This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by Ondřej Kadlec
Driving in New Zealand: the three basics
Drives on the
left
The driver sits on the right and overtakes on the right. Roundabouts turn clockwise.
Your licence
Licence plus an IDP
Your own licence works with an International Driving Permit beside it. Get the permit at home before you fly - no country issues one for another country's licence.
Motorways
Tolls by distance
Motorways charge for the distance driven, at barriers or by camera. Budget for it on a long drive; it is rarely trivial.
Three toll roads, all in the North Island, all paid online within five days.
New Zealand has three toll roads and a lot of one-lane bridges, and the drive always takes longer than the distance suggests.
Three toll roads, all in the North Island, and roads that are slower than their length implies.
Tolls are paid online within five days at nzta.govt.nz - there are no booths on the Northern Gateway, Tauranga Eastern Link or Takitimu Drive.
Distances mislead badly. State Highway 6 down the West Coast averages far below its speed limit; a 300 km day in the South Island is a full day.
One-lane bridges are normal, including on state highways. The sign shows who gives way; the larger arrow has priority.
The alcohol limit is 0.05 %, and zero for drivers under 20.
Fuel between towns in the South Island can be 150 km apart, and card-only pumps at night are common.
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