New Zealand - can I drive on my Aussie Licence??

[weeds]

Everything on the web points towards an IDP.....

[reachjatt]

From what i know you can use your AU license for as long as you like unless you are planning to settle in NZ or you get caught with driving offense.:burnrubber:

[Mick_Marsh]

Look under "Local Travel"
Travel Advice for New Zealand - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (http://smartraveller.gov.au/countries/new_zealand)


Or if you can't be bothered clicking the link:

Local travel
You can use an Australian driving licence to drive in New Zealand for a maximum of 12 months.

[Roverlord off road spares]

Hi Kevin, take it from us you can use you Australian driver license. As we have been over there. 4 times. We have hired a motor home 3 times and a car on our last trip. If you hire a motor home there are some roads that you can not drive on. They will tell you, one of them is near the shoot over in Queenstowns, and can not think of the other one.
The only thing you have to remember is that if you are doing a left turn in to a street and there is a car that is doing a right in to that street you have to give way to them. That is the only difference on there rules.
When are you going, we love it over there. One of the trip we did with the kids, we had a month over there, and loved every min.:D:D:D:DHeather

[AllTerr]

I've used mine over there. And my American one here for that matter :)

[Saitch]

Kelvin, all good with Oz licence. We had a motor home in '13 & all was good. Just be aware of the Milford Sound road being a bit tricky if you're in a larger camper, if one at all. The Cape Road at Dunedin is off limits too I think but don't quote me on that
We did the o/night Doubtful Sound cruise which we enjoyed. Have a good trip
Steve

[dernbak]

Hi Kevin, take it from us you can use you Australian driver license. As we have been over there. 4 times. We have hired a motor home 3 times and a car on our last trip. If you hire a motor home there are some roads that you can not drive on. They will tell you, one of them is near the shoot over in Queenstowns, and can not think of the other one.
The only thing you have to remember is that if you are doing a left turn in to a street and there is a car that is doing a right in to that street you have to give way to them. That is the only difference on there rules.
When are you going, we love it over there. One of the trip we did with the kids, we had a month over there, and loved every min.:D:D:D:DHeather

This rule went out about 12 - 18 months ago, ou road rules are pretty much the same as yours.

Maurice

[weeds]

Thanks for the link, buggered if I could find a complete answer......going over for work and have a hire car for five days in and around Auckland area.......

[Roverlord off road spares]

Hi Kevin just watch out when you are turning left in to a road and there is another car that it turn right in that road you must give way. That the only difference with road rules. Heather;)

[mikehzz]

This rule went out about 12 - 18 months ago, ou road rules are pretty much the same as yours.

Maurice

I loved that rule...it was delightfully insane. :D

[Mick_Marsh]

This rule went out about 12 - 18 months ago, ou road rules are pretty much the same as yours.

Maurice
Thanks Maurice.
We changed that rule in Victoria about the same time.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/getting-a-licence/road-code/give-way-rule-changes-2012/

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/about-driving/the-give-way-rules/

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/

[Vern]

You can even get a speeding ticket on your aus license as well;)

[DiscoMick]

If you're worried go to your motoring organizationand get an international driver's permit. Need 2 passport photos.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

[reachjatt]

IDP permit thru RACV

http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/racv/internet/primary/travel/driving+overseas/international+driving+permits/idp-application-form

[simonmelb]

And there are some roads that no hire cars are supposed to drive on including the Tasman Glacier rd. But that didn't stop me and the misses in the little soft roader we hired even with a few cm of snow! The view of this glacier at the end of the track is so worth it.

[DiscoMick]

It might be wise to check the fine print of any hire car paperwork you do, as it could be that failure to hold an IDP could invalidate insurance.
Honestly, an IDP is cheap and a good idea to have. I used to carry mine in Asia and hand it over because I didn't want to hand over my Australian licence in case the cops were corrupt and copied it to sell to someone. Hopefully, that won't happen in NZ, but you never know.

[pando]

Hi all, have been looking into this of late, not so much NZ but other countries.

There was a treaty signed in 1949 by 150 or so countries that kicked off the whole IDP thing. Initially (and is sometimes still considered) it was a translation document for the most part to show you have a license in your home country, especially when across languages.

Its a local thing if its required or not, most states in the US for instance don't require it and car hire / driving is fine on your Aussie license, insurance no worries as well from what I can work out (haven't been yet, just looking at the moment). Appears NZ follows the same but fine print is there for the companies protection, not yours, read it carefully.

Something to keep in mind when discussing this is that it is a permit, not a license, and is only valid with your license from your home port and must be carried together for either to be valid.

[Saitch]

Hi all, have been looking into this of late, not so much NZ but other countries.

There was a treaty signed in 1949 by 150 or so countries that kicked off the whole IDP thing. Initially (and is sometimes still considered) it was a translation document for the most part to show you have a license in your home country, especially when across languages.

Its a local thing if its required or not, most states in the US for instance don't require it and car hire / driving is fine on your Aussie license, insurance no worries as well from what I can work out (haven't been yet, just looking at the moment). Appears NZ follows the same but fine print is there for the companies protection, not yours, read it carefully.

Something to keep in mind when discussing this is that it is a permit, not a license, and is only valid with your license from your home port and must be carried together for either to be valid.
I have refrained from commenting on the IDP thing as to avoid starting a bun fight but this post brings me to say that, in a fair bit of overseas driving through a lot of European countries over the years, when I've been asked for a licence, the people doing the asking couldn't give a tinkers cuss about an IDP. All they wanted was to see a fair dinkum licence. I got pulled up in "random" situations & not one of the coppers knew what an IDP was.
A complete waste of money in my opinion.
Steve

[Naviguesser]

Driven all though Europe on my OZ licence as well. Hired cars without issue. Never bothered with the international permit. Never been asked for it with hire cars, happy with my real licence

[Roverlord off road spares]

In regards to the hire cars, New Cars over there cost heaps more than here
so make sure you take the excess waiver option on the insurance.
A fellow traveller broke a windscreen on his first day and copped a big fee for it.
Also don't drive on roads that hire cars are banned or your insurance is void and you will have to pay for a new vehicle.

also if hiring a camper van or motor home , there are companies that are subsidiaries of the main hire cos, they have the vehicles that are a few years older than the current crop and the savings is well worth it. We hire one for a month and saved thousands $ with a 5yrear old motor home
We dealt direct with them in NZ, booking it via net, Not advertised here by travel companies. Googled them.
You'll enjoy the trip.
Regards,
Mario
Regards,
Mario

[Roverlord off road spares]

This rule went out about 12 - 18 months ago, ou road rules are pretty much the same as yours.

Maurice
Ah but have the NZ bros been told of the change?
regards,
Mario

[DiscoMick]

I have refrained from commenting on the IDP thing as to avoid starting a bun fight but this post brings me to say that, in a fair bit of overseas driving through a lot of European countries over the years, when I've been asked for a licence, the people doing the asking couldn't give a tinkers cuss about an IDP. All they wanted was to see a fair dinkum licence. I got pulled up in "random" situations & not one of the coppers knew what an IDP was.
A complete waste of money in my opinion.
Steve
Yes, I've had that too. However, I still think the IDP is worthwhile as a second form of ID to carry. Wallets get lost or stolen.
There is a scam in some countries where cops, shops and hotels ask for a driver's licence as ID, then quickly copy the details, and then sell the copies to counterfeiters, who use them to get credit cards in the person's name, and then buy lots of stuff until the credit limit bounces, by which time they have disappeared.
Handing over an IDP instead of a licence makes that scam harder to carry out.
Also, in some countries the cops take your driver's licence, often for a bogus reason, and to get it back you have to go to a police station and pay money, so the cops line their pockets. If a cop took my IDP I wouldn't bother paying to get it back.
Aussie driver's licences are valuable documents internationally. I once paid $100 at a Thai police station to recover mine.

[Chenz]

With a KIWI wife I have been over there dozens of times and have hired cars, boats, bikes and anything else you can think of and have never had any problem using my NSW drivers license.

I will agree with the points about taking out the excess insurance as a small ding can cost you a large excess.

I wish hire companies would state up front what the full hire charge is. As I book most of the cars on-line before I go It never fails to amaze me how with this excess and that fee the charge dramatically increases.

[bsperka]

Don't pay the car hire company excess avoidance fee. Get travel insurance - covers more and is cheaper after about 4 days hire.

[mikehzz]

I hired a car in Athens and they insisted on an International DL. It's the only time in 20 countries though.