The total motorbike licence cost in New Zealand is made up of several separate charges: NZTA application and test fees, the basic handling skills test, and the training or CBTA assessment you take at each stage. The NZTA side is fixed at $192.20 for the learner, restricted and full licences combined. The rest is set by your training provider, and for most riders, it adds another $300 to $900.
Here’s the full breakdown, stage by stage, including the 2026 changes and the costs riders most often miss.
Quick Answer
- NZTA fees total $192.20 across the three stages: $90.60 learner, $54.20 restricted, $47.40 full (GST included, pass first time).
- At Ornsby Motorcycle Training, costs are $190 for the basic handling skills test, $215 for a CBTA restricted assessment and $165 for CBTA full.
- Free training until 31 December 2026. Every ACC Ride Forever course is free for courses completed between 1 September and 31 December 2026.
- The bigger annual cost is your ACC levy, which rose to $624.93 a year for bikes over 750cc from 1 July 2026.
What Makes Up the Motorbike Licence Cost in NZ?
Two separate bills arrive on the way to a full class 6 licence. The first is the NZTA fee, paid at a licensing agent such as AA or VTNZ. It’s fixed nationally and covers your application plus either a test or a CBTA assessment. The second is what your training provider charges to teach and assess you. That number is set by the market.
Here’s the fixed half, current since 1 October 2023 and unchanged for 2026:
| NZTA class 6 fee | Cost (GST incl.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class 6 learner | $90.60 | Application plus theory test |
| Class 6 restricted | $54.20 | Application plus test or CBTA |
| Class 6 full | $47.40 | Application plus test or CBTA |
| Total | $192.20 | Passing first time |
Resit fees were scrapped in 2023, so failing an NZTA practical test or rebooking a slot no longer costs you a government fee.
That doesn’t apply to your training provider, though. Re-sit a failed CBTA assessment, and you pay the provider’s fee again.
Stage 1: Learner Licence and the Basic Handling Skills Test
Before you can sit the theory test, you need a basic handling skills test (BHST) certificate. It’s an off-road assessment of low-speed control (clutch and throttle work, braking, slow turns, emergency stops) run by an approved instructor.
The cost of this stage at Ornsby (including bike and gear) is $190 for the test or $250 with additional tuition. Add the $90.60 NZTA learner fee, and stage one realistically costs $280–$340. Our guide to the motorbike learners test covers what the assessment involves before you book.
Stage 2: Restricted Licence – Test or CBTA?
After six months on your learner’s licence, you can move to restricted. There are two routes you can take to get there.
The standard practical test is booked through a licensing agent and costs you only the $54.20 NZTA fee. The alternative is CBTA training (competency-based training and assessment), where an approved instructor coaches and assesses you on real roads against 11 competencies, including observation, speed management and road positioning.
CBTA lifts the cost of motorbike licence progression at this stage, typically $215 for the restricted assessment plus the same $54.20 NZTA fee. What you buy is coaching during the ride, a much higher pass rate, and a shorter wait for your full licence.
Stage 3: Full Licence Costs (and What Doesn’t Change in 2027)
The full licence carries a $47.40 NZTA fee, with a CBTA full assessment at Ornsby costing $165 on top. The assessment itself is short, around 25 to 30 minutes of riding, mostly in higher speed zones, compared with 50 to 60 minutes at restricted level.
From 25 January 2027, the second practical test for class 1 car licences is being scrapped, reducing the total cost of a car licence from $362.50 to $282.50. Motorcyclists don’t get that saving.
The removal of the full test applies only to cars. Your full motorcycle licence still requires a practical test or a CBTA assessment after 2027, so there’s no reason to delay in the hope of a cheaper pathway.
Motorbike Licence Price NZ Riders Pay
Adding the fixed fees to typical provider charges gives four realistic budgets. The total cost for motorbike licence completion comes down to how much of the work you do yourself:
| Pathway | Total cost | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Own bike and gear, standard tests | $400–$550 | NZTA fees, BHST assessment only, practical tests |
| Typical rider, CBTA both stages | $700–$950 | NZTA fees, BHST with tuition, CBTA restricted and full |
| New rider, full support | $1,000–$1,400 | Above plus bike hire, gear hire and one-on-one coaching |
| Fast-track package | From $685 | Bundled learner-to-full programmes |
What Changes the Cost for Motorbike Licence Training?
Two factors drive the motorbike licence price that NZ providers quote more than anything else: whether you supply your own machine and how much coaching you take before each assessment. Riders who already own a LAMS bike and a full set of gear save $200–$400 across the pathway.
The Hidden Cost of Motorbike Licence Ownership
The cost of motorbike licence progression is only part of what you’ll spend in your first year of riding.
- ACC levy. Paid annually with your registration, the motorcycle levy changed on 1 July 2026: $86.93 for a moped, $311.70 for bikes up to 250cc, $442.18 for 251–750cc and $624.93 for anything over 750cc.
- Riding gear. Helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and trousers run $600–$1,500 for entry-level equipment. Hire covers you for assessment days, not for the commute afterwards.
- Failed assessments. NZTA resits are free. Provider re-assessments aren’t, and a second CBTA restricted booking can add $165–$430.
- Time off work. Assessments run on weekdays as often as weekends, and a BHST plus two CBTA sessions is roughly three half-days.
How to Reduce Your Motorbike Licence Cost
Four moves make a measurable difference:
- Book Ride Forever now. Every course is free for completion between 1 September and 31 December 2026, and you can do two courses a year. Normally $20–$50, they’re the cheapest coaching available in New Zealand.
- Complete Ride Forever Gold. Riders who finish an approved Gold course get 25% off their ACC motorcycle levy on every bike they license, for two years, applied to vehicle licences starting on or after 1 July 2026.
- Choose CBTA over the standard test. It costs more upfront, but includes professional feedback and can shorten your path to a full licence.
- Buy your gear before your BHST. Hire fees at three separate sessions can approach the cost of a decent helmet and jacket.
What to Budget in 2026
Budget $192.20 for the government and $400–$1,000 for the training that gets you through it. That’s the realistic motorbike licence cost for a rider starting from scratch this year.
Working out which pathway suits your budget? Ornsby Motorcycle Training runs the South Island’s largest motorcycle school from Ruapuna Raceway, covering Christchurch, Rangiora, Wanaka and the wider Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions. We handle basic handling skills tests, CBTA restricted and full assessments, and all four Ride Forever levels under one roof.
For more information, check out our motorbike licensing page or browse motorbike license pricing. You can also call us on (03) 980 8933 and we’ll map the cheapest sensible route from where you are now to a full licence.