How to Get a Motorcycle Licence...

(Correct at 30 August 2006)

The Graduated Licensing System

The graduated driver licensing system (GDLS) is designed to progressively build riding and road safety skills as you move through the system.

You must be at least 15 years old before you can apply for a licence. The licensing system has three stages. These stages apply regardless of your age when you first apply for a licence. The stages are:

Stage 1 - Learner licence
Stage 2 - Restricted licence
Stage 3 - Full licence

As you graduate from one stage to the next, you are given a new licence with different requirements and more responsibilities. Normal road rules apply at all times. You must carry your licence with you at all times while riding.

How much does it cost?

Fees

Basic Handling Skills Test

Before you apply for your learner licence, you must first pass a Basic Handling Skills test at an approved motorcycle training school. (ask at you local motorcycle dealer or driver licensing agent for the address of a motorcycle training school in your area).

What it involves

Slow riding You must ride at walking speed through a lane measuring 0.75 metres wide and 18 metres long

Routine stop You must ride at a speed of approximately 20km/h and - on a signal from the examiner - stop so the motorcycle's front wheel comes to rest within a marked box.

Cone weaving (slalom) You must ride along a slalom course, weaving between cones placed 3.5 metres apart.

Quick stop You must ride at a speed of approximately 20km/h and - on a signal from the examiner - stop as quickly and safely as possible.

Riding a curve You must ride up to a curve from a distance of 25 metres at a speed of 20km/h. You must then give a turn signal, adjust your speed and ride around the curve (which is 1.2 metres wide) keeping within the lines all the way.

Stopping in the curve You must ride up to a curve from a distance of 25 metres at a speed of 20km/h. You must then adjust your speed, enter the curve and come to a stop within the curve.

Once you have your Basic Handling Skills Certificate, you can then apply for your learner licence at a driver licensing agent.

Applying for a Learner Licence

You will need to

• fill out an application form at your local driver licensing agent;
• produce your full birth certificate, passport or other proof of your identity and age and another ID that shows your current address (for a full list of acceptable forms of ID refer to Factsheet 20 - 'Acceptable ID for driver licensing' or call 0800 822 422);
• present your Basic Handling Skills Certificate;
• pay the appropriate fees for the learner licence test and the learner licence application;
• pass an eyesight screening check;
• have your photograph taken;
• provide a signature;
• pass a written theory test (a comprehensive 35-question written test based on your knowledge of the Road Code, requiring you to get at least 32 questions right to pass the test).

Once you pass the test, you will be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your learner licence in the mail. Your learner licence should arrive within 2-3 weeks.

Learner licence conditions

Holders of a learner motorcycle licence must adhere to the following conditions:

• You must carry your learner licence at all times when you are riding.
• You must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250cc.
• You must not go faster than 70km/h on the open road.
• You must not ride between the hours of 10pm and 5am.
• You must not carry a pillion passenger.
• You should not drink any alcohol before driving.
• You must have an "L" plate displayed attached to your motorcycle's rear number plate.

You can obtain L plates from suppliers including participating outlets of the LTSA's driver licensing agents:

• Automobile Association (AA)
• Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)
• Vehicle Identification New Zealand (VINZ)
• On Road New Zealand.

If you are under 20, your legal alcohol limit is 30mg/100ml of blood. This is effectively a zero limit - consuming one drink will mean a rider can be charged with drink driving.
If you are over 20 years the legal alcohol limit is 80mg/100ml of blood. Your riding, however, may be affected well before you reach the legal alcohol limit.

'L' plates

All drivers on a learner licence who drive a car, motorbike, moped or all-terrain vehicle must display 'L' plates on their vehicle. Motorcyclists only need to have an 'L' plate on the rear of their motorcycle, moped or all terrain vehicle.
The 'L' plate must be able to be clearly seen by all other road users and not restrict your front or rear vision.
'L' plates are available from AA driver licensing centres, Vehicle Testing NZ, Vehicle Identification NZ, On-Road NZ and other suppliers, or you can make your own to the same specifications.

Fees

If you are applying for a learner motorcycle licence (Class 6) you will have to pay a $31 fee to sit the theory test. In addition applicants will have to pay a $33.50 fee for the issue of their learner licence. Learner motorcycle applicants will also be required to pass a Basic Skill Handling Test that costs $41.00.

Moving to a restricted licence

Riders of any age who hold a learner licence will be required to hold their licence for a minimum of six months before applying for a restricted licence.
All learner licence holders will also be required to pass the restricted licence practical test before obtaining a restricted licence.
Before applying for your restricted licence you must pass a practical riding test. This test is known as the "restricted licence practical test". It has been designed to test your riding ability in a range of traffic situations and on various different road conditions.

Applying for a restricted licence

You need to

• hold a learner licence for at least six months;
• go to your to your nearest driver licensing agent, complete an application form and pay the appropriate fees for the restricted licence practical test and licence issue;
• pass the restricted licence practical test;
• pass an eyesight screening check;
• have your photograph taken;
• provide a signature.

On passing the restricted licence practical test, you will be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your restricted licence in the mail.

Restricted licence conditions

Holders of a restricted licence must adhere to the following conditions:

• you must carry your restricted licence with you at all times when you are riding.
• you must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250cc;
• you must not ride between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am;
• you must not carry a pillion passenger;
• you should not drink any alcohol before you drive.

If you are under 20, your legal alcohol limit is 30mg/100ml of blood. This is effectively a zero limit - consuming one drink will mean a rider can be charged with drink driving.
If you are over 20 years the legal alcohol limit is 80mg/100ml of blood. Your riding, however, may be affected well before you reach the legal alcohol limit.

Riders under 25 years of age

Riders who successfully pass their practical riding test will be granted a restricted licence. You will be required to hold your restricted licence for a minimum period of 18 months. This 18 month minimum period can be reduced to 12 months upon the successful completion of an approved course teaching advanced riding skills provided the course is undertaken after you have held your restricted licence for at least six months.

Riders aged 25 or over

Riders who successfully pass their practical riding test will be granted a restricted driver licence. You will be required to hold your restricted licence for a minimum period of six months. This six month minimum period can be reduced to three months upon the successful completion of an approved course teaching advanced driver skills.

Fees

A person applying for a restricted licence will pay a fee of $41 for the restricted licence practical driving test and a $33.50 fee for the issue of their restricted licence.

Moving to a full licence

All restricted licence holders will also be required to pass the full licence test before obtaining a full licence .
For more information on the full licence test refer to Factsheet 59 - "The full licence test for motorcyclists".
All restricted licence holders (Class 6 licences) need to sit and pass a full licence test before graduating to a full licence. The full licence test for motorcyclists involves a thorough examination of your riding skills and how you detect and respond to driving hazards.

Applying for a full motorcycle licence

If you are under 25 years of age, you can apply for your full licence once you have held a restricted licence for 18 months. This time can be reduced to 12 months if:

• you have completed a driving course approved by the Director of Land Transport Safety; and
• you began the course no less than 6 months after receiving your restricted licence.

If you are aged 25 or over, you can apply for your full licence once you have held a restricted licence for 6 months. This time can be reduced to 3 months if you have completed a driving course approved by the Director of Land Transport Safety.

To obtain your full licence you must also:

• pay the appropriate fees for the test and full licence application;
• pass the full licence test;
• pass an eyesight screening check;
• have your photograph taken;
• provide a signature.

On passing the full licence test you will be given a temporary licence, valid for 21 days, to use until you receive your full licence in the mail. Your full licence should arrive within 2-3 weeks.
You must carry your driver licence at all times when you drive.

No matter how old you are, you must go through all three stages to get a full motorcycle licence.
This is a very brief summary of how to get a motorcycle licence - for more information you will need a copy of The Official New Zealand Road Code and Licence Guide for Motorcyclists.