BIG CHANGE TO DRIVER'S LICENCE TESTS COMING NEXT WEEK

Big changes are coming to the driver's licence test system next week, the Transport Minister announced on Tuesday.

From Monday, July 8, drivers sitting their Class 1 licence (most cars and light vehicles) will have to start paying for every test after the second attempt. They'll only get one free resit, whether theory or practical.

Plus, those converting an overseas licence will no longer get free test resits and will have to pay for every driving test attempt.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the changes are aimed at addressing "unacceptable" wait times for driving tests.

"These changes will reduce no-shows and incentivise driver licence applicants to prepare and pass their tests, reducing the driver licence backlog, while continuing to ensure that Class 1 applicants remain eligible for a free re-sit," Brown said.

In April 2023, the previous Labour-led Government removed resit fees for practical driver's licence tests. Former Transport Minister Michael Wood  said at the time the changes would help make obtaining a licence more affordable.

Resit fees may discourage people from continuing to move through the licensing system in order to get a full licence, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said last year.

It also said the cost of test resits means some drivers "stop taking tests but continue to drive".

But Brown argued since the previous Government's changes came into effect last October, test bookings, test failure rates, and no-shows have "increased significantly".

"This has led to unacceptable delays for Kiwis trying to book a test for their driver licence," he added.

He said demand for overseas licence conversions had shot up, clogging up the testing system.

"People applying to sit their driver licence tests have been waiting more than 60 days in parts of the country," Brown said.

However Labour's transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said National has found a way to make driving "more expensive".

"The Government is already upping vehicle registration by $50. This driver's tax is on top of a 12c increase to fuel tax set to hit all at once in 2027," Utikere said.

Brown was "coming after new drivers" with the changes, he added.

"What good is spending almost the entire transport budget on roads, when people won't be able to afford to drive on them."

Waka Kotahi NZTA will also hire more testing officers and will expand its available sitting hours for theory and practical tests.

A three-month grace period will apply for those who've already paid and booked their licence tests before July 8, to progress through the system.

Drivers who book their test before July 8 will still be able to change, cancel, or rebook their licence test until October 7. After that, fees will apply.

People who book their licence test after July 8 will have to pay fees to change, cancel, or rebook.

2024-07-02T04:23:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd