People moving from USA re drivers licences

[Hagabel]

Make sure you have a drivers license that is at least 2 yrs old or they will make you take the practical and computer test once you get here. It is cheaper for car insurance once you have a NZ license.

We replaced both of ours earlier this year as we moved and now I have to get transcripts from the DMV stating we have had licenses for at least 2 yrs. it has been expensive and frustrating getting hold of the DMV plus they did not answer either email I sent.

Just hate for anyone else to get caught out.

[Azkateaz]

Wow! Thanks for posting this. I was just telling my OH that we should get new licenses to remove the requirement for eyeglasses as we both had LASIK earlier this year. Now that I've seen this I think we'll wait!

[ScottNZ]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Nathan]

Get a letter from DMV, or whatever your state equivalent is, before you move that says when you first were licensed there. Wv was really easy to get help from. The guy I emailed really bent over backward to get what I needed.

[Bozeman]

Just a small point of clarification: Our insurance was exactly the same price whether we had NZ licenses or not. However, the excess was higher until we had NZ licenses in hand. (Our insurance is with ASB.)

[dede]

So, you don't have to take the test again? That would be really cool.

[Hagabel]

Just a small point of clarification: Our insurance was exactly the same price whether we had NZ licenses or not. However, the excess was higher until we had NZ licenses in hand. (Our insurance is with ASB.)

Our insurance is going to be $300 cheaper with NZ licenses, no change in excess!!
And if you belong to AAA they will give you recipricol AA membership for 6 months max, not full year but they want to see your AAA card.

[dede]

Any sense what insurance would cost on a couple of mid-range cars...ie. 2nd hand Japanese three year old cars? It's extremely expensive here because of all the litigation.

[Hagabel]

Any sense what insurance would cost on a couple of mid-range cars...ie. 2nd hand Japanese three year old cars? It's extremely expensive here because of all the litigation.

We have a small 2000 1000cc engine Nissan March (77k)and a 2008 Nissan Wingroad(about 90k), larger engine, not sure what size and our insurance is around $1000 NZ per yr, will drop to 700's range after licenses converted.

Hope that helps.

[TJH]

We have a small 2000 1000cc engine Nissan March (77k)and a 2008 Nissan Wingroad(about 90k), larger engine, not sure what size and our insurance is around $1000 NZ per yr, will drop to 700's range after licenses converted.

Hope that helps.

That is about what we are paying as well. We have a 2001 Mazda Demio with about 50k on it and ours is just under $400 per year for full coverage.