Stage 2 – restricted licence

Who can apply for a restricted licence?

You can apply for your restricted licence once you have the driving skills you need to pass the restricted licence test.

You must:

• be at least 16½ years old
• hold a current learner licence
• have held a current learner licence for at least 6 months.

How do I apply for a restricted licence?

To get your restricted licence, you need to pass the restricted licence practical driving test.

To book your restricted licence practical driving test, you must either:

• visit a driver licensing agent and:
  • book a time to take the restricted licence practical driving test
  • pay the application fee of $167.50
  • complete the application requirements 

Application requirements

Driver licensing agents

OR

• book your restricted licence practical test online.

Book your practical test online(external link)

If you book online, you’ll need to complete the application process at a driver licensing agent before your new licence can be issued. You should allow at least 30 minutes before or after your test to do this.

Check the agent opening hours, as they may not be open 30 minutes before your test appointment. In that case you can complete the application process before the day of the test or after the test.

Restricted licence practical driving test

Practical tests

If you don't pass the restricted test the first time, you can rebook to sit it again. You can sit it a second time without having to pay any extra fees. If you need to sit it 3 times or more, you'll need to pay a test fee of $102.80 each time. 

Restricted licence conditions

• You can drive on your own, but not between 10pm and 5am. If you drive between these times, you must have a supervisor with you.
• If you sit the restricted test in an automatic vehicle, you can only drive automatic vehicles, unless you have a supervisor with you.
• You can't normally carry passengers, unless you have a supervisor with you. The only passengers you can carry without a supervisor are:
  
  • your spouse or partner
  • children who live with you and are under your or your spouse or partner’s care – you or your spouse or partner are their parent or guardian
  • relatives who live with you and who are on a social security benefit
  • your parent or guardian
  • someone you look after as their primary caregiver.

If you break the restricted conditions of your driver licence, you could get 35 demerit points and a fine of $100.

Demerit points

What is a supervisor?

A supervisor is someone who:

• holds a current and valid full New Zealand licence for the class of vehicle, and
• doesn’t have a supervisor condition on their New Zealand licence, and
• has held the full New Zealand licence for at least 2 years OR has held an equivalent overseas licence for at least 2 years.

They must always sit in the passenger seat next to you when you’re driving, and they must carry their driver licence with them.