Driver licence test applicants will be eligible for just one free re-sit from next week as the Government announces it’s tackling long waiting times for tests.
From July 8, class one driver licence test applicants sitting a theory or practical test will only be eligible for one free re-sit and must pay for any additional tests.
Meanwhile, overseas driver licence conversions will no longer be eligible for free re-sits and, if they fail the first test, will be required to pay for any additional test.
The re-sit fee for a class one learner licence, paid from the third test onwards, will now be $47.48, the re-sit fee on a restricted licence would be $89.39, and $62.52 for a full.
The previous Labour government scrapped all re-sit fees for all theory and practical tests last year to reduce cost pressures and to encourage more people to progress through the system.
However, the move has caused a surge in test demand, with many now having to wait weeks for an open slot at testing centres.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the delays were “unacceptable” and said there would be a shift to a “balanced approach”.
“There will be a three-month transition period for all drivers who have already paid an application fee under the previous system to ensure they can progress through their current licence stage before these changes give effect.”
Labour criticised the policy reversal, saying the move will “put pressure on tight budgets” as around half of drivers typically need to re-sit.
Brown said the changes would “reduce no-shows and incentivise driver licence applicants to prepare and pass their tests, reducing the driver licence backlog, while continuing to ensure that class one applicants remain eligible for a free re-sit.”
“Our Government has sought to take a balanced approach to this issue by limiting the number of free re-sits to get these wait times under control,” he said in a media release.
“Getting a driver licence makes a big difference in a person’s life.
“We need to ensure that the process for getting a licence is efficient while allowing learner drivers the time to develop their driving skills.”
Rules on free re-sits had already been modified earlier this year in an attempt to prevent people from “clogging” slots.
The Transport Minister continued: “Since the previous government’s decision last year to remove re-sit fees for theory and practical tests, demand for driver licence test bookings have increased significantly, as have test failure rates and no-shows. This has led to unacceptable delays for Kiwis trying to book a test for their driver licence.
“Demand for overseas driver licence conversions has also grown significantly, adding to the pressure on the driver licence test system. This, coupled with unlimited free re-sits, has meant people applying to sit their driver licence tests have been waiting more than 60 days in parts of the country, which is totally unacceptable.”
Brown said transport officials were also working on increasing test capacity.
NZTA has also been “implementing operational measures to reduce wait times by recruiting more driver testing officers, expanding the available hours for theory and practical driving tests, and increasing the number of courses to train up testing officers.
“Text alerts have also been introduced to remind people of their driving test and ensure they turn up on the day,” Brown said.
‘Simeon Brown is coming after new drivers’ — Labour
Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said National “has come up with yet another way to make driving a car more expensive”.
“Labour removed the fee to re-sit your licence to make it easier for people to get on the road safely and support more people into work,” he said in a statement.
“With around half of New Zealanders having to re-sit when trying for their licence, this extra fee will put pressure on tight budgets.
“Ensuring people have a licence and the correct skills to be driving on the roads make the roads safer for everyone. It also increases a person’s employment prospects.
“What good is spending almost the entire transport budget on roads, when people won’t be able to afford to drive on them?”
But, the Government’s move today was welcomed by AA, which runs many test centres.
“We continue to experience high demand for driver licencing services across the country and these changes to the fee structure are designed to offer people a better chance at booking a driving test in a timely manner,” AA commercial manager Roger Venn said.