Road Rules in New Zealand don’t allow you to ride any motorbike with more than 50cc, if you just have a ‘normal’ car driver licence. (That’s the same in Germany, it’s the same almost anywhere in the world).
This means, I can’t ride Barbaras 150cc scooter (even after asking her for approval ;-) ).
In windy, hilly Wellington anything less than 150cc just isn’t any fun to ride on. So I decided to get the motorbike license.
Getting a motorcycle license over here isn’t quite the same as in Germany. There are three types of licenses: Learners, restricted & full license. Total cost is under $450.
The process takes between 9 and 12 month.
Step One: Learners license
Getting your learners license isn’t too hard. You need to pass:
- a basic handling skill (BHS) test, in which you have to proof that you can keep your balance even at walking speed, come to a stop within a target square and stick to a given (slalom) path
- a road rules theory test
While on a learner licence:
- you must ride a motorcycle of up to 250cc only
- you must not go faster than 70km/h
- your motorcycle must display a learner (L) plate – rear only
- you must not carry a passenger
- you must not ride between 10pm and 5am
You have to have your learners license for at least 6 months, before you can take the test for the restricted license.
Step Two: Restricted License
While on a restricted licence:
- You must only ride a motorcycle of up to 250cc
- You must not ride between 10pm and 5am
- You must not carry passengers.
… to be elaborated …
Step Three: Full License
… to be elaborated …
| Basic handling skills test | varying ($41 with some official testing officers – or cost of private provider: I payed $120 incl. 1h warm up and handling tips) |
|---|---|
| Learner licence application fee | $39.30 |
| Learner licence test fee | $39.70 |
| Restricted licence application fee | $39.30 |
| Restricted licence test fee | $48.90 |
| Full licence application fee | $44.30 |
| Full licence test fee | $70.80 |
| Total | $323.30 |