[Scotty69]

Hi could someone please help with advice pleeeaaaase :D

OH and i do not drive and are both hoping to be in NZ around November, the thing is we are thinking of taking driving lessons here in the uk before leaving could someone tell us if this is wise as its not cheap OR should we wait till we are out there. :nice1

Thank you all for the good advice and information we receive
Natasah

[Jo Jo]

I'd wait until you're here. I thought about having some driving lessons in the UK before coming to NZ, but unless you pass your test before coming to NZ it won't speed up the process of getting your NZ license at all as in NZ you have to hold each type of license (learner and restricted) for a certain length of time before you can take the test the get to the next stage.

If you did pass your test in the UK, you would have to take a practical test in NZ as you would have held your license for less than two years. I think you may be able to get round this as you can drive on a UK license for 12 months before having to take the theory test (and as far as I am aware you don't have to have held the full license for a certain length of time in order to do this), and if you leave the country you get a further 12 months, so you could pop over to Australia a couple of times and then when you've held the UK license for 2 years just take the theory test, but this isn't something I wanted to do.

[Tia Maria]

I've spoken to a few people who think its easier to learn and pass in NZ....

I pay $60 a lesson, thats with an AA instructor in Auckland.

Cheers

Tia

[peebles16]

Just to add to Jo Jo post you have to do the theory test here before you can start lessons and then wait 6 months to do the first practical test which gives you a restricted licence. This means you can basically drive your family around and not at certain times of night - mainly to restrict 15 yr olds :D . I then (think) after a year (or maybe 18 months) you then can sit further test to get full licence. I'm going through the learning to drive thing here and to be honest wished I had down it years ago but didn't...

I don't know where you are planning to settle in NZ but think that if neither of you drive you need to carefully think about public transport links cos without a car things can be a bit difficult. Also as add on lessons seem to be around $50-60 a time here.

All the best
Karenx

[Jo Jo]

I then (think) after a year (or maybe 18 months) you then can sit further test to get full licence.

As peebles says, the earliest you can take your restricted driving test is 6 months after passing your theory test.

Once you have got your restricted license, you can take the test for the full license after 18 months if you are under 25, and after 6 months if you're 25 or over.

These times are reduced to 12 months and 3 months respectively if you successfully complete an approved driving course.

[StevieD]

You mean they take driving lessons and have a test here???? Could have fooled me :laugh

[nickydwuk]

If you did pass your test in the UK, you would have to take a practical test in NZ as you would have held your license for less than two years. I think you may be able to get round this as you can drive on a UK license for 12 months before having to take the theory test (and as far as I am aware you don't have to have held the full license for a certain length of time in order to do this), and if you leave the country you get a further 12 months, so you could pop over to Australia a couple of times and then when you've held the UK license for 2 years just take the theory test, but this isn't something I wanted to do.

That also answers my daughters question. She has been having lessons in the UK but stopped due to lack of funds. She is thinking of taking an intense course and getting her full license before we leave so that she can drive in NZ. I wasn't sure if she had to hold a full license for a set time before she could apply for her NZ license. It seems she dosn't so she can go ahead with her lessons. :clap Now I will have my own personal chauffeur!!!!:laugh

[Scotty69]

Thank you everyone for the information, looks like we'll wait till we're in NZ thank you all

Natasha

[IanW99]

That also answers my daughters question. She has been having lessons in the UK but stopped due to lack of funds. She is thinking of taking an intense course and getting her full license before we leave so that she can drive in NZ. I wasn't sure if she had to hold a full license for a set time before she could apply for her NZ license. It seems she dosn't so she can go ahead with her lessons. :clap Now I will have my own personal chauffeur!!!!:laugh

I'm confused by your answer, if your daughter gets her UK license before arriving in NZ, then yes she will be able to drive in NZ on that license for up to 12 months.

And yes, she can apply for her NZ license at any time but currently if she hasn't passed for 2 years she will still be required to take the theory test and also the practical test as well, before she can get the NZ license.

It's very likely that she will be able to skip the theory test as that is being dropped as a requirement in the near future, but the only way to skip the practical test is as Jo Jo says to leave NZ within 12 months on holiday to reset the 'clock' until she has passed the UK test for at least 2 years.

Ian

[Caroline and Dave]

I don't know where you are planning to settle in NZ but think that if neither of you drive you need to carefully think about public transport links cos without a car things can be a bit difficult. Also as add on lessons seem to be around $50-60 a time here.

All the best
Karenx


This is a very important comment from Karen. We live in Albany, which is quite well built up yet if we had no car it would be at least a 20 minute walk to the nearest bus stop and then on the way back it is all up hill.Of course there are many more accessible areas in Albany.So when you decide where you want to live you will need to access bus routes etc. trains are virtually non existent . None at all on North Shore so you are relying on the buses. Sorry I am not intending to worry you just making sure you are aware of this .

Dave and Caroline

[StevieD]

yes, that is a point, you are almost totally reliant on cars here........

[M-Squared]

yes, that is a point, you are almost totally reliant on cars here........

I think that rather depends on where you live. In the Wellington area I've found public transport to be excellent. I only really use my car for going to and from the train station during the week. If I got my act together and could be arsed to walk to the bus stop, I'd have no problem using public transport and my feet to go to and from work. Of course I use my car a lot more at the weekend, too, with pootling aboot.

[peebles16]

For me living outside the city having a no car (or licence for that matter :D) is a pain. Don't get me wrong transport links to Christchurch are great but no local services to speak of that are much good so am reliant on OH for shopping etc.. Mind you am now walking about 8kms a day and have lost lots of weight so that's a positive :yes Just don't fancy doing it through winter...

Karenx

[Tia Maria]

I live in a central suburb of Auckland and there are relatively good transport links and I think we would be fine without kids.

However, many of the things we need to do, or get, for the children simply aren't on public transport routes or would take two buses and about an hour in total. This takes out half your day trying to do something as simple as getting their feet measured, or buying their soccer kit, or going to a party. Not to mention the joys of traveling on buses with 3 kids, (one in a buggy).

They still seem to have a fair few of the old style buses around, with steps and thin entry, don't know how the disabled manage.

I'm not a fan of driving and have managed on public transport, with children in London, without too many issues. But after 2 years of being in NZ I've reached the conclusion I need to drive, or the kids won't be able to do half the things on offer.

Cheers

Tia

[snailandthewhale]

If there is any chance that you can pass your UK test before arriving here, I'd go for it.
I passed my UK test about 5 days before leaving for NZ which meant I could drive unrestricted here immediately and had 12 months to sit the NZ theory/practical.
Public transport in Auckland isn't bad but as Tia says, it doesn't always take you everywhere you need to go. I do shiftwork and could not have driven myself to work on the restricted license.
I never needed to drive in the UK, but I really would've struggled here without a car.
K