The AA is a provider of the NZTA Waka Kotahi approved Advanced Driving Course in New Zealand.
- Achieve your full licence up to 6 months earlier
- Increase your chances of passing your driving tests
- Become a safer driver
- Learn to identify hazards
From $245 per person / Available nationally
About the Defensive Driving Course:
The Defensive Driving Course will give you the knowledge and confidence to be a smarter and safer driver. You’ll learn important defensive driving skills, such as assessing and identifying hazards to reduce the risk of being in a crash.
Whether you’re on your learner or restricted licence, you can reduce the time it takes to get your full licence by six months when you complete an NZTA Waka Kotahi approved AA Defensive Driving Course. This means you could apply for your full licence as early as 17½ years old.
If you have a learner licence:
- You can attend a Defensive Driving Course once you have your learner licence and you are confident enough to complete a 1-hour drive.
- If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months.
If you have a restricted licence:
- If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months.
- If you're over 25, the time on your restricted licence is reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
If you have a full licence:
You can still benefit from the defensive driving course, particularly if you:
- want to refresh your driving knowledge and skill base
- are a police recruit
- have a court referral or completing a Police Diversion programe
Defensive Driving Course vouchers
You can also buy vouchers for the Defensive Driving Course which you can use at a later date or gift to someone else. The voucher is not a booking but can be redeemed when making a booking.
Vouchers are for courses provided by the AA and cannot be used for other licensed course providers.
Defensive Driving Course content:
The course takes 9 hours to complete and includes:
- 4 classroom sessions (2 hours each - 8 hours total)
- 1 in-car session (1 hour)
- Access to online learning (eDrive)
Classroom sessions
We learn with real-life driving situations filmed on New Zealand roads during interactive theory group sessions. In the course we discuss various scenarios, observations and hazards to improve understanding.
These sessions need to be completed in order.
If you feel the need to bring a support person or reader-writer with you to the course, please contact us prior to your course date.
In-car session
This session helps you identify bad habits and teaches you how to address them before you take your practical driving test. The assessment drive will fine-tune your driving skills and raise your awareness of hazard detection and appropriate responses to those hazards. The in-car session needs to be completed within 60 days of the last in-classroom session. This drive is completed in your own vehicle.
Online learning (eDrive)
The online learning and test focus on visual search and situation awareness that are directly linked to crash risk. eDrive shows real-life driving situations filmed on NZ roads with you right in the driver’s seat.
Your account is valid for 28 days from the day you register online. There is no limit to the number of attempts on the test. However, you will need to have a minimum score of 80% or greater to receive your certificate of completion. This must be completed prior to your in-car drive.
You are required to show a copy of your eDrive certificate to your tutor, when you attend your in-car practical drive. This can either be shown to the tutor on your mobile device or a printed copy.
Completing the Defensive Driving Course
Once you finish all the coursework, preparation tasks, and the practical drive within 60 days after the last classroom session, you will receive your certificate.
Bookings & refunds
The classroom sessions can be booked for and paid online. We recommend that once you have started your classroom sessions, you discuss and make your practical drive booking in advance with the tutor to ensure it is completed within 60 days.
Refunds for cancellations will only be made if we receive notification of cancellation at least 14 days prior to commencement of your course. For full details: Defensive Driving Course terms and conditions
Locations for Defensive Driving Course
| Region - Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Northland - Kerikeri | Kerikeri Sports Complex, Waipapa Road, Kerikeri |
| Northland - Whangarei | ASB Lounge, 97 Western Hills Drive, Kensington Park, Whangarei |
| Auckland North - Whangaparaoa | Whangaparaoa Library, 9 Main Street, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa |
| Auckland North - Long Bay | Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre, 1045 Beach Road, Long Bay |
| Auckland North - Mairangi Bay | Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Road, Mairangi Bay |
| Auckland North - Glenfield | Glenfield Community Centre, 96 Bentley Avenue, Glenfield |
| Auckland North - Northcote / Takapuna | YMCA Northcote, 5 Akoranga Drive, Northcote |
| Auckland Central - Grey Lynn | Grey Lynn Community Centre, Garden Room, 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn |
| Auckland Central - Parnell | Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Road, Parnell |
| Auckland Central - Meadowbank | St Chads, 38 St John's Road, Meadowbank |
| Auckland Central - Mt Albert | Marist College, 31 Alberton Avenue, Mount Albert |
| Auckland Central - St Heliers / Glendowie | Sacred Heart College, Old Boys Lounge, Main gate opposite, 133A Crossfield Rd, Glendowie, Auckland |
| Auckland Central - Mt Roskill | AA Centre, 6A Carr Road, Mt Roskill |
| Auckland Central - Penrose / Ellerslie | AA Penrose, 419 Great South Road, Penrose |
| Auckland East - Botany | 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs |
| Auckland East - Howick | Uxbridge Arts & Culture, 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick |
| Auckland South - Manukau | AUT South Campus, ME Block, 640 Great South Road, Manukau, Auckland |
| Auckland South - Takanini | Bruce Pulman Park, 90 Walters Road, Takanini, Auckland |
| Auckland South - Pukekohe | The Franklin Centre, Allan Wilson Room, 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe |
| Auckland West - Henderson | Hub West, 27 Corban Ave, Henderson |
| Auckland West - Hobsonville | Hobsonville Community Trust, Headquarters Building, 214 Buckley Avenue, Hobsonville |
| Auckland West - Westgate | Auckland Council, Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate - Hinengaro room, Level 2 |
| Waikato - Te Kauwhata | St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 11 Scott Road, Te Kauwhata |
| Waikato - Hamilton West | Good News Community Centre, 78 Breckons Avenue, Nawton, Hamilton |
| Waikato - Rototuna, Hamilton | Rototuna Library, 30 North City Road, Rototuna North, Hamilton |
| Waikato - Cambridge | Bridges Church and Community Centre, 28 Duke Street, Cambridge |
| Bay of Plenty - Tauranga Central | St Peters Community Church, 130 Spring Street, Tauranga |
| Bay of Plenty - Tauranga West | Matua Hall, 110 Levers Road, Matua, Tauranga |
| Bay of Plenty - Tauranga | Greerton Library, Heremanuhiri Room, 139 Greerton Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga |
| Bay of Plenty - Mount Maunganui | Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Arataki, Mount Maunganui |
| Bay of Plenty - Papamoa | Papamoa Community Centre, 15 Gravatt Road, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa |
| Bay of Plenty - Rotorua | The Arts Village, 1240 Hinmaru Street, Rotorua |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Palmerston North | Hancock Community Centre, 77-85 King Street, Palmerston North |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Palmerston North St Albans | St Alban's Presbyterian Church, 339 Albert Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North. Car park behind church, off St Alban's Ave. |
| Masterton | Chanel College, 26 Herbert Street, Masterton |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Levin | The Mahi Space, 10 Bath Street, Levin - Please access via doors at 10 Bath St |
| Hawke's Bay - Havelock North | Taruna College, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North |
| Wellington - Carterton | St. David's Presbyterian Church, 164 High Street South, Carterton |
| Wellington - Upper Hutt | Orongomai Marae, 7 Railway Ave, Maidstone, Upper Hutt |
| Wellington - Lower Hutt | Capital Training Limited, 20 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt |
| Wellington - Porirua | Whitireia Community Polytechnic, 3 Wi Neera Drive, Elsdon, Porirua |
| Wellington - Wellington Central | Multicultural Learning & Support Services, 39 Web Street, Mt Cook, Wellington |
| Wellington - Johnsonville | Waiora Sport and Community Hub, Rothbury Insurance Brokers Lounge (Northern end), 17 Bannister Avenue, Johnsonville |
| Wellington - Karori | Karori Community Centre, 7 Beauchamp Street, Karori |
| Wellington - Kapiti Coast - Paraparaumu | Kapiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu |
| Wellington - Thorndon | St Mary's College, Guildford Terrace, Thorndon |
| Nelson / Tasman - Nelson | NMIT (meet at A Block), 322 Hardy Street, Nelson |
| Marlborough - Blenheim | REAP Marlborough, 65 Seymour Street, Blenheim |
| Canterbury - Kaiapoi | Kaiapoi Library and Service Centre, 176 Williams Street, Kaiapoi - please make sure you enter via the backdoor by the carpark |
| Canterbury - Sydenham, Christchurch | AA Sydenham, Cnr Brougham Street and Buchan Street |
| Canterbury - Rangiora | Classroom K4, Rangiora High School, 125 East Belt, Rangiora |
| Canterbury - Riccarton, Christchurch | Harcourts, 88 Division Street, Riccarton, Christchurch |
| Canterbury - Parklands, Christchurch | Parklands Baptist Community Church, 180 Queenspark Drive, Parklands, Christchurch |
| Canterbury - Rolleston | St John Ambulance, 7 Kidman Street (Cnr Kidman St and Norman Kirk Drive), Rolleston |
| Canterbury - Ashburton | Ashburton Events Centre, 211 Wills Street, Ashburton |
| Otago - Wanaka | Wanaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street, Wanaka |
| Otago - Queenstown | Wakatipi Highschool (Green Room at front of school), 47/49 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, Queenstown |
| Otago - Dunedin | AA Centre, 450 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin |
Locations for licensed providers of the Defensive Driving Course
These providers are licensed to facilitate the AA Defensive Driving Course, they provide the venue and will manage all arrangements directly with you including booking, payment and documentation.
Once submitting your booking through the system, the provider will contact you directly to advise course dates and other details.
| Region | City/town |
|---|---|
| Auckland | Orewa, Warkworth |
| Waikato | Waihi, Thames, Morrinsville |
| Bay of Plenty | Katikati, Whakatane |
| Gisborne | Gisborne |
| Taranaki | New Plymouth, Hawera |
| Wellington | Carterton, Greytown |
| Canterbury | Culverden, Rangiora, Timaru, South Canterbury |
Check the availability for Defensive Driving Courses around New Zealand and book your place on the course.
Buy a voucher for a Defensive Driving Course for yourself or for someone else. You can redeem voucher when booking.