On-road safety test guide

When you're turning 75 or over, you'll need to get a medical certificate to renew your driver licence. Your doctor may give you a medical certificate with a requirement to sit an on-road safety test.

What the test involves

The on-road safety test checks you still have a good knowledge of the road rules and the ability to drive safely. It takes about 30 minutes and is done in your own vehicle.

The testing officer will tell you when to turn, stop and do other driving actions. There are no fixed routes – you must be able to drive safely on all types of road and in all traffic situations. You must drive safely and legally throughout the test.

The testing officer uses a simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ scoring method – you need to get a total score of 80% or more to pass.

Getting ready for your test

Make sure your vehicle is legal and roadworthy

You should check:

• all lights and indicators are working properly
• the tyres have enough tread depth
• the vehicle is sitting square to the road, showing all tyres have equal pressure
• there's no obvious damage to the vehicle that could be dangerous
• the high and low beams operate
• the windscreen washers and wipers work properly
• the horn works 
• the vehicle licence (rego) and warrant of fitness (WoF) are current
• the road user charges (RUC) label is current, if you have a diesel or electric vehicle
• the seat belts are in good condition.

You can take the test in a manual or automatic transmission vehicle.

Refresh your knowledge

Make sure you’re up to date with any new road rules, signs and markings. You can read the road code on our website, or get a printed road code from most bookstores or your local library.  

Road rules refresher

Road rules refresher in Driving as a senior [PDF, 7.8 MB] 

Road code

Attend a workshop

Staying safe: a refresher course for senior road users is a classroom-based community course that's a great way to keep up your skills and knowledge. 

See if any courses are available in your area

Do a self assessment and watch some videos

Visit our How's your driving page for more resources on what to consider when you're a senior driver, take the self-rating assessment or to watch some videos of safe driving in different driving situations.

How's your driving

Do a practice session

It may be helpful to have a practice session with a qualified instructor or someone else you consider to be a good driver.

On the day of the test

• Bring your current driver licence.
• Take your glasses or hearing aids if you need them – remember to tell the testing officer if you have hearing difficulties.
• Give yourself plenty of time and arrive for the test early – if you're more than 5 minutes late, your won't be able to take the test.

The testing officer will do a pre-test vehicle check before the test starts. If your vehicle doesn't pass the check, your test will be cancelled and you'll have to re-book.

The on-road safety test

The testing officer will tell you where to go during the test. Ask them to clarify any instructions you're not sure about. 

If you think you’ve made a small mistake, try not to dwell on it – you might lose your concentration.

Part 1: basic driving skills

The basic skills assessment takes about 5 minutes and includes:

• leaving the kerb
• driving in a straight line
• turning left at an intersection
• returning to the kerb.

The testing officer will check you:

• look in the appropriate mirrors and check your blind spots (the areas not covered by your mirrors) before and after moving – this includes:
  • setting off
  • turning
  • when changing lanes
  • about every 10-15 seconds when driving in a straight line.
• search forward and to both sides to identify potential hazards
• indicate in the appropriate direction for at least 3 seconds before moving – this includes:
  • setting off
  • turning
  • changing lanes
  • merging.
• choose appropriate gaps when you merge into a traffic flow, such as when leaving the kerb or moving through an intersection
• drive at a safe and legal speed throughout the assessment
• put the vehicle in a safe and legal position before, during and after all actions
• brake smoothly and effectively.

You must successfully complete these tasks to move on to the next part of the safety test.

Part 2: basic driving skills and hazard detection

This part of the test takes about 8 to 10 minutes. You'll be asked to:

• turn left or right at T-intersections
• safely drive through a crossroad
• safely drive through a roundabout
• stop or give way at stop or give way signs
• safely drive through an uncontrolled intersection – turning right across a road without a sign or traffic light.

During this and the next part, the testing officer will assess your ability to detect traffic hazards around the vehicle. A traffic hazard is an object or activity that may require you to change your position, adjust your speed or stop. This could be other vehicles, pedestrians or animals.

You must successfully complete this stage to move on to part 3.

Part 3: more complex driving situations and hazard detection

This takes about 5 minutes. It combines more complex driving situations and hazard detection in medium to heavy traffic conditions. You'll be in 50–80km/h speed zones.

You'll be asked to:

• travel through a local shopping area or commercial/industrial area in a 50km/h zone
• turn right at a crossroad in medium to heavy traffic in a 50km/h zone
• travel straight in a 60-80km/h zone
• turn right off a road in a 60-80km/h zone.

Common errors

These traffic offences will affect your on-road safety test result:

• going over the speed limit
• not stopping when required – stop signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings
• not giving way when required
• not indicating or driving too slowly
• not staying within a lane or using an incorrect lane.

After the test

The testing officer will calculate your result (score) and give you feedback on how you did in the test.

If you pass the test

The testing officer will give you a temporary driver licence. We'll post your new photo driver licence to your mailing address.

If you fail the test

You can book another test for free if you want to re-sit. 

If your licence is still current, you can keep driving until it expires. If your driver licence will expire before the new test date, the driver licensing agent can give you a temporary driver licence to cover you. It'll have a condition requiring you to always be accompanied by a licensed driver while driving.

If your practical test is cut short because of unsafe or illegal driving, the testing officer may tell NZTA, who'll assess your situation.

If you decide to give up your driver licence, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.

Alternatives to driving

Guide to the on-road safety test [PDF, 3.3 MB]

Road rules refresher