[akp713]

I know that on September 1st I'll be able to change my US licence over to a Kiwi one without taking the theory test. However, it says that you must have held your US licence for at least two years I think. Now I've had a licence for many years but my current one was issued on May 30, 2007 because in Virginia you get a new licence every time you change addresses.

My question is, will this be a problem for me? Will they ask for proof that I held a licence before the current card and should I therefore send for a copy of my driving record from the US to bring with me?

[Familyofmonkeys]

I know that on September 1st I'll be able to change my US licence over to a Kiwi one without taking the theory test. However, it says that you must have held your US licence for at least two years I think. Now I've had a licence for many years but my current one was issued on May 30, 2007 because in Virginia you get a new licence every time you change addresses.

My question is, will this be a problem for me? Will they ask for proof that I held a licence before the current card and should I therefore send for a copy of my driving record from the US to bring with me?

Don't know about US, but UK licences have the original licence issue date in really small print somewhere on the back.....I got muddled up when filling application form in and put the issue date of my photocard licence :o They must be used to this kind of thing though, beacuse the woman at the AA centre where I sorted licence out knew exactly where to get the correct date from :)

[IanW99]

I know that on September 1st I'll be able to change my US licence over to a Kiwi one without taking the theory test. However, it says that you must have held your US licence for at least two years I think. Now I've had a licence for many years but my current one was issued on May 30, 2007 because in Virginia you get a new licence every time you change addresses.

My question is, will this be a problem for me? Will they ask for proof that I held a licence before the current card and should I therefore send for a copy of my driving record from the US to bring with me?

As you say, they will require proof that you have held the license for at least two years.

If it doesn't say it on the license, they you will need some other proof.

Ian

[Pete & Sheila]

I wouldn't worry about taken the theory test. It is so quick & easy you don't even have to book an appointment. Just turn up at the AA centre fill out a form. The theory test consists of a scratch card with three answers to each of 30 something questions. All you have to do is scratch of a bit off silver to reveal your selected answer. Then take an eye test and within about 20 minutes you will have your Kiwi licence. All the answers are basically common sense

[IanW99]

I wouldn't worry about taken the theory test. It is so quick & easy you don't even have to book an appointment. Just turn up at the AA centre fill out a form. The theory test consists of a scratch card with three answers to each of 30 something questions. All you have to do is scratch of a bit off silver to reveal your selected answer. Then take an eye test and within about 20 minutes you will have your Kiwi licence. All the answers are basically common sense

Agreed that the theory test isn't that difficult, but if there isn't a need to take it i.e. by simply waiting till September 1st then I'm sure that this is the easier option.

The real problem is that that if you can't prove that you have held your overseas driving license for at least two years then you will need to take the theory test AND the practical test.

So, it is certainly better if you can get evidence of how long you have held your overseas license for.

Ian

[NikT]

I thought all overseas conversions require you to sit the theory test?
According to LTNZ.
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

Nick.

[IanW99]

I thought all overseas conversions require you to sit the theory test?
According to LTNZ.
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

Nick.

Only until September 1st 2008.

After this time the rules have been changed so that the theory test is no longer required for those that don't currently need to pass the practical test.

The factsheet will no doubt be updated to reflect this change.

Ian

[IanW99]

This thread Changes to NZ drivers licensing rules (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18403) has more details of the rule change for anyone who is interested.

Ian

[akp713]

US licences don't list the original issue date. The problem is that I've had a Virginia licence since January 2005 but before that I had a Masschusetts licence from March 2002. Will I need to get my driving record from Massacusetts as well as Virginia to show the original issue date? Or just from Virginia since I've had that licence for over 2 years?

[IanW99]

US licences don't list the original issue date. The problem is that I've had a Virginia licence since January 2005 but before that I had a Masschusetts licence from March 2002. Will I need to get my driving record from Massacusetts as well as Virginia to show the original issue date? Or just from Virginia since I've had that licence for over 2 years?

The only requirement is to be able to prove that you have held your license for at least 2 years, so it shouldn't matter which 'proof' you get.

I would probably go for the original issue date if it was a simple choice of one or the other, just in case you need the proof again for something else in the future?

Ian

[xanctus]

I changed my license from Wisconsin license to NZ license, and they didn't even asked any proof of my address in US. All it matters to the guy was when was it issued and is it still valid.

Hope that helps...

[akp713]

Yeah the issue date is my problem because Virginia doesn't print an original issue date on a license, just the issue date of that particular license card. I've now found that Virginia will not send me a copy of my driving record because I no longer live at my Virginia address so I'm going to try to get my Massachusetts record from 4 years ago. Hopefully they will send me that.