Yes. If you hold a full car licence, you can drive every motorhome we hire out. No extra test, no new category, nothing to apply for.
Here is the detail behind that, because it is the question we get asked most.
It comes down to weight, not size
A New Zealand car licence covers vehicles up to 6,000kg. Every motorhome in our fleet sits under that, which is why a standard licence is enough.
The number that matters is the vehicle's weight, not how long it looks in a car park. All three of our motorhomes are around 7.4 metres and every one of them is inside a car licence.
The two things we do ask
Weight is the law. These two are ours.
- Your licence must be full and valid, and you must have held it for at least two years
- Every driver must be 25 or older
A learner or restricted licence does not qualify, and neither does a full licence you were issued last month.
Visiting from overseas
Your own country's licence is fine, as long as it is current and full.
If it is not in English, bring an International Driving Permit or an official translation with you. Carry both the permit and your original licence, because the permit on its own is not valid.
Adding a second driver
Most people share the driving.
The second driver needs to meet the same age and licence rules, and they need to be named on the rental agreement before you set off. Tell us when you book and we will add them. Somebody who is not on the agreement is not covered, so it is worth sorting in advance rather than at a campsite.
What your licence does not cover
Sealed roads, anywhere in the country. Unsealed and gravel roads sit outside the rental agreement whatever licence you hold.
Some gravel is genuinely fine and we will tell you which at handover. As a rule, if the seal runs out, turn around. Gravel does real damage underneath, where you cannot see it.
Still unsure?
The licence rules are the easy part. If you have never driven anything bigger than a car, that is the bit worth reading about, and we have written it up in driving a motorhome for the first time.
Our full driving guide covers the roads, the ferry, fuel and what happens if something goes wrong. Or get a quote and Nico will talk it through with you personally.