How to get your Motorbike Licence in NZ

First up, you need to be at least 16 years of age to apply for a motorcycle learner licence. And before you do that you need to pass a basic handling skills test. This is a trial to ensure you have the skills to ride safely on the road once you've got your learner licence. The tester will ensure you can turn and stop, ride in a figure of eight, control your speed and perform an emergency stop. They'll make sure you're signalling correctly and how well you can control the motorcycle. Find out more about the test, and find a list of test providers, here.

Once you've passed your basic handling skills test, you'll need to sit the theory test at a driver licencing agent. This is a 35 question, multi-choice test specific to motorcycling, testing your knowledge of the road code in regard to riding a two-wheeler. You need to get at least 32 questions right to pass. 

Once you've passed that, you fill out the form, make sure your eyesight meets the required standard and pay the learner licence application fee of $90.60. You'll then have your learner licence so you can start practising your riding. 

Learner licence restrictions include not riding between 10.00p.m. and 5.00a.m. and not carrying any pillion passengers. You’ll need an L plate attached to the rear of your motorcycle and you're only allowed to ride a LAMS approved bike. 

A LAMS approved motorcycle is one that has been deemed appropriate for a learner rider based on their level of experience. Previously, learners could only ride a motorcycle with an engine no larger than 250cc. However, there is now a power to weight formula that allows learner riders to own a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 660cc. 

A full list of LAMS approved motorcycles can be found here 

Once you have your learner licence you can either wait six months before applying for your restricted licence and sitting and passing a practical test. 

Or if you can't wait, you can take the competency-based training and assessment route to gain a Class 6R CBTA course certificate. This will let you apply for your restricted licence without having to wait the six months. The only but is that you must be at least 16 and half years old to apply for your restricted licence. The fee for this stage of the process is $54.20, and you still have the same riding restrictions as you did during the learner licence phase.

Once you're a holder of a Class 6 restricted licence you must wait at least 18 months before applying for a full licence. And you must be at least 18 years of age before you sit and pass the practical riding test. 

The other option is to be assessed by a CBTA assessor after you've held your restricted licence for 12 months. You must be at least 17 and a half years of age before applying for your full licence if going down this route. Either way, the fee for a full licence is $47.40. 

But once those criteria have been met, you will be the holder of a Class 6 full motorcycle licence. This means there are no restrictions on your riding, and you can ride whatever bike you like.

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