Driving in New Zealand: overseas licences, converting your licence, road rules, buying a car, WoF and rego
To drive in New Zealand, first check how long you can use your overseas licence and whether you need an English translation. If you will drive long-term, convert to a New Zealand licence. Learn the keep-left and give way rules before you drive. When buying a used car, know the difference between dealers and private sellers and change ownership on time. A vehicle needs a current warrant of fitness (WoF) and registration (rego) to be on the road.
How long can I drive on my overseas licence?
Driving on an overseas licence and converting to a New Zealand licence
The limit depends on when you arrived and what you drive; carry a translation if your licence is not in English.
- Current time limit for driving a car on an overseas licence: Up to 18 months from your arrival in New Zealand, if you stay continuously (Class 1 car licence)↗
- When the 18-month rule ends: It ends from 1 November 2026. If you arrived between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2026, you still get 18 months↗
- If your licence is not in English: You must carry an accurate English translation whenever you drive↗
- International Driving Permit (IDP): You cannot use it on its own. You must also carry the original overseas licence it is based on↗
How do I convert to a New Zealand licence?
Driving on an overseas licence and converting to a New Zealand licence
Whether you need theory and practical tests depends on where your licence is from.
- Licence requirement for conversion: Your overseas licence must be current, or have expired within the 12 months before you apply↗
- Licences from countries not on the exempt list (for example, mainland China): Not exempt. You must pass a theory test and a practical driving test to convert. Check whether your own country is on the exempt list↗
- When you do not need a practical test: If you have held a current licence from a country or region on the list above for at least 2 years. Licences from Croatia, Hong Kong (China) and South Korea are exempt from the practical test only when converting to a car (Class 1) or motorcycle (Class 6) licence↗
What road rules should I know?
Road rules and traffic fines
Keep left, give way correctly, do not hold your phone, and know the alcohol limits.
- Keep left: You must drive as near as practicable to the left side of the road. If you are driving slowly and holding up traffic behind you, move left as soon as you can so vehicles behind can pass.↗
- Give way: roundabouts — When you enter a roundabout, give way to vehicles already on the roundabout and to vehicles coming from your right.↗
- Penalty for using a phone while driving: NZ$150 fine and 20 demerit points.↗
- Alcohol limit for adults: You must not drive if your breath alcohol is over 250 micrograms per litre, or your blood alcohol is over 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres.↗
- 100 demerit points: If you get 100 or more demerit points within any 2-year period, your licence is suspended for 3 months. After the suspension ends, you must apply to NZTA to get your licence back before you can drive again.↗
What should I watch for when buying a used car?
Buying a used car: checks, change of ownership and your rights
You have different protections when buying from a dealer or a private seller, and ownership must be changed quickly.
- Buying from a private seller: A private seller does not need to be registered, does not need to display a CIN, and does not have to follow the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) or the Fair Trading Act (FTA)↗
- CGA guarantees for cars sold by dealers: Acceptable quality (reasonable appearance and finish, durable, safe), fit for purpose, and as described↗
- Notice of change of ownership: After a used car is bought or sold, both the buyer and the seller must tell NZTA about the change of owner. Do this within 7 days to avoid a fine↗
How do the WoF and rego work?
Vehicle registration (rego) and warrant of fitness (WoF)
A vehicle needs a current WoF before it can be licensed (rego) for the road.
- What rego is: The vehicle licence, the label on your windscreen, usually called rego. A vehicle must have rego before you use it on a public road.↗
- What you need before you can get rego: The vehicle must have a current WoF or CoF before it can be licensed and used on the road (a few vehicles, such as mopeds, are exceptions).↗
- How much a WoF costs: There is no set price. Each inspection station sets its own. A basic WoF for a light vehicle is usually between NZ$50 and NZ$90. Repairs needed after a fail cost extra.↗
- Driving without current rego: Infringement fee: NZ$100 (individuals).↗
Common questions
How do I convert my overseas licence to a New Zealand licence?
Make sure your overseas licence is valid, then check where it is from: licences from countries on the exemption list may not need tests, while some, such as Mainland China licences, need both theory and practical tests. Licence requirement for conversion: Your overseas licence must be current, or have expired within the 12 months before you apply. Licences from countries not on the exempt list (for example, mainland China): Not exempt. You must pass a theory test and a practical driving test to convert. Check whether your own country is on the exempt list. When you do not need a practical test: If you have held a current licence from a country or region on the list above for at least 2 years. Licences from Croatia, Hong Kong (China) and South Korea are exempt from the practical test only when converting to a car (Class 1) or motorcycle (Class 6) licence.
How do I get a New Zealand driver's license if I already have one from overseas?
You convert your overseas licence to a New Zealand licence instead of starting from scratch. Whether you need theory or practical tests depends on where your licence is from. Licence requirement for conversion: Your overseas licence must be current, or have expired within the 12 months before you apply. When you do not need a practical test: If you have held a current licence from a country or region on the list above for at least 2 years. Licences from Croatia, Hong Kong (China) and South Korea are exempt from the practical test only when converting to a car (Class 1) or motorcycle (Class 6) licence.
How long can I drive in New Zealand on an overseas licence?
It depends on when you arrived and what you drive. Current time limit for driving a car on an overseas licence: Up to 18 months from your arrival in New Zealand, if you stay continuously (Class 1 car licence). When the 18-month rule ends: It ends from 1 November 2026. If you arrived between 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2026, you still get 18 months.
What should I check when buying a used car in New Zealand?
Your rights differ between dealers and private sellers, and you must change ownership quickly. Buying from a private seller: A private seller does not need to be registered, does not need to display a CIN, and does not have to follow the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) or the Fair Trading Act (FTA). Notice of change of ownership: After a used car is bought or sold, both the buyer and the seller must tell NZTA about the change of owner. Do this within 7 days to avoid a fine.
What is the difference between a WoF and rego?
Rego is the vehicle licence you need to use public roads, and the WoF is a safety check; you need a current WoF before you can get rego. What rego is: The vehicle licence, the label on your windscreen, usually called rego. A vehicle must have rego before you use it on a public road. What you need before you can get rego: The vehicle must have a current WoF or CoF before it can be licensed and used on the road (a few vehicles, such as mopeds, are exceptions).
What is the penalty for using a phone while driving?
You must not hold or use your phone while driving. Penalty for using a phone while driving: NZ$150 fine and 20 demerit points.
Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.
Which guides and official sources is this based on?
When you first arrive in New Zealand, you can drive on your overseas licence, but only for a limited time. If you want to keep driving, you need to convert it to a New Zealand licence. Important: from 1 November 2026, new arrivals can drive a car on an overseas licence for 12 months instead of 18 months. Licences from some countries need a theory test and a practical driving test to convert. Check whether your country is one of them.
In New Zealand you drive on the left. The give way rules may be different from the rules in your home country. You can be fined for holding a phone while driving, for not wearing a seatbelt, and if a child is not in a child seat. Speeding, using a phone while driving and drink driving can also give you demerit points as well as a fine. If you get 100 points or more within 2 years, your licence is suspended for 3 months. You usually need to pay a fine (infringement notice) within 28 days, or dispute it in writing before the final due date. From 1 October 2026, two new rules apply: leave at least 1.5 metres when passing, and give way to buses.
When you buy a used car in New Zealand, the most important question is who you buy from. If you buy from a dealer, you are protected by the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) and other laws. If something goes wrong, the dealer must fix, replace or refund. If you cannot agree, you can go to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal. If you buy from a private seller, you have almost none of these protections. Before you buy, always check for money owing and whether the car is stolen, and have it inspected. After the sale, both the buyer and the seller must tell NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) about the change of ownership as soon as possible. Do this within 7 days if you can.
To drive on New Zealand roads, your vehicle needs a valid rego and a valid WoF. Rego is the vehicle licence, the label on your windscreen, and you pay to renew it regularly: from 1 July 2026, 12 months online costs NZ$181.45 for a petrol private car and NZ$248.83 for a diesel or electric car. A WoF (warrant of fitness) is a regular safety check. Diesel, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles also need RUC (road user charges). Important: from 1 November 2026, WoF frequency changes a lot. Many light vehicles aged 4–14 years will need a WoF only every 2 years.
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The AI answers using this guide and official New Zealand government websites.