From $239 per person / Available nationally
The Defensive Driving 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 Waka Kotahi NZTA approved AA Defensive Driving Course. This means you could apply for your full licence as early as 17½ years old.
If you have a learner licence:
You can attend a Defensive Driving Course once you have your learner licence and you are confident enough to complete a 1-hour drive. If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months.
If you have a restricted licence:
If you complete a Defensive Driving Course, you reduce the time you're required to spend on your restricted licence by 6 months. If you're over 25, the time on your restricted licence is reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
If you have a full licence:
Full licence holders also benefit from the Defensive Driving Course. If you're a police recruit, a court referral, completing a Police Diversion programme or want to refresh your driving knowledge and skill base, you’ve come to the right place.
You can also buy vouchers for the Defensive Driving Course which you can use at a later date or gift to someone else. The voucher is not a booking but can be redeemed when making a booking. Vouchers are for courses provided by the AA and cannot be used for other licensed course providers.
The course takes 9 hours to complete and includes:
Classroom sessions
We learn with real-life driving situations filmed on New Zealand roads during the theory sessions. In the course we discuss various scenarios, observations and hazards to improve understanding. These sessions need to be completed in order.
In-car session
This session helps you identify bad habits and teaches you how to address them before you take your practical driving test. The assessment drive will fine-tune your driving skills and raise your awareness of hazard detection and appropriate responses to those hazards. The in-car session needs to be completed within 60 days of the last in-classroom session. This drive is completed in your own vehicle.
Online learning (eDrive)
This online learning and test focuses on visual search and situation awareness that are directly linked to crash risk. eDrive shows real-life driving situations filmed on NZ roads with you right in the driver’s seat.
Your account is valid for 28 days from the day you register online. There is no limit to the number of attempts on the test. However, you will need to have a minimum score of 80% or greater to receive your certificate of completion. This must be completed prior to your in-car drive.
You are required to show a copy of your eDrive certificate to your tutor, when you attend your in-car practical drive. This can either be shown to the tutor on your mobile device or a printed copy.
Completing the Defensive Driving Course successfully
If you finish all the coursework, preparation tasks, and the practical drive within 60 days after the last classroom session, you’ll receive your certificate at the end.
The classroom sessions can be booked for and paid online. We recommend that once you have started your classroom sessions, you discuss and make your practical drive booking in advance with the tutor to ensure it is completed within 60 days.
Refunds for cancellations will only be made if we receive notification of cancellation at least 14 business days prior to commencement of your course. For full details:
Defensive Driving Course terms and conditions
| Region - Area | Street address |
|---|---|
| Northland - Kerikeri | Kerikeri Sports Complex, Waipapa Road, Kerikeri |
| Northland - Moerewa | Te Punawai Centre, 52-54 Main Road, Moerewa, 0211 |
| Northland - Whangarei | ASB Lounge, 97 Western Hills Drive, Kensington Park, Whangarei |
| Auckland North - Whangaparaoa | Whangaparaoa Library, 9 Main Street, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparāoa 0932 |
| Auckland North - Albany | AA Traveller office, Candida Office Park, Building 2, 61 Constellation Dr, Mairangi Bay, Auckland |
| Auckland North - Long Bay | Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre, 1045 Beach Road, Long Bay |
| Auckland North - Glenfield | Glenfield Community Centre, 96 Bentley Avenue, Glenfield |
| Auckland North - Northcote / Takapuna | YMCA Northcote, 5 Akoranga Drive, Northcote |
| Auckland Central - Parnell | Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Road, Parnell |
| Auckland Central - Ponsonby | Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby, 1011 (Gluepot Room) |
| Auckland Central - Meadowbank | St Chads, 38 St John's Road, Meadowbank |
| Auckland Central - Mt Albert | Marist College, 31 Alberton Avenue, Mount Albert |
| Auckland Central - St Heliers / Glendowie | Sacred Heart College, Old Boys Lounge, Main gate opposite, 133A Crossfield Rd, Glendowie, Auckland 1071 |
| Auckland Central - Mt Roskill | AA Centre, 6A Carr Road, Mt Roskill |
| Auckland Central - Penrose / Ellerslie | AA Penrose, 419 Great South Road, Penrose |
| Auckland East - Howick | Uxbridge Arts & Culture, 35 Uxbridge Road, Howick |
| Auckland East - Pakuranga | Te Tuhi, 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga |
| Auckland South - Manukau | AUT, South campus, ME block, 640 Great South Road, Manukau |
| Auckland South - Takanini | Bruce Pulman Park, 90 Walters Road, Takanini, Auckland |
| Auckland South - Pukekohe | The Franklin Centre, Allan Wilson Room, 12 Massey Avenue, Pukekohe |
| Auckland West - Hobsonville | Hobsonville Community Trust, Headquarters Building, 214 Buckley Avenue, Hobsonville |
| Auckland West - Westgate | Auckland Council, Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate - Hinengaro room, Level 2 |
| Auckland West - Kelston | Kelston Girls' College, 1 Archibald Road, Kelston |
| Waikato - Hamilton City | WINTEC, Bill Gallagher Centre, Gate 3 off Tristram Street |
| Waikato - Hamilton East | Waikato Settlement Centre, 46G Boundary Road, Claudelands |
| Waikato - Hamilton West | Good News Community Centre, 78 Breckons Avenue, Nawton, Hamilton 3200 |
| Waikato - Rototuna, Hamilton | Rototuna Library, 30 North City Road, Rototuna North, Hamilton 3281 |
| Waikato - Cambridge | Bridges Church and Community Centre, 28 Duke Street, Cambridge |
| Bay of Plenty - Rotorua | AA Rotorua, 1121 Eruera Street, Rotorua |
| Bay of Plenty - Tauranga | Greerton Library, Heremanuhiri Room, 139 Greerton Road, Gate Pa, Tauranga |
| Bay of Plenty - Papamoa | Papamoa Community Centre, 15 Gravatt Road, Papamoa Beach, Papamoa |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Palmerston North | AA Centre, 227 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Palmerston North St Albans | St Alban's Presbyterian Church, 339 Albert Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410. Car park behind church, off St Alban's Ave. |
| Manawatu-Whanganui - Levin | The Mahi Space, 10 Bath Street, Levin 5510 - Please access via doors at 10 Bath St |
| Hawke's Bay - Havelock North | Taruna College, 33 Te Mata Peak Road, Havelock North |
| Wellington - Lower Hutt | Capital Training Limited, 20 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt |
| Wellington - Porirua | Whitireia Community Polytechnic, 3 Wi Neera Drive, Elsdon, Porirua |
| Wellington - Wellington Central | Multicultural Learning & Support Services, 39 Web Street, Mt Cook, Wellington |
| Wellington - Johnsonville | Waiora Sport and Community Hub, Rothbury Insurance Brokers Lounge (Northern end), 17 Bannister Avenue, Johnsonville |
| Wellington - Karori | Karori Community Centre, 7 Beauchamp Street, Karori |
| Wellington - Kapiti Coast - Paraparaumu | Kapiti Impact Hub, 6 Tongariro Street, Paraparaumu |
| Wellington - Thorndon | St Mary's College, Guildford Terrace, Thorndon |
| Marlborough - Blenheim | REAP Marlborough, 65 Seymour Street, Blenheim |
| Canterbury - Sydenham, Christchurch | AA Sydenham, Cnr Brougham Street and Buchan Street |
| Canterbury - Riccarton, Christchurch | Harcourts, 88 Division Street, Riccarton, Christchurch |
| Canterbury - Parklands, Christchurch | Parklands Baptist Community Church, 180 Queenspark Drive, Parklands, Christchurch 8083 |
| Canterbury - Rolleston | St John Ambulance, 7 Kidman Street (Cnr Kidman St and Norman Kirk Drive), Rolleston, 7614 |
| Canterbury - Ashburton | Ashburton Events Centre, 211 Wills Street, Ashburton 7700 |
| Otago - Dunedin | AA Centre, 450 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016 |
These providers 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 | Morrinsville |
| Bay of Plenty | Whakatane |
| Gisborne | Gisborne |
| Taranaki | New Plymouth, Hawera |
| Wellington | Carterton, Greytown |
| Canterbury | Culverden, Rangiora, Timaru, South Canterbury |
| Southland | Invercargill |
Check the availability for Defensive Driving Courses around New Zealand and book your place on the course.
Buy a voucher for a Defensive Driving Course for yourself or for someone else. You can redeem voucher when booking.
