Preparing for your full licence test

Ready to sit your full test? Here's everything you need to know.

If you’re under 25, to apply for a full licence, you must have held your restricted licence for at least 18 months (or 12 months if you’ve completed an advanced driving course).

If you’re over 25, to apply for a full licence, you must have held your restricted licence for at least six months (or 3 months if you’ve completed an advanced driving course).

You must be able to confidently perform all the driving skills that are assessed in the full licence test.

Advanced driving course information

Booking the full licence test

When you’re ready to take your full licence test, you’ll need to book a time to sit the test. The test will take about 30 minutes altogether.

To book a practical driver licence test:

• do it online – it’s easy and available 24/7, or
• visit a driver licensing agent

For help with the online booking service, call 0800 822 422.

To apply for a full licence costs $98.90. This includes your first full licence test, and a second test if you need it. If you need 3 tests or more before you pass, you’ll need to pay $71.90 for each test. You may need to pay to change or cancel the test.

Test fees

Visiting a driver licensing agency

The process of applying for a full licence is pretty similar to applying for a restricted licence. You’ll need to complete a driver licence application form, take an eyesight test, have your photograph taken, provide a signature, and pay the relevant fees. You can download the application form or grab a copy when you visit the driver licensing agent.

You’ll also need to present evidence of your identity. That means you'll need to bring your current New Zealand photographic restricted licence (or another acceptable form of ID if you’ve lost your photo licence and you’re waiting for a replacement).

Driver licence application form [PDF, 197 KB]
Identification for driver licensing information

What do I need to bring to my test?

• Your driver licence. Remember that this must be current (the testing officer will hold onto your licence during your test). If you are sitting your test using a temporary (paper) driver licence you will also need to bring some form of photographic ID with you that allows the testing officer to confirm your identity.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need to wear them for driving.
• The car you will be using for your test (see the section on checking your car below).

Also, make sure you have completed your full driver licence application before you sit your test. If you booked your test online or via the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency call centre, you’ll need to stop into a driver licensing agent on any day before your test to complete your application.

You might be able to do this on the day of your test, but you’ll need to check to see if your test site has a driver licensing agent.

If it does, you’ll also need to check what time the licensing agent opens on the day of your test. If your test is early in the morning and the agent is not open you will not be able to complete the driver application process. You’ll need to allow at least 30 minutes for this before your test is due to start.

Checking your car before the full licence test

Remember all the pre-test checks the Testing Officer did prior to the restricted test?

The same checks will apply when you do your full test. So make sure you’ve got a full tank of petrol, that your car is road legal, and that your tyres, lights, mirrors and seat belts are working properly.

Take a look at our guide to Checking your car before the test for more information.

Checking your car before the test