Oceania · driving guide
Driving in New Zealand.
They drive on the left. Strongly recommended. Here is what a rental desk and a roadside check will actually ask you for.
Drives on the
Left
Permit
Strongly recommended
Typical minimum age
18
Which side of the road does New Zealand drive on?
New Zealand drives on the left. If you normally drive on the right, the two things that catch people out are roundabouts and the first turn out of the rental car park — both are worth taking slowly. Cars are usually configured with the driver's seat on the right, so the gear selector will be in your other hand.
Do you need an international driving permit in New Zealand?
Usually. Your licence must be in English or accompanied by an accepted translation for the whole visit. It is not always demanded, but the cost of not having one when it is asked for is a cancelled rental at the airport.
Minimum age to rent a car in New Zealand
Most rental companies in New Zealand will not release a vehicle to anyone under 18, and many apply a young-driver surcharge below 25. Age limits are set by the rental company rather than by law, so they vary between firms at the same airport — check the terms on the booking rather than assuming.
What to carry when driving in New Zealand
Your national driving licence, your international driving permit, the vehicle's rental agreement and insurance documents, and your passport. Keep them together and reachable from the driver's seat — a roadside check goes faster when nothing has to come out of the boot.
Convention status
New Zealand has acceded to the 1949 Geneva convention. That is what makes a permit issued under it readable to an official there.
Questions about driving in New Zealand
Which side of the road do they drive on in New Zealand?
New Zealand drives on the left. Rental cars are configured accordingly, with the driver's seat on the right.
Do I need an international driving permit in New Zealand?
Strongly recommended in New Zealand. Your licence must be in English or accompanied by an accepted translation for the whole visit. The permit is always carried alongside your national licence.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in New Zealand?
Rental companies in New Zealand generally require drivers to be at least 18, with a surcharge often applied under 25. The limit is set by the company, not by law, so it varies between firms.