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Car rental Australia

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Does anyone know for sure please how the Driving Licence fiasco has ended up?

We are having a bit of a trip round, hiring cars in both NZ and Australia. We have the old pre 1998 licences.

We can get a code for the NZ part, but will be out of the country long before the 21 day rule for the Australia leg. Do we still need a code, and can anyone confirm that we can get this whilst abroad please.
O would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us.

(O would some power the gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us
.)

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Comments

  • It's only the UK hire companies that need this information, everyone else just needs to know you have a license.
  • Mercdriver
    Mercdriver Posts: 3,898 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 30 August 2015 at 10:45PM
    I've hired a car and a campervan in NZ and not once asked for the counterpart or a code...

    Do watch your speed though, as the speed limits are enforced and if you go 40kph over the limit in NZ, that will be the end of your driving in NZ. The ban is immediate. The rules about where they can put speed traps are stricter than here (they can't sent them within 200m of a speed limit change for example). I got caught on Highway 1 last year around Albany about 30km north of Auckland. I was doing 37kph over the limit so was lucky.
  • Moto2
    Moto2 Posts: 2,206 Forumite
    Call the relevant car hire desk at the airport and ask them?

    Failing that, I believe NZ now has internet ;)
    Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 31 August 2015 at 10:19AM
    I have never been asked for a code or counterpart abroad, including Australia.

    I can confirm that you can get a code while abroad as long as you know your National Insurance number. I did it a couple of weeks ago while in Germany. Didn't use it though.

    I would echo the speed limit advice. There is no 10% leeway. You might get a couple of kph.
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Does anyone know for sure please how the Driving Licence fiasco has ended up?

    We are having a bit of a trip round, hiring cars in both NZ and Australia. We have the old pre 1998 licences.

    We can get a code for the NZ part, but will be out of the country long before the 21 day rule for the Australia leg. Do we still need a code, and can anyone confirm that we can get this whilst abroad please.
    You only need your photocard licence to hire a car in Australia. A credit card is also very useful.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you're really worried about the code, find an internet cafe.
  • ChumLee
    ChumLee Posts: 749 Forumite
    HappyMJ wrote: »
    You only need your photocard licence to hire a car in Australia. A credit card is also very useful.

    That's his issue.
    Does anyone know for sure please how the Driving Licence fiasco has ended up?

    We are having a bit of a trip round, hiring cars in both NZ and Australia. We have the old pre 1998 licences.

    We can get a code for the NZ part, but will be out of the country long before the 21 day rule for the Australia leg. Do we still need a code, and can anyone confirm that we can get this whilst abroad please.


    You'll have your passport so photo ID. They'd only need a code to check endorsements which would be on your licence. Given the date of it you won't have any as even a DD offence would have expired.
  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    ChumLee wrote: »
    They'd only need a code to check endorsements which would be on your licence. Given the date of it you won't have any as even a DD offence would have expired.
    You don't need to swap a pre-photocard licence for a photocard just because you've got some points.
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