Driving on a UK Licence?

[Negative Creep]

Towards the end of next year me and a friend are looking at going to New Zealand for a year on a working visa. Still very early stages yet but one of the first questions I have is can I drive over there using my full UK Licence? I've never done anything like this before so is it that easy to sort the relevant paperwork?

[Ffirg 005]

You're OK on your UK license for a year - http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

[ringram]

What happens if you have a current UK one but an expired NZ one?

[Ffirg 005]

If the NZ one is just expired and not disqualified then I'd imagine you're OK on the UK one up to the year permitted. If you're here for longer than that though you'll need to get it renewed.

[jamieheasman]

As far as I am aware (inside knowledge) the police cannot check your entry date into the country at a road-side check and must get you to go into the station with your passport. I'm not saying it's a good idea to not get a Kiwi licence but I never had any problems before I got mine.

[Ffirg 005]

But if you found yourself involved in a major incident and it became a court matter.... Unlikely I know, but that's where the major risk is of playing on the dark side.

[peterpsg]

I read somewhere that Kiwi's will have to get a new UK license after 6 months soon, so I'm guessing it wouldn't be long after that our traffic dept responds in kind... what's good for the goose...

[jaybkay]

Until recently you had to get an NZ licence within twelve months of your FIRST arrival date (after 1999). This led to the absurd position of visitors theoretically having to get an NZ licence if they came back for another holiday after a year. This has all changed, now each time you arrive in NZ your overseas licence is valid for a year. For example a day trip to Oz will validate a US licence for another year - so it will be quite possible to live here permanently and never have to get an NZ licence.

And as the police can't check at the side of the road, in practical terms any valid foreign licence will be OK.

Which brings me to another point - the law says you have to produce your licence "without delay", NOT that you have to carry it with you. Anyone will take a few seconds to get their licence from a pocket so it is impossible to comply with the law in strict terms. If you don't have your licence with you then producing it at a police station ASAP must also satisfy the "without delay" provision. So if you have lost your licence and get a ticket for not producing it - order another one, when it arrives take it to a police station.....and have fun if you get taken to court.

[Kiwi XTR2]

jaybkay said:

. . . Which brings me to another point - the law says you have to produce your licence "without delay", NOT that you have to carry it with you. Anyone will take a few seconds to get their licence from a pocket so it is impossible to comply with the law in strict terms. If you don't have your licence with you then producing it at a police station ASAP must also satisfy the "without delay" provision. So if you have lost your licence and get a ticket for not producing it - order another one, when it arrives take it to a police station.....and have fun if you get taken to court.

Seriously dude, get another hobby.

Taking such delight in specifically going out of your way to frustrate the legal system is not healthy.