of the Class 1 and Class 6 theory test for licences issued by countries whose licence holders are exempt from the practical driving test is not expected to compromise road safety in New Zealand. As most of these drivers would have been driving in New Zealand in the year prior to application for licence conversion, they would have had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with New Zealand’s unique road rules (eg, the Give Way rule). There are other ways in which information on New Zealand road rules can be provided to them (eg, when they come into the driver licensing agents to convert their overseas licences to a New Zealand licence).

Maybe they could provide booklets of the differences between the country that you learnt in and NZ as most of the information is the same. Still not sure if people will bother learning the differences if there isn't a need to.

Ian

[StevieD]

I know what you mean Ian, would people bother reading it! I found it very useful doing the study for the theory, not that the majority of it wasn't simple or common sense, but those little things like junctions and that turn right rule, they would stump you if you didn't look it up.