NZ Motorcycle Licence Stages: Learner, Restricted and Full

Getting a motorcycle licence in New Zealand happens in three stages: learner, restricted and full. Each stage has its own conditions, and at each step up there are two ways to get there. This guide walks through the current process so you know what is coming before you spend money on gear or a bike.

These are the rules as we write this. Licence rules do change, so always check the details on the NZTA motorcycle licence pages before you book anything.

Stage 1: the learner licence (class 6L)

The minimum age for a motorcycle learner licence is 16. Before you can apply, you need to pass the Basic Handling Skills Test, usually called the BHST. It is a low speed test on a marked course off the road, run by an approved instructor or examiner. We cover it in detail in our BHST guide.

Once you have your BHST certificate, you take it to a driver licensing agent with your ID. You also do an eyesight check and a theory test on the road rules, and pay the application fee. The current fee is listed on the NZTA site.

On a learner licence you must:

• Display an L plate on the back of the bike
• Not carry any passengers
• Not ride between 10pm and 5am
• Only ride a LAMS approved motorcycle
• Not tow another vehicle

LAMS stands for Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme. It is the list of bikes that learner and restricted riders are allowed to ride, so check it before you buy anything.

Stage 2: the restricted licence (class 6R)

You must be at least 16 and a half to get a restricted licence. There are two routes.

• CBTA route: pass a competency based training and assessment (CBTA) with an approved provider. You can sit the restricted CBTA assessment at any time after you get your learner licence, once you are ready.
• Practical test route: hold your learner licence for at least six months, then pass the restricted practical riding test.

With CBTA, an NZTA approved assessor watches how you ride on real roads in real traffic, rather than ticking off a short set of manoeuvres. If you want to know what the day looks like, read what happens in a CBTA restricted assessment.

The restricted conditions are similar to the learner ones. You must not carry passengers, you must not ride between 10pm and 5am, you can only ride a LAMS approved motorcycle and you cannot tow. You no longer need the L plate.

Stage 3: the full licence (class 6)

Again there are two routes.

• CBTA route: you can sit the full licence CBTA assessment once you have held your restricted licence for at least 9 months. You can then get your full licence once you have held your restricted for at least 12 months and you are at least 17 and a half.
• Practical test route: you must be at least 18 and have held your restricted licence for at least 18 months, then pass the full practical riding test.

With a full licence the passenger and night riding conditions go, and so does the LAMS restriction. That freedom is a good reason to make sure your skills have grown during your restricted time, not just your mileage.

What about the licence changes in the news?

The government has announced changes to the driver licensing system, with most of them starting on 25 January 2027. The headline change, removing the full licence test, was announced for car licences. NZTA has also said riders will no longer need an eyesight check to get a motorcycle restricted or full licence.

Until the changes start, the current process applies. If you are planning your licence around early 2027, check the NZTA page on the licence changes rather than relying on news articles or social media posts.

Where training fits in

Most new riders start with BHST preparation, then work toward the restricted CBTA. Riders who already hold a restricted licence often want coaching before the full assessment, because it looks for riding that has moved past learner habits.

Ride Forever, the ACC subsidised coaching programme, is also worth knowing about. Its Bronze course is aimed at learner riders and its Silver course at restricted riders working toward a full licence. The details are on the Ride Forever website.

Whichever route you take, do not treat each stage as a box to tick. The conditions on learner and restricted licences exist because new riders are most at risk in their first months on the road. Time spent on good habits now pays off every time you ride.

Ready to start?

We are NZTA certified motorcycle instructors and assessors. We offer BHST preparation, CBTA assessments for Restricted and Full licences, and one to one coaching. See our courses for what each session covers, or book a session when you know which stage you are at.