Motorcycle Licensing: Get Your Full Licence

Full Motorcycle Licence NZ: What the CBTA 6F Assessment Involves

If you’re riding on your restricted licence, you’ve been riding solo for months, you know your bike, and now you’re ready to remove the restrictions and ride without limits. Here’s what you need to know before you book your motorbike full licence test or assessment.

Standard Test vs CBTA 6F: The Two Ways To Get Your Full Licence

In New Zealand, there are two pathways from a restricted to a full motorcycle licence, and you can choose whichever suits you:

01 The Standard Practical Riding Test

An NZTA testing officer assesses your riding on a set route. To use this pathway, you must be at least 18 and have held your restricted licence for at least 18 months.

02 The CBTA 6F Assessment

An approved instructor assesses your riding on the open road under normal traffic. Via CBTA, you can qualify for your full licence at 17½, once you’ve held your restricted licence for 12 months (roughly six months sooner than the standard route, with no separate practical test to sit).

CBTA 6F stands for Competency-Based Training & Assessment, Full licence. It’s the NZTA pathway most restricted riders now choose because it gets you to your full motorcycle licence in NZ sooner and rolls training and assessment into a single route. Unlike the multi-choice theory test you sat for your learner’s, the CBTA 6F is a practical, on-road assessment. An approved instructor rides with you and evaluates your riding under normal traffic conditions.

Test vs Assessment: What's the Difference?

Both pathways end in the same full Class 6 licence, but they’re run and judged differently:

Who runs it

The practical test is conducted by an NZTA testing officer through a licensing agent; the CBTA 6F is conducted by an NZTA-approved instructor/assessor.

How it's judged

The practical test is a pass/fail exam against a fixed route and set tasks. CBTA is competency-based: the assessor follows you and evaluates how consistently you observe, plan, position, and manage hazards in real traffic.

Timing to qualify

18 months and age 18 for the standard test, versus 12 months and age 17½ via CBTA (with the assessment itself able to be sat from the 9-month mark).

Training built in

The standard test is a test only, with no coaching attached. CBTA sits inside a training pathway, so you can prepare with an instructor and go in sharp.

Because it’s assessed on the road rather than in a controlled yard, the CBTA 6F course and assessment carry more weight than earlier stages of licensing. Riders who prepare properly pass more consistently.

Are You Eligible?

Via the standard practical test, you must be 18 and have held your restricted licence for at least 18 months. Via CBTA the timing is shorter. You need to have held your restricted bike licence in NZ for a minimum of 12 months before you can apply for your full licence. However, you can sit the CBTA 6F assessment itself any time from 9 months after your restricted licence was issued. You’ll simply need to wait out the remaining months before NZTA will issue the full licence.

This gives you a decent window to train, sharpen your skills, and sit the assessment with confidence well ahead of your application date.

If you haven’t sat your motorcycle test at earlier stages, get those sorted first. Full licence progression assumes your restricted licence is current and valid.

CBTA Training and Assessment with Ornsby Motorcycle Training

You can go straight to the CBTA 6F assessment without prior tuition, but we don’t recommend it. Most riders who fail do so on habits they didn’t know they had. A structured session with a qualified instructor beforehand identifies and corrects these before they cost you the test.

As the South Island’s largest motorcycle training provider, we’ve trained and assessed thousands of restricted riders through this transition. We’re NZTA-approved to both train and assess, so you can prepare and sit your CBTA 6F with the same team, at locations across the South Island, including Christchurch, Rangiora, Wanaka and Dunedin.

Whether you want a full day building road skills, a targeted one-on-one polish session, or you’re confident and just need the assessment itself, there’s an option below suited to where you’re at.

See our full range of CBTA training options if you’d like to compare pathways before deciding.

Depending on where you’re at, we offer:

The CBTA 6F (Full) assessment on its own

For confident riders who are ready and just need to be assessed.

One-on-one CBTA 6F training

A focused ~1.5-hour session (or a full day) with an instructor to sharpen the exact competencies you’ll be assessed on.

Full-day group skills lessons (max 6 riders)

More road time and structured coaching before you sit.

Ride Forever Silver →

ACC-subsidised advanced coaching that’s ideal preparation for the CBTA Full assessment.

Hire bikes →

Late-model, LAMS-approved motorcycles you can book with your course if you’d rather not use your own.

After You Pass

Pass your CBTA 6F course and you’ll be issued a CBTA certificate on the day. Take it to an NZTA licensing agent (such as AA or VTNZ), who issues your full licence once you’ve met the age and holding-period requirements. If you sat the assessment early (from the 9-month mark), simply hold on to your certificate and apply once you reach the 12-month mark.

With your full Class 6 licence, the restricted conditions fall away: you can ride at any hour, carry a pillion passenger on a properly equipped bike, and ride any motorcycle.

A pass isn’t guaranteed. If you don’t get there on the day, we’ll talk you through exactly what to work on and get you booked for a re-assessment.

Full Licence Courses & Assessment

Ride Forever Silver Course

TIME: A full day (8 hours)

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS / COST: $50 – Christchurch, Rangiora, West Coast, Wanaka & Invercargill

The Ride Forever Silver course is aimed at intermediate level riders and / or returning riders who wish to regain or build their confidence and familiarise themselves better with the capabilities of their bike. The course reinforces correct techniques and good riding habits. The Ride Forever Silver course is excellent for riders preparing themselves for the CBTA Full Licence assessment. The Silver course is generally open-road based, however also focuses on urban riding and issues often presented in this environment.

SUITABLE FOR:

Intermediate level riders preparing for the CBTA Full Licence assessment (preferably you have already completed the Ride Forever Bronze course).
Returning riders (any Licence).
Experienced riders (any Licence).
You must have a motorcycle Learner Licence (minimum) to attend this course.

YOU GET:

A full day group lesson (maximum 6 riders) with one of our highly qualified instructors.

TOPICS COVERED:

Cornering:
- Lines
- Entry, apex and exit from corners
- Vanishing points / direction of travel and avoiding obstacles
- Tyre grip and bikes’ capabilities
- Bodyweight and stability and hazard identification
Some advanced riding skills
Road craft principles

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS COURSE:

Hire an Ornsby Motorcycle from $130. You arrange the bike hire during the booking/checkout process.
Please read the Special Notes (below)

One-on-One Session + CBTA 6F Assessment

TIME: 1.5 hours as a training only session OR 3 hours including the CBTA 6F Assessment

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS / COST: $225 for the training only OR $385 including the CBTA 6F Assessment
Christchurch, Rangiora, West Coast, Wanaka & Invercargill

This option is perfect for anyone who has their Restricted Licence and wants to get more from their riding, improve their skills and gain more confidence and also fast-track to their Full Licence through one-on-one training. It can be booked as a separate 1.5 hour training booking or in combined booking including the CBTA Full Assessment straight after. Ideal for someone who has previously completed the Ride Forever Silver course with OMT but wants to ensure that they have nailed all the competencies before the assessment, or a confident rider who thinks they have the skills but wants to have an instructor offer some feedback directly before their assessment to ensure they are on track and riding at their best.

YOU GET:

A one-on-one lesson with one of our professional riding instructors held at Ornsby HQ in Christchurch or from your home*. This can also be booked in combination with the CBTA Full Assessment.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS COURSE:

Hire an Ornsby Motorcycle in Christchurch from $110. You can arrange the bike hire during the booking/checkout process for a combined session under the CHRISTCHURCH BIKE HIRE section of the booking page.
The one on one training session can be booked from home if you are new to riding and would like to have an instructor help you build confidence on your local familiar roads. This is listed in the service options under CHRISTCHURCH on the booking page.
Please read the Special Notes (below)

CBTA Assessment (CBTA 6F / Full) Only

TIME: 1 hour

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS / COST: $160 – Christchurch, Rangiora, West Coast, Wanaka & Invercargill

This is the CBTA (Full) assessment only. There is NO riding tuition component in this option.

YOU GET:

Briefing, preparation and assessment for your Competency-Based Training & Assessment (CBTA 6F / Full) for Full Licence
If you achieve a pass result upon completing your Competency-Based Training & Assessment (CBTA 6F / Full) you will receive a CBTA certificate which you then present to a NZTA Licensing agent who will issue you with your Full Licence.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS PACKAGE:

Hire an Ornsby Motorcycle in Christchurch from $110. You arrange the bike hire during the booking/checkout process.
Please read the Special Notes (below)

No Bike? No Problem.

At the time of booking your course, you can also book one of our fantastic late-model LAMs approved hire bikes.

Special Notes

Special Notes: Ride Forever Silver Course

ALL RIDERS are required to wear suitable protective gear (minimum: helmet / motorcycle specific jacket / boots)—instructors may refuse training to riders who are not properly attired.
If you are riding your own bike—your bike is required to have both a current Warrant of Fitness and be Road Registered. Instructors WILL refuse training to riders who turn up to course on a motorcycle without a current WOF and/or Registration.
ALL RIDERS must bring their current Drivers Licence. Instructors WILL refuse training to riders who turn up to course without a current Drivers Licence.
Any rider attending a course currently on their Learner Licence is required by Law to have an L-Plate fitted to their motorcycle. Instructors WILL refuse training to riders who turn up with a current Learners Licence without an affixed L-Plate on their motorcycle.
To attend any of this course you must be confident enough to ride amongst traffic. If you are not feeling confident enough for this, a one-on-one session will be better suited to you.
For the Ride Forever Silver course morning tea and coffee is provided. Lunch will be taken during the on-road group ride at a cafe at your cost.
Ride Forever Courses are not weather dependent. Rain or sun—we’re riding. If it is wet, please bring your wet weather gear. We do not offer refunds to riders who do not ‘show on the day’.
If you can not attend a booked course or assessment—let us know 24 hours in advance and we will reschedule you at no cost.

Special Notes: One-on-One Sessions & CBTA Assessment

Passing your CBTA is not guaranteed—some riders may require further training and / or re-assessment.
ALL RIDERS are required to wear sturdy footwear and long pants—instructors may refuse training to riders who are not properly attired. DO NOT turn up in shorts and / or jandals.
*Where our instructors come to you—for NON-URBAN LOCATIONS—travel time will be deducted from the lesson time.
If you can not attend a booked course or assessment—let us know 24 hours in advance and we will reschedule you at no cost. We do not offer refunds to riders who do not ‘show on the day’.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CBTA 6F?

CBTA 6F is the Competency-Based Training & Assessment for a Full motorcycle licence in NZ. It’s a practical, on-road riding assessment conducted by an approved instructor. Passing it qualifies you to apply for your full licence with NZTA.

How long do I need to hold my restricted licence before getting my full licence?

You must hold your restricted licence for a minimum of 12 months before applying for your full licence. You can sit the CBTA 6F assessment from 9 months onward, but NZTA won’t issue the full licence until the 12-month mark has passed.

Do I need to do training before sitting the CBTA 6F assessment?

It’s not compulsory, but we strongly recommend it. The CBTA 6F is assessed on real roads in live traffic, and most fails come down to correctable habits. A session beforehand significantly improves your pass rate.

What happens if I fail the CBTA 6F assessment?

A pass isn’t guaranteed, and some riders need further training and a re-assessment. If this happens, we’ll talk you through exactly what to work on before you book a re-sit.

Book Your CBTA 6F Full Licence Assessment

Ready to ride without restrictions? Book your training or CBTA 6F assessment today, or get in touch with our instructors to find the option that suits you.