When hiring a rental vehicle for a self-drive holiday in New Zealand, there are important local nuances to be aware of. Here’s a concise guide to what you need to know:
🚗 Key Differences in New Zealand Driving Rules
- Single-Lane Bridges
- Common in rural areas, especially on the West Coast and in the South Island.
- Signs indicate who gives way. If the sign is on your side, you must give way.
- Some bridges are shared with trains – give way to trains at all times.
- Give Way Rules at Intersections
- At a T-intersection, the vehicle on the terminating road must give way (same as Australia).
- However, New Zealand removed the “turning right gives way to turning left” rule in 2012 — in line with Australian rules now — but older drivers or printed materials may still reference the old rule.
- Speed Limits
- Default open road speed is 100 km/h unless otherwise posted.
- Many rural roads are narrow, winding, and unmarked — even if the limit is 100 km/h, it’s often unsafe to drive at that speed.
- Urban areas: 50 km/h default unless signed otherwise.
- Variable speed limits (especially near schools and road works) are strictly enforced.
Helpful Resources
- NZTA DriveSafe: drivesafe.org.nz
- NZTA Real-time traffic info: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
- Kruse GPS Audio Guide: Adds real-time commentary with alerts about driving rules, hazards, and local etiquette while touring: www.krusenz.com
