[acarb83]

hi,

I've just heard from a bunch of people that the international driving licence is not really required in NZ. I'm Italian.
Has anyone (let's say, from Europe) ever had trouble without a translated version of the driving licence.

Thanks,

Andrea

[jubjub]

you can drive on a EU license for 1 year

[wilson182]

Its worth doing IMHO cause the kiwis do have some suprising little quirks in their road code..

[Singel]

We use our Dutch licence here for nearly a year and then we convert it to the kiwi one by sitting for a theory test and having the Dutch licence translated in English.
:cheers

[Jo and Andy]

Just driving on UK licence (international equiv) until got jobs to do NZ licence. Studying for it, fingers crossed not too difficult honest.

You have a year to pass it, but have been told insurance costs go down once you have. If British licence only have to do written test I believe

[Karen and Rich Matthews]

Hi there,

Yep, no problems driving on an EU licence, you'll need a translation as previously mentioned and then after a year you'll need to do the theory test to get a Kiwi licence...I'm getting mine done in the next couple of weeks...and don't even get me started on the 'Give Way' rules!!! :)

Rich

[Qui~Gon]

The theory test is a multi choice question sheet its very easy to pass!
get a copy of the road code book read it and do the dummy tests on the back, you should pass with no problems.

Took mine within 2 weeks in getting here honest its a breeze if you fail you can take them again, longs you pay the fee's they do like making money here.

:D

[jubjub]

Can anyone confirm if you need to do a sight test when converting your license ??

[lisa]

Yes, you do a sight test. You have to look through a viewer thingy and answer questions on what you can see. I think it checks peripheral vision.

[Moorf]

Yes, there is an eye test - you stand and look into a machine and read out the answers.

Woz wears glasses for reading/pc work etc. He does not need them to drive. However, because he took the test whilst wearing his glasses (as he'd just filled out a form and put them on), his licence had a "condition" on it (which is printed on the reverse of the licence) that said he must wear his glasses whilst driving (big fines if he was found not wearing them etc).

The lady doing the tests etc didn't explain to him about this, or indeed ask if he wanted to remove his glasses and the consequences of not doing so. A few weeks later a work colleague told him he could have removed his glasses before the test and, assuming his passed the eye test, avoided the "condition" written on the licence.

In order to get it changed he merely went back and explained the situation and they did another eye test and a new licence was issues, without the condition. :nice1

So yes, a long winded way of saying you are required to do an eye test! It takes seconds.

Moorf

[Smiler]

Moorf

So is it something you read or count how many dots, or what, when you look in the machine please?

Deborah

[foolsgold99]

ok, I did my test at lunch time today.

A busy office isn't fun, 45 mins in a queue, with no air con, 3 mins at the counter doing the paperwork / photo / Eyetest (you read a line of letters, not hard. Then identify a flashing light from either the left or right). Took me another 3 mins to do the actual test, scored 35/35, 32 is the pass mark, but it's so easy.

Finished ?? No, it's another 45 mins in the queue. Where they then give you a temp license and a number. License actually comes in the post in 21 days.

If you go to a quiet office without a queue, whole thing could be done in 10 - 15 mins

[Smiler]

Yeahhhhhhhhh well done you! :nice1 Shame about the time it took though. :(