New Zealand driver licence - Dutch Passport
 

Hi,

What are the rules on driver's licence when doing overlanders? I have a New Zealand driver's licence (learners at the moment, but hopefully a full one when starting my travels) and a Dutch passport. Will that give me problems crossing borders and being stopped by police in countries outside NZ?

Thanks,
Richard

A lot of countries have aggreements, where they recognise each others drivers licences. Try to contact the Dutch authorities as how to convert your license to a dutch license.

Thanks, but that doesn't answer my question. I won't be going back to The Netherlands before I start traveling. It is the combinatoin of a Dutch passport with a New Zealand driver's licence that I am worried about in countries outside NZ.

Different countries have different regulations regarding drivers licences, but an International Drivers Licence should cover most countries. I'm pretty sure they are issued by the AA in NZ. If not, they will be able to tell you where.

Regards

Nigel in NZ (Rangiora)

Should n't be a problem for you as long as you have the IDP.

Just make sure that any paperwork that you have for the bike(?) will match the details on the drivers licence - addresses, etc. Just be consistent with all your documents and any forms that you have to fill out - putting your address in Netherlands and having a NZ licence and registered bike may cause some bureaucrat heart failure.

Most customs/border officers understand that there are millions of people living in other countries and have passports and driving licences issued from all over the world nowadays.

It's not a problem, I've driven with a spanish licence (and dutch and/or brazilian passport) outside of europe regularly and "the authoratahs!" never hassled me for it.

Either way an international license is always a good idea (dunno about NZ, but in Europe you can get them from your local motorclub). Aside from anything else, simply because it includes translations into a whole list of languages of your personal details. However, it's worth noting that they have a validity of ONE year only, so if your trip is going to last longer than that you might want to inquire as to how you can extend it (or renew it) in another country.

In my experience you can get the international license even in a motorclub that's not from the same country you got your license in (I got mine in the netherlands' ANWB, with a spanish license). However, that COULD be because european licenses are considered equivalent.

Also, I've heard of some licenses needing some sort of examination to get the international one (rumours only though, not sure about it), while in other cases (like mine) all you have to do is pay them a bit of cash and you're done.

Should not be a problem.
 

I have an Aussie passport but travel on a USA or Ghana drivers license. Never had a problem in any of the countries visited.

But having a spare is handy. Especially in countries that have the French/Spanish based legal systems. We have been advised to only hand over our international licenses if requested as they tend to keep them until you clear up any legal issues.

My suggestion is to get a duplicate NZ license as well as an international license before you leave NZ. Then put your original in a safe place and use the others.