AA Defensive Driving Course
- Achieve your full licence up to 6 months earlier
- Increase your chances of passing your driving tests
- Become a safer driver
- Learn to identify hazards
From $245 per person / Available nationwide
About the Defensive Driving Course
This course will give you the knowledge and confidence to be a smarter and safer driver. You’ll learn important defensive driving skills, such as assessing and identifying hazards to reduce the risk of being in a crash.
Whether you’re on your learner or restricted licence, you can reduce the time it takes to get your full licence by six months when you complete an NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi approved AA Defensive Driving Course. This means you could apply for your full licence as early as 17½ years old.
Learners license
- Experienced learner licence holders who are confident drivers can attend a Defensive Driving Course. It is recommended to complete the course after obtaining your restricted licence.
- Once you have completed the Defensive Driving Course, the time you are required to spend on your restricted licence is reduced by up to six months.
Restricted license
- Once you have completed the Defensive Driving Course, the time you are required to spend on your restricted licence is reduced by up to six months. It is considered best practice to take the course after obtaining your restricted licence.
- If you're over 25, the time on your restricted licence is reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
Full license
You can still benefit from the Defensive Driving Course, particularly if you:
- Want to refresh your driving knowledge and skill base
- Are a police recruit
- Have a court referral or are completing a Police Diversion programme
Course content
Classroom sessions
We learn with real-life driving situations filmed on New Zealand roads during interactive theory group sessions. In the course we discuss various risks, observations and hazards to improve understanding road conditions and best practice to be a safer driver. These sessions need to be completed in order.
If you need to bring a support person or reader/writer, please contact us prior to your course date.
In-car session
This session gives you the opportunity to apply the skills you've learned in the classroom in a practical, real-world setting.
It must be completed within 60 days of your last classroom session and is completed in your own vehicle.
Online learning (eDrive)
Focuses on identifying hazards and improving visual search techniques using real-life driving scenarios filmed on New Zealand roads.
- Account valid for 28 days after registration
- Unlimited test attempts
- Minimum score of 80% required
- Certificate must be shown to the tutor before the in-car drive
Completion
You will be issued with the Defensive Driving Course certificate once you have successfully completed the coursework, preparation tasks, and practical in-car session.
Bookings & refunds
All course bookings are booked and paid online. In-car sessions are arranged directly with your course tutor. Available times will be discussed during your classroom sessions.
Refunds for cancellations will only be made if we receive notification of cancellation at least 14 days prior to commencement of your original course date. For full details: Defensive Driving Course terms and conditions.
Defensive Driving Course vouchers
AA Defensive Driving Course Locations
- Auckland Region
- Bay of Plenty
- Canterbury
- Hawke's Bay
- Manawatu-Whanganui
- Marlborough
- Northland
- Otago
- Tasman
- Waikato
- Wairarapa
- Wellington
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Botany | St Columba Church, 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs |
| Henderson | Hub West, 27 Corban Ave, Henderson |
| Hobsonville | Hobsonville Community Trust, Headquarters Building, 214 Buckley Avenue, Hobsonville |
| Howick | Uxbridge Arts & Culture, 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick |
| Grey Lynn | Grey Lynn Community Centre, Garden Room, 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn |
| Glenfield | Glenfield Community Centre, 96 Bentley Avenue, Glenfield |
| Long Bay | Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre, 1045 Beach Road, Long Bay |
| Mairangi Bay | Windsor Park Baptist Church, 550 East Coast Road, Mairangi Bay |
| Manukau | DRIVE office, 33 Lambie Drive, Manukau, Auckland |
| Meadowbank | St Chads, 38 St John's Road, Meadowbank |
| Mt Roskill | Mt Roskill AA Centre, 6A Carr Road, Mt Roskill |
| Northcote / Takapuna | YMCA Northcote, 5 Akoranga Drive, Northcote |
| Parnell | Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Road, Parnell |
| Mt Albert | Marist College, 31 Alberton Avenue, Mount Albert |
| St Heliers / Glendowie | Sacred Heart College, Old Boys Lounge, Main gate opposite, 133A Crossfield Rd, Glendowie |
| Penrose / Ellerslie | AA Penrose, 419 Great South Road, Penrose |
| Pukekohe | The Franklin Centre, 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe |
| Takanini | Activate Church Papakura, 11 Tironui Road Takanini |
| Westgate | Auckland Council, Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate - Hinengaro room, Level 2 |
| Whangaparaoa | Whangaparaoa Library, 9 Main Street, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Mount Maunganui | Arataki Community Centre, Zambuk Way, Arataki, Mount Maunganui |
| Papamoa | Papamoa Community Centre, 15 Gravatt Road, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa |
| Tauranga | Greerton Library, Heremanuhiri Room, 139 Greerton Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga |
| Tauranga Central | St Peters Community Church, 130 Spring Street, Tauranga |
| Thames | Jack McLean Community Centre, Thames Highschool Gymnasium side room, 737 Rolleston Street, Thames - Opposite Highschool Pool |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Ashburton | Ashburton Events Centre, 211 Wills Street, Ashburton |
| Kaiapoi | Enterprise Business Centre -143 Williams Street, Kaiapoi |
| Parklands | Parklands Baptist Community Church, 180 Queenspark Drive, Parklands |
| Rangiora | Main Power Stadium Indoor Centre, Upstairs Room, 289 Coldstream Road, Rangiora |
| Riccarton | Harcourts, 88 Division Street, Riccarton, Christchurch |
| Rolleston | St John Ambulance, 7 Kidman Street (Cnr Kidman St and Norman Kirk Drive), Rolleston |
| Sydenham | AA Centre Sydenham, Cnr Brougham Street and Buchan Street, Sydenham |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Havelock North | Taruna College, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Feilding | Manawatu Community Library, 64 Stafford Street, Feilding |
| Palmerston North | Hancock Community Centre, 77-85 King Street, Palmerston North |
| Palmerston North St Albans | St Alban's Presbyterian Church, 339 Albert Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North. Car park behind church, off St Alban's Ave. |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Blenheim | REAP Marlborough, 65 Seymour Street, Blenheim |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Kerikeri | Kerikeri High School, 48 Hone Heke Road, Kerikeri |
| Whangarei | ASB Lounge, 97 Western Hills Drive, Kensington Park, Whangarei |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Wanaka | Wanaka Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street, Wanaka |
| Queenstown | Wakatipu Highschool (Green Room at front of school), 47/49 Red Oaks Drive, Frankton, Queenstown |
| Dunedin | AA Centre Dunedin, 450 Moray Place, Dunedin |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Nelson | NMIT (meet at A Block), 322 Hardy Street, Nelson |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Cambridge | Bridges Church and Community Centre, 28 Duke Street, Cambridge |
| Hamilton West | Good News Community Centre, 78 Breckons Avenue, Nawton, Hamilton |
| Rototuna | Rototuna Library, 30 North City Road, Rototuna North, Hamilton |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Carterton | St. David's Presbyterian Church, 164 High Street South, Carterton |
| Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Johnsonville | Waiora Sport and Community Hub, Rothbury Insurance Brokers Lounge (Northern end), 17 Bannister Avenue, Johnsonville |
| Kapiti Coast - Paraparaumu | Kapiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu |
| Karori | Karori Community Centre, 7 Beauchamp Street, Karori |
| Lower Hutt | Capital Training Limited, 20 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt |
| Porirua | Whitireia Community Polytechnic, 3 Wi Neera Drive, Elsdon, Porirua |
| Thorndon | St Mary's College, Guildford Terrace, Thorndon |
| Upper Hutt | Orongomai Marae, 7 Railway Ave, Maidstone, Upper Hutt |
| Wellington Central | Multicultural Learning & Support Services, 39 Web Street, Mt Cook |
Licensed Providers of the Defensive Driving Course
These are third partyproviders are licensed to facilitate the AA Defensive Driving Course. They provide the venue and will manage all arrangements directly with you including booking, payment and documentation.
Once submitting your booking through the system, the provider will contact you directly to advise course dates and other details.
| Region | City/town |
|---|---|
| Auckland | Orewa, Warkworth |
| Waikato | Waihi, Thames, Morrinsville |
| Bay of Plenty | Katikati, Whakatane |
| Gisborne | Gisborne |
| Taranaki | New Plymouth, Hawera |
| Wellington | Carterton, Greytown |
| Canterbury | Culverden, Rangiora, Timaru, South Canterbury |
