If you have your full license in New Zealand, can you drive in Australia when on holiday?
Question by x.supernatural: If you have your full license in New Zealand, can you drive in Australia when on holiday?
A friend is flying over on Friday, and he has his full license in New Zealand, but the trouble is he’s only 17 and has only had it for 6 months. He’s 18 in a month, though.
He’s only over here for a couple of weeks but we’re depending on him to be able to drive us around for a family holiday.
I really need definite answers here if you’ve got them, and not just people taking guesses please.
Thanks Xx
Best answer:
Answer by Snowman
I drove in Australia with an Irish driving license. I was stopped once for speeding and the policeman had no problem with my Irish driving license, so a NZ one would be accepted.
What do you think? Answer below!
To get a definite answer do not use a forum such as this.
Go to the website of the Road Traffic Authority ( or whatever it might be called) in the State in which you live and verify it there.
A New Zealand driver on a full licence (regardless of his age), can drive in any Australian state for up to 3 months on their NZ licence without needing to do anything about obtaining an Australian licence or notifying licensing bodies. No guesses – see the following links.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licences/NewToVictoria/InterstateAndNZDriversLicences.htm Victoria
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/visitorstonsw/overseaslicence.html NSW
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Licensing/Visitors-and-new-residents/International-drivers.aspx Queensland
Yes you can, I work for the RTA in NSW and Australia accepts any overseas license for the first 3 months of your stay.
You can only drive a vehicle that is the equivalent to your NZ license (eg car license there – car here, motorbike only there, motorbike only here etc.) If he’s 17 and NZ recognizes him as a fully licensed driver then he is able to drive with the equivalent of an unrestricted license here.
There are a few differences in road rules though, so he might wanna have a quick look at those.
As long as you are not trying to hire a car as you have to be over 21.
Don’t get burnt, listen to Ozmaniac she is very much on the money suggesting you contact the Roads and Traffic Authority as she has listed, for me I need to obtain an International License from my Canadian Automobile Association.