Licence translation in NZ

[Kiwi-videos]

Hello
Thought I would just write a note anyone for that be lurking on thus site but may just choose just to hire a car in NZ on the off chance.

Get your international licence permit before you leave home.

Just helped a traveler out over here that did not have a international licence to accompany their normal one when they went to get a rental car.
The Rental company required them to provide a translation of their licence from a refutable company.

The company charged NZ$80 for a 24 hour service or NZ$55 for three to four day service.

When I went into their office they had on their desk six other people licence,s requiring the same service.
You might ask how hard and long does it take to translate the back of your licence when these people do it every day using a simple template.

[AnTyx]

Where was this traveler from? My EU standard license was accepted without question.

[brclarke]

I'm a bit curious too - I can only assume the licence was in some language unrecognizable to an English speaker.

[Kiwi-videos]

Hello

They were using a German drivers licence, the others on the table include a Swiss ( Presume big Red cross is ) others similar style. Don,t know their story or why? Just a easy quick money spinner for the company I guessing.

The German traveler was getting a free Rental car to drive from Christchurch to Return back up to Auckland , five days allowed for it.
He was 19.

[CircleNZ]

Auckland Translations Ltd can translate your non English license for you. I often get overseas visitors who want to hire one of our bikes but don't have a International Driving Permit so need to do just that, I'm pretty sure they have an online service too. You can find a list of NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) Approved Translators at NZTA Approved Translators.
But yes, simpler to get your IDP before leaving home.

[Santi07]

I am currently in NZ. Have ONLY EU driving license, from my country and is accepted without a word. There was in condition that as far you are not more then one year drivingin NZyou can use DL from your country. Now you can read that is not actual anymore and you need IDL or Translation but I have been stoped several time by police and never problem so dont be worry to drive with your DL. So or so I am just telling my opinion and my experience.

[Tony LEE]

Problem is that many car hire companies - in other countries too - INSIST on an IDP - or obviously a certified translation instead.

[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by Santi07

...Have ONLY EU driving license, from my country and is accepted without a word. There was in condition that as far you are not more then one year driving in NZ you can use DL from your country...

It appears to me, after reading this discussion, that there is a bit of confusion here about exactly what an IDP (International Driving Permit) is.

It is NOT a driver licence, nor is it some kind of of validation of your home driver licence for international use.

It is simply a TRANSLATION of your home driver licence into half a dozen different languages, formatted in accordance with an international treaty that deals with translation of driver licences.

See this article on Wikipedia for a full explanation: International Driving Permit.

Michael

[pheonix]

Santi07
Wonder why you’ve been “stopped several times” by the police - there aren’t many police in NZ!
If your driving is concerning enough to stop you, I think you’ve been lucky


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[CircleNZ]

You can drive for one year on your overseas license, after that it is no longer valid and you'll need to convert to a NZ license. If you want to hire a vehicle within that one year period you will generally need an English translation of your license if the original is not in English.