Fact Check: Driver Licensing

A driver licensing agent offers driver and vehicle licensing services to the general public on behalf of NZ Transport Agency. There are only two types of agents in New Zealand - the AA and VTNZ driver licensing agents.

To apply for a driver licence you need to go to a driver licensing agent so that they can: Verify your identity, take your photo and signature, and take payment to process your application. This process cannot be done online.

If you meet the conditions, you can drive on a valid overseas licence on NZ roads for 12 months from when you first arrive in the country. After the first 12 months, you will need an NZ licence. Please see our website for more information and the process to convert to an NZ licence.

In general yes. For driver licensing transactions you will need to go to a driver licensing agent so that they can: Verify your identity, take your photo and signature, and take payment to process your application.

While you can book a restricted or full test and apply for a replacement licence online, you will still need to come in person for the driver licensing agent to: Verify your identity, take your photo and signature, and take payment to process your application. Driver licensing cannot be done online.

You can find a list of driver licensing agents and relevant information on the AA or the NZ Transport Agency websites. The AA and VTNZ are the only driver licensing agents in NZ that offer driver licensing services on behalf of the NZ Transport Agency. Please note that driver licensing transactions and applications are not done online.

You can book a restricted or full licence test on the NZ Transport Agency website, but you would still need to come in-person to an AA or VTNZ driver licensing agent to have your ID confirmed, picture taken, signature taken and process your payment.

You can book your driver licence test and do the above at the counter at an AA Driver Licensing Agent. 

A learner licence test booking cannot be done online and needs to be done in-person at a driver licensing agent.

If your licence is from an exempt country, you may not need to do a test to convert. If your licence is from a non-exempt country (most countries), you would need to pass a theory test and practical test to convert to an NZ licence.

Please read carefully the information on our website before coming into a specialist AA driver Licensing Agent that offers overseas licence conversions. 

Whether you require a theory test and/or practical test to convert depends on where your license was issued, when you obtained the driver's license, and what class of license you are converting. Please see the page below for more information.