[Moorf]

I may have missed the meeting on this, but in case I'm not the only one who didn't realize... the UK Photocard Drivers Licence is only valid for 10 yrs.. as I got mine when they first came out mine is due for renewal and had I been using it to drive in NZ I'd have been driving illegally!! :uhoh

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/item.htm?id=5320

I assume I don't need to worry about returning to the UK with an old photocard as I can use my NZ licence?

[jubjub]

You will be fine using your NZ license. Until THAT one runs out after ten years ;)

I knew the photo ones were only vaild fo ten years, but is should be a simple renewal at that point if you wanted to do that too, but you would prob need to be resident in the UK for that to happen :)

[NZ Hopeful]

I've heard a few people comment on this recently, I think the anniversary of the photocard licence may be coming up..?

I've still got my original licence from when I passed my test 20 years ago (:eek:) and really should get it renewed - I've not lived at that address for over 10 years!

[CJ22]

On a side note, I walked in to New World tonight to buy myself a 6-pack of Stella, and was asked for ID (very flattering at 42!). I offered my UK photo-licence, only to be told that an 'overseas' licence was no good, and did I have a passport. I politely pointed out the absurdity of bringing a passport to the bleedin' supermarket, and made my excuses. Well I never. I can use a UK licence to get a NZ licence, but not to identify myself, according to the muppet at New World...

[NZ Hopeful]

On a side note, I walked in to New World tonight to buy myself a 6-pack of Stella, and was asked for ID (very flattering at 42!). I offered my UK photo-licence, only to be told that an 'overseas' licence was no good, and did I have a passport. I politely pointed out the absurdity of bringing a passport to the bleedin' supermarket, and made my excuses. Well I never. I can use a UK licence to get a NZ licence, but not to identify myself, according to the muppet at New World...

Would they not serve you?! :eek: Funny!

I got asked to confirm if I was over 25 at Asda recently when I was buying alcohol - I think she was taking the mick!! :cool:

[jubjub]

Bummer CJ22, I got asked in NW too for id once, and I aint that much younger than you and they accepted my UK licence.... mind you it does say on the till it has to be an NZ one, I must have caught someone feeling lenient....

Get yourself down the the AA and get your licence then, its not as if you nave to learn the road code for that any more!

[doowrehsij]

...buy myself a 6-pack of Stella, and was asked for ID (very flattering at 42!).

What moisturiser do you use?! ;)

[canajanz]

On a side note, I walked in to New World tonight to buy myself a 6-pack of Stella, and was asked for ID (very flattering at 42!). I offered my UK photo-licence, only to be told that an 'overseas' licence was no good, and did I have a passport. I politely pointed out the absurdity of bringing a passport to the bleedin' supermarket, and made my excuses. Well I never. I can use a UK licence to get a NZ licence, but not to identify myself, according to the muppet at New World...

Possibly because the check out chicks at New World have no way of knowing if an ufamiliar licence is valid.

I thought I had read that your old licence had to be surrendered when you got a new one ... or was that somewhere else?

[Toonster]

I've heard a few people comment on this recently, I think the anniversary of the photocard licence may be coming up..?

I've still got my original licence from when I passed my test 20 years ago (:eek:) and really should get it renewed - I've not lived at that address for over 10 years!

Aren't you supposed to tell the DVLA that you've moved house? As I recall it's a £1,000 fine if you don't...
(says she who moved house 3 times in 3 years and forgot to tell the DVLA. Only did it when I needed my photocard as proof of address as well as ID!)

[NZ Hopeful]

Yes, I believe you are :o

I really hate getting my photograph taken though!

[victoria24]

me too....

[925dancer]

I've moved to New Zealand and back and then about another 6 or more times and still haven't changed my address! Not driving at the moment though so they've no reason to get in touch.

My license runs out in a year and funnily enough I only noticed this yesterday. Good thing I did really, by the time I need an NZ license it will just about be out of date so probably perfect timing. We'll see if I can manage to look neither half dead or a convict this time around.

[ourquest]

Possibly because the check out chicks at New World have no way of knowing if an ufamiliar licence is valid.

I thought I had read that your old licence had to be surrendered when you got a new one ... or was that somewhere else?

Second point first...you don't surrender your overseas licence when you obtain a New Zealand licence.:)

I am not sure the chaps who work in New World too would be that chuffed to be referred to as "chicks". I think using the word "girls" is more PC.;)

However ludicrous it might seem, it's probably better that the cashiers take the rules seriously, as with everyone else. Otherwise any 13 year old in NZ could just get themselves a fake overseas licence (which wouldn't even have to look real because the check out personnel wouldn't know otherwise).

Jub jub, I think CJ22 is on a recce at the moment so he wouldn't qualify for an NZ licence (and surely wouldn't want one yet either) as he has to provide proof of residencial address in NZ (like a power bill, or bank statement).

[IanW99]

...
Jub jub, I think CJ22 is on a recce at the moment so he wouldn't qualify for an NZ licence (and surely wouldn't want one yet either) as he has to provide proof of residencial address in NZ (like a power bill, or bank statement).

Actually CJ22 and Dusk are here to stay (for now at least).

If you hint to him, he may change his location :)

Ian

[benandclare]

to look real because the check out personnel wouldn't know otherwise).

Jub jub, I think CJ22 is on a recce at the moment so he wouldn't qualify for an NZ licence (and surely wouldn't want one yet either) as he has to provide proof of residencial address in NZ (like a power bill, or bank statement).


No he here to stay , PR'r up :nice1

[NZ Hopeful]

Actually CJ22 and Dusk are here to stay (for now at least).

If you hint to him, he may change his location :)

Ian

You may have to scare him with a small child to do that though.....:cool: :p :D

[jubjub]

You may have to scare him with a small child to do that though.....:cool: :p :D

Oooh i got one of those.... Oi CJ22 & dusk, change your location :nice1

[StevieD]

Get yourself down the the AA and ........

Alcoholics Anonymous Sal??? :laugh:laugh:laugh

[ourquest]

Actually CJ22 and Dusk are here to stay (for now at least).

If you hint to him, he may change his location :)

Ian

Ahh, my mistake. Did know they had just arrived without having been here before though. Now they'll just need proof of permanent address (and 40 something dollars) and an NZ licence is theirs. Then no more being harrassed about looking too young (because they'll probably never get asked for their licence again once they have it)!

[dharder]

Second point first...you don't surrender your overseas licence when you obtain a New Zealand licence.:)

That depends on the country your license comes from. You do indeed have to hand over the German one, or so I've been told. I guess this can vary with country, and might be worth checking.

Daniela

[kerrijeansmith]

So when we get to NZ, will we have to take road tests? What a gross thought. Or can we just fill in some forms and get new licenses?

Kerri

[ourquest]

That depends on the country your license comes from. You do indeed have to hand over the German one, or so I've been told. I guess this can vary with country, and might be worth checking.

Daniela

There is nothing on the LTNZ website suggesting that any overseas licence must be surrended, and this is certainly information which they would publish if it was the case. Who told you about this?

[jubjub]

So when we get to NZ, will we have to take road tests? What a gross thought. Or can we just fill in some forms and get new licenses?

Kerri

Assuming you are from the UK/US, no you dont, you can just toddle into the the licensing office, fill in a conversion of overseas licence form and thats that... (oh and pay some money), and you have a up to a year to do this

[IanW99]

Assuming you are from the UK/US, no you dont, you can just toddle into the the licensing office, fill in a conversion of overseas licence form and thats that... (oh and pay some money), and you have a up to a year to do this

Isn't there a little bit more to it than that (or has it changed)?

Don't you still have to do an eyesight test and have your signature and photograph taken?

For many, the eyesight test requirement can be an issue due to the way that they test you.

Ian

[jubjub]

Isn't there a little bit more to it than that (or has it changed)?

Don't you still have to do an eyesight test and have your signature and photograph taken?

For many, the eyesight test requirement can be an issue due to the way that they test you.

Ian

eyesight test was a nightmare for me actually, so should have remembered that bit! ... but I am not at my best at this time of day :)

Heres the link... http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

[dharder]

There is nothing on the LTNZ website suggesting that any overseas licence must be surrended, and this is certainly information which they would publish if it was the case. Who told you about this?


In this particular case, the Germans don't let you have two driving licenses at the same time.

Pretty much standard in Europe in my experience, as you can exchange one European country license for another (and as far as I know, the NZ one as well), but you will have to send your exisiting one in for that exchange.

Now how NZ plays this, and how much they care that they should take the German license off the person when they apply for an NZ one, I do not know. I don't have a German license, so I won't be able to shed any light on this, but I was just pointing this out in case people are from countries that might have different rules as something to be aware of.

Daniela

[JandM]

Isn't there a little bit more to it than that (or has it changed)?

Don't you still have to do an eyesight test and have your signature and photograph taken?

For many, the eyesight test requirement can be an issue due to the way that they test you.

IanHaven't I read on here somewhere recently that they've just discovered that a whole lot of centres had the wrong machines, or had them wrongly set, and that was why it was so difficult?

[James 1077]

With respect to whether you need to surrender your UK licence the answer is - it depends!

You need an NZ address to get an NZ licence and therefore are likely to be living here.

If you are living permanently in NZ then you should tell the UK DVLA of your new address. However if your new address is outside of the UK then the DVLA won't register your change of address and you must give up your UK licence.

If you have a UK address that you can register your UK licence to then you can have both - but you need to make sure that you are resident at the UK address so can't just change it (legally) to your parents' address for example.

[James 1077]

Haven't I read on here somewhere recently that they've just discovered that a whole lot of centres had the wrong machines, or had them wrongly set, and that was why it was so difficult?


Can't answer this one but can answer that the eye test was a pain for someone with pretty damn good vision! The normal "read the letters" bit was fine but the peripheral vision test was difficult due to the way I had to lean into the machine because of my height. I ended up being told by the woman at the AA to move my head back a little as that was the only way anybody tall could pass it!

[CJ22]

Yep, we're here to stay and you can't make us leave so there :p

Getting an NZ licence is on my list of things to do next week, as well as buy a car :)

[beanbeanz]

So when we get to NZ, will we have to take road tests? What a gross thought. Or can we just fill in some forms and get new licenses?

Kerri

If I remember correctly, you're in Canada. No, you don't need to do any theory or road test. Just fill in a form, take an eye test, show some ID and your Canadian license and pay about $44 and you'll get your NZ license