showtime247

hi moving over to nz in may and have a few question about transport that i need answer please help



do you have to pay a road tax every year like in the uk?


is insurnace required?


is an mot required every 12month?


can u drive on full uk licenece?


why are the cars so expensive for the age of them?


any links to info websites on driving in nz would also be good


thanks in advance

selondon

Road tax called registration. Insurance not compulsary but reccomended with some piss poor driving about. MOT is called WOF(warrent of fitness) every 6 months. UK licence ok for 1 year then NZ one required. Plenty of reasonable Jap imports about

janeyk

as other poster has said insurance tends to be cheaper here , WOf is about $50 or less takes 20 mins max
Japanese imports are in abundance or were before the earthquake we both drive 10 year old cars that have done 60k miles and are great for what we need, although they do not tend to come with instruction manuals, 2nd keys and radios that need the band expanding having said that they are not bad for the money look on trade me under dealer option for idea of what you can get for your money

RickAlbany

older cars are more expensive as they last longer here (no salt on the roads/snow etc) WOF (MOT) is every year until car is 6years old then every 6mths

Genesis

Google 'learning to drive in NZ'. That will get you loads of stuff. Buy the road theory book when you get here. Part of the test is a multiple guess thingy..there are a few REALLY wierd rules over here it is essential to know, like the giving way to traffic turning right across your path if you are turning the same way and them thin k its known as the 'give way rule'. Its shite and is being ruled out in 18-24 months or so. The other one is YOU MUST pullover to the left on the open road to turn right unless your way is clear to turn. This is so you don't get nailed as you wait to turn. Nearly all are roads are single carriageway. We are VERY, very backward in the driving/quality of roads dept. Do not buy any other car than a simple, dull Japanese import. They are cheap to run and go for ever. I would recommend an early Toyota Corolla.

cappuccino

You don't need to do a test to convert your driving licence - just a form, eye test and payment.

Genesis

Well that has changed eh? I would still advise that you avail yourself to said book as it may help save your life. The driving over here at best is shite. Drink drive abounds as does speeding. Head on collisions are the fave way to kill your fellow man/woman in NZ. Don't want to worry you but it is my biggest hate of life in NZ. The shitty, crappy, pissed up, tail gating, speed mad, impatient, discourteous, selfish, dare I say nigh on murderous drivers. I think that about covers it. I am glad I had the opportunity for a Friday rant. I feel much better now.

cappuccino

Yup, changed in Sept 2008 if I remember correctly - certainly in time for me to swap without taking a test! Not all countries are eligible to do a straight swap though.

BEVS

Linky HERE

When you think of that right hand rule.......

sirplug

Just buy a big 4x4......that way, they think twice about cutting you up, pulling out on you, etc.....oh and get some stickers made....something to do with Judo or Karate to stick in the back window and then they don't tail gate!

KiwiDreamer

..why don't you come off the fence and just say what's bugging you
I have to say that over the last 3 years I've also found the general standard of driving in NZ to be atrocious. Not helped by the mad right turn rule that seems to confuse everyone. 31 years of driving and not one incident. Come to NZ and been hit twice.
One pet theory for poor driving standards is in my opinion due to almost all cars being automatic which I believe encourages a lazy approach to driving.
The danger driving here is that at first it seems very similar to the UK, this lulls you into a sense that all is well, it's not.

Genesis

Glad its not just me than!!!!

lozmond

The only things I know regarding driving & cars in NZ are

Do not need to retake a test, just switch your license over.
Cars need a registration each year (similar to road tax)
Car needs a WOF (warrant of fitness) ever 6/12 months depentdant upon the cars age.
By law you do not have to have car insurance (pretty mad I know)

BEVS

Then you answered your own original question eh?

I've noted the 3 posts luv.

Ex Aucklander

What rubbish about automatics encouraging a lazy approach to driving thus causing accidents. Why do the drivers in the UK & Europe cling to old fashioned manual transmissions? I drove automatics in Australia for 32 years & 8 years in NZ as most people do. Are you also saying that Australia has a high accident rate also because of this preference? Also why don't Formula 1 race cars have manual transmissions?.

Accidents are caused by ignorance & lack of attention & the real culprits of inattention are these point listed below all of which I have witnessed other drivers doing.

• Mobile phones calling & texting
• Turning round to supervise children in rear
• Applying make up & doing hair
• Eating & drinking
• Reading papers & maps
• Getting dressed whist driving
• Smoking & using cigarette lighter
• Fiddling with sound system
• Not leaving enough room for error
• Failing to make use of rear & side vision mirrors

Last week on a motorway in Spain I saw a man changing gears, talking on his mobile & filling in paperwork on his lap all at the same time as he was driving at speeds of over 110 kph!