The practical test for a full car licence will be scrapped on 25 January 2027. Once drivers have held their restricted licence for the required time, they will be able to apply for a full licence without sitting another driving test, the Ministry of Transport says.
The change is part of the Government's overhaul of the graduated driver licensing system. Most of the changes take effect on the same date.
What changes on 25 January?
According to the Ministry of Transport's fact sheet:
- No full licence test. The hazard perception part of the current full test moves into the restricted test instead.
- Set restricted periods. The restricted period will be 12 months for drivers under 25 and six months for those 25 and over. A defensive driving course will no longer shorten it.
- Demerits add time. A driver who gets demerit points on a restricted licence will have their restricted period extended by six months. The ministry says demerit offences are infringements issued by a police officer. Safety camera infringements currently carry no demerits.
- Fewer eye tests. Eyesight will be checked when you apply for your learner licence and when you renew, not at every stage. The rules for drivers over 75 stay the same.
The learner period for under-25s also goes up from six months to 12, though learners can cut it back to six months with logged supervised driving hours or an approved course.
A zero-alcohol limit for all learner and restricted drivers, whatever their age, is also coming. It needs a law change, so it will start later.
The removal of the full test applies to car (class 1) licences only, 1News reported when the changes were confirmed. It also reported there are no changes to the processes for overseas drivers or senior drivers.
How much cheaper will it be?
The total cost of getting a car licence falls by $80, from $362.50 to $282.50, 1News reported. Most of the saving comes from the full licence fee, which drops from $98.90 to $25.90.
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) says the restricted licence application fee will also fall, from $167.50 to $160.50.
What applies right now?
The current rules stay in place until 25 January. Drive, the NZ Transport Agency's (NZTA) learner driver site, says that until then you still need to follow the current process to get your full licence.
Under the current rules, Drive says:
- Under 25: you need to be at least 18 (or 17½ with an advanced driving course), have held your restricted licence for at least 18 months (or 12 months with the course), and pass a practical test
- 25 and over: you need to have held your restricted licence for at least six months (or three months with the course), and pass a practical test
The full licence application fee is currently $98.90.
Should you sit the test now or wait?
It depends on your dates.
The MTA says anyone holding a learner or restricted licence on 25 January 2027 moves to the new rules on that date. It gives an example of how demerits work in the changeover. If a driver's restricted period was due to end on 1 November 2026 but they got demerit points on 15 October 2026, six months is added from the date of the demerits. That pushes full licence eligibility to 15 April 2027.
Before booking or skipping a test, check your restricted licence issue date and any demerit points against NZTA's information on the 2027 changes. The MTA warns that practical test slots fill up fast, so anyone planning to sit before the change should book early.
Still on your learners?
If someone in your family has not got their learner licence yet, the 12-month learner rule for under-25s matters more than the full test change. Read our explainer on the 12-month learner period for under-25s.
The learner theory test has not changed. You can practise road code questions for free on GO Drive, a free practice site for the NZ learner licence theory test.
New arrivals driving on an overseas licence should also check how long you can drive on an overseas licence. That limit changed on 1 November.
