NZ Road Code Car Test cheat sheet

Give way at an uncontrolled crossroad to vehicles approaching from your right; turning vehicles give way to traffic going straight ahead.

At a roundabout, traffic already circulating has right of way; indicate right when turning right, left after passing the exit before yours, and no signal when going straight.

Passing is permitted only where you can see clear road ahead and the centre line is not solid yellow; a solid yellow line means no overtaking on your side.

Speed limit in urban areas is 50 km/h unless posted otherwise; open-road limit is 100 km/h, and the maximum legal speed on any road is 100 km/h.

Stop at a stop sign with all wheels stationary; at a give way sign, stop only if required to give way.

A yellow traffic signal means stop unless stopping is unsafe; a red arrow applies only to the movement the arrow indicates.

Signal for at least 3 seconds before turning or changing lanes, and cancel the indicator afterwards.

Following distance rule: keep at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions, 4 seconds in wet or dark conditions.

Turning left from a one-way street into a two-way street: keep to the left-hand lane; when turning right, approach as close to the right side as practicable.

Pass cyclists with at least 1.5 m clearance at speeds up to 60 km/h and 2 m above 60 km/h on roads where the limit is above 60 km/h.

When overtaking a pedestrian, horse rider, or cyclist, slow down and allow at least 1.5 m clearance at 60 km/h or less.

Pedestrians on a marked crossing have right of way; you must stop and remain stopped until they have cleared your path.

At a school crossing, obey the school patrol sign - stop when the sign is held out and do not proceed until it is withdrawn.

Buses pulling out from a bus stop within a 50 km/h area have right of way; give way when their indicator is showing.

Emergency vehicles displaying flashing red or blue lights and sirens have right of way; pull over to the left and stop until they pass.

Heavy vehicles have large blind spots and long stopping distances; avoid cutting in front of a truck and do not pass on the left when it is turning left.

Motorcyclists are harder to see than cars - check twice before turning across their path, especially at intersections.

Legal alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 and over: 50 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood (250 mcg per litre of breath).

Legal alcohol limit for drivers under 20: zero - any alcohol above zero is an offence.

Drivers under 20 may not have any alcohol in their system; a positive evidential breath result of 251 mcg or more triggers a court summons.

Seatbelts: driver and every passenger must wear a seatbelt where one is fitted; children under 7 must use an approved child restraint appropriate for their size and weight.

Children aged 7 and over may use an adult seatbelt; a child under 7 must not sit in the front passenger seat unless the rear seats are occupied by children under 7.

Fatigue: take a break at least every 2 hours, stop if you feel drowsy, and do not rely on coffee, fresh air, or loud music to keep you awake.

Handheld mobile phone use while driving is illegal; a phone may only be used hands-free or when the vehicle is legally parked.

Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h on open roads, and lower posted limits near schools, roadworks, and on temporary signs must be obeyed.

The posted speed limit is a maximum, not a target; reduce speed so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

In rain, increase following distance to at least 4 seconds and reduce speed to avoid aquaplaning.

In fog, use dipped headlights (not full beam, which reflects back), slow down, and be prepared to stop within the visible distance.

On gravel or unsealed roads, reduce speed, increase following distance to avoid dust and stones, and brake gently to avoid skidding.

At night, dip headlights when a vehicle approaches from ahead or when following within 200 m; use full beam only when no other traffic is affected.

When towing a trailer, the maximum speed is 90 km/h and the trailer must not exceed the towing vehicle's towing capacity.

Winter driving: on ice or snow, use gentle steering and braking, and avoid cruise control; chains may be required on some alpine roads.

If you must stop on a motorway, pull as far left as possible onto the shoulder, turn on hazard lights, and place a warning triangle if safe to do so.

A Warrant of Fitness (WoF) is required for private light vehicles: annually for vehicles first registered less than 3 years ago, then every 6 months once older than 3 years.

A WoF checks safety items including tyres, brakes, lights, steering, seatbelts, and windscreen; it does not check the engine or emissions.

A Certificate of Fitness (CoF) applies to heavy vehicles and some commercial vehicles, and is required every 6 months.

WoF and CoF must be displayed on the vehicle; driving without a current WoF or CoF can result in a fine and demerit points.

Minimum tyre tread depth is 1.5 mm across the full width of the tyre; tyres must be free of cuts, bulges, and exposed cords.

Registration (rego) must be current at all times; it is separate from the WoF and is renewed monthly, quarterly, or annually.

A vehicle must be roadworthy at all times - if it is unsafe to drive, it must be repaired before use, even if the WoF is current.

Vehicle insurance is not compulsory in New Zealand, but third-party insurance is strongly recommended to cover damage to others.

Learner licence (Class 1): must be at least 16, pass a theory test, and drive only with a supervisor who has held a full licence for at least 2 years.

Learner conditions: display L plates, no passengers other than the supervisor and dependent children, and a zero alcohol limit.

Restricted licence: must be at least 16 years and 6 months, pass a practical test, and drive without a supervisor but with conditions (no passengers under 18 unless a supervisor is present, no driving between 10 pm and 5 am).

Full licence: must be at least 17 years and 6 months and hold a restricted licence for at least 18 months (or 12 months with an approved advanced driving course).

Demerit points: 100 points in 2 years results in a 3-month licence suspension; common offences include speeding (20-30 points) and using a phone while driving (20 points).

Drink-driving penalties: an infringement fine and demerit points for low-level offences; a court conviction can lead to fines, disqualification, and imprisonment.

Driving while disqualified or suspended is a criminal offence and can result in a fine, imprisonment, and further disqualification.

The road code theory test for a learner licence has 35 questions and requires at least 32 correct answers to pass.

Brakes must be tested after driving through water; dry them by applying light pressure while moving slowly.

Tyre pressure should be checked when tyres are cold, at least monthly and before long trips; under-inflation increases fuel use and wear.

Headlights, brake lights, and indicators must all work; a failed brake light is a common WoF failure item.

Loads must be secured so they cannot fall or shift; a load extending more than 1 m behind the vehicle must be flagged.

Child restraints: rear-facing seats must not be used in front of an active airbag; the restraint must meet an approved standard.

A vehicle's safety chain or coupling must be connected when towing a trailer, and the trailer must have working lights.

Windscreen damage in the driver's line of sight can fail a WoF; chips and cracks should be repaired promptly.

Seatbelts must be in good condition - frayed or non-retracting belts will fail a WoF inspection.

Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h can result in a court appearance, higher fines, and licence disqualification.

Failing to stop after a crash involving injury is a criminal offence with serious penalties.

Careless or dangerous driving can lead to fines, demerit points, and disqualification from driving.

Driving without a current WoF, registration, or licence can result in infringement fines.

Using a mobile phone while driving carries a fine and 20 demerit points.

Failing to wear a seatbelt or ensure child passengers are restrained can result in an infringement fine.

Driving under the influence of drugs (including prescription medication that impairs driving) is an offence with penalties similar to drink-driving.

Repeat drink-driving offences carry heavier penalties, including longer disqualification and possible imprisonment.

A supervisor for a learner driver must hold a full New Zealand licence for the class of vehicle being driven for at least 2 years.

Learner drivers must carry their licence at all times while driving.

Restricted licence holders may drive alone but must not carry passengers under 18 unless a supervisor is present, and must not drive between 10 pm and 5 am without a supervisor.

The restricted licence practical test assesses hazard identification, vehicle control, and safe driving behaviour.

A full licence allows driving without a supervisor and without learner or restricted conditions.

Overseas drivers may drive on a valid overseas licence for up to 12 months before converting to a New Zealand licence.

Drivers aged 75 and over must renew their licence more frequently and may need a medical certificate.

A licence can be suspended for demerit points, drink-driving, or medical reasons; driving while suspended is an offence.

At a T-intersection, traffic on the through road has right of way over traffic on the terminating road.

When turning right at an intersection, give way to oncoming traffic going straight ahead or turning left.

A broken yellow line on your side means you may overtake when safe; a solid yellow line means no overtaking.

At a pedestrian crossing, you must give way to pedestrians on the crossing and must not pass a vehicle stopped at a crossing.

A stop sign requires a complete stop; a give way sign requires you to slow down and stop only if necessary.

Traffic lights: red means stop, green means proceed if the way is clear, yellow means stop unless unsafe to do so.

When merging, use a merge lane and give way to traffic already on the road you are joining.

U-turns are permitted unless there is a sign prohibiting them, but must be done safely and without interfering with other traffic.

Give way to pedestrians at marked crossings and when turning into a road they are crossing.

When passing a stationary school bus with flashing signs, slow to 20 km/h and be prepared to stop.

Motorcyclists may filter through traffic; check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

Horse riders: slow down, pass wide and quietly, and avoid revving the engine or sounding the horn.

Cyclists may ride two abreast; allow at least 1.5 m clearance when passing.

Heavy vehicles need extra time and space to stop; do not overtake a truck that is turning or signalling to turn.

Emergency vehicles: pull over to the left and stop; do not follow closely behind an emergency vehicle responding to a call.

At a railway crossing, stop if the alarms or barriers are activated; never attempt to cross when a train is approaching.

Zero alcohol limit applies to drivers under 20; any detectable alcohol is an offence.

Prescription medication that causes drowsiness or impairs driving must not be used before driving; check the label and ask a pharmacist.

Seatbelts must be worn by all occupants; the driver is responsible for ensuring passengers under 15 are restrained.

Children under 7 must use an approved child restraint; children aged 7 and over may use an adult seatbelt.

Fatigue: plan breaks, share driving on long trips, and stop at a rest area if you feel sleepy.

Distraction: avoid eating, adjusting the radio, or using a phone while driving; pull over safely if you need to use a device.

Speed: drive to the conditions, not just the limit; reduce speed in rain, fog, and at night.

Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and impair judgement; the safest approach is not to drink at all before driving.

In wet conditions, allow at least 4 seconds following distance and brake earlier and more gently.

Aquaplaning: ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and steer straight until grip returns.

In fog, use dipped headlights and fog lights if fitted; slow down and be ready to stop.

On icy roads, avoid sudden braking or steering; use low gears and gentle inputs.

At night, use full beam only when it will not dazzle other drivers; dip when a vehicle approaches.

When towing, reduce speed and increase following distance; the maximum speed for towing is 90 km/h.

On gravel roads, reduce speed and increase following distance to avoid dust and stone damage.

If visibility is poor, slow down so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.

WoF frequency: annually for vehicles under 3 years old, then every 6 months for older vehicles.

CoF: required for heavy vehicles and some commercial vehicles, every 6 months.

WoF and CoF must be displayed on the vehicle and kept current.

Minimum tyre tread depth is 1.5 mm across the full width of the tyre.

Registration must be current at all times and is separate from the WoF.

A vehicle must be roadworthy at all times, even if the WoF is current.

Insurance is not compulsory, but third-party insurance is recommended.

Brake lights, headlights, and indicators must all work to pass a WoF.

Learner licence: minimum age 16, theory test, supervisor required, L plates displayed.

Restricted licence: minimum age 16 years and 6 months, practical test, night and passenger conditions.

Full licence: minimum age 17 years and 6 months, restricted licence held for at least 18 months (or 12 months with an approved course).

Demerit points: 100 points in 2 years results in a 3-month suspension.

Drink-driving: infringement fines and demerit points for low-level offences; court conviction for higher levels.

Driving while disqualified or suspended is a criminal offence.

Mobile phone use while driving: fine and 20 demerit points.

The learner theory test has 35 questions and requires at least 32 correct answers.