Can You Drive in the Cook Islands With an Overseas License?

Driving in the Cook Islands with an overseas license has a few conditions and restrictions. These include that you can only drive:

• If you're over the age of 16,
• for up to six months in the Cook Islands,
• If your license is not revoked, suspended or disqualified,
• and only the motor vehicle class that you are entitled to drive in your home country.

In some rare instances, visitors may need to obtain a visitor's driver's license to drive legally in the Cook Islands. In this section, we cover who this applies to and how to obtain a visitor's driver's license.

Who Needs to Apply for a Cook Islands Driver's License?

There are a few instances where you will need to apply for and purchase a Cook Islands visitor's license to drive in the Cook Islands legally. This applies to:

• Visitors who have an overseas driver's license that is not from one of the accepted countries (Australia, Canada, EU Members, Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway or the US)
• Those on an overseas restricted license
• And those wishing to drive a vehicle for which their overseas license is not valid, such as riding a scooter or motorcycle.

You can apply for a visitor driver's license at the Rarotonga Police Station in the town centre of Avarua. There is a paper form to complete, and visitors are also required to undergo a theory and practical test, as well as pay all applicable fees.

Driver's License Application Form

For the application form, you will need to provide the following:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Age
• Name of accommodation in the Cook Islands
• Overseas license number (if known)
• Overseas contact details and next of kin contact.

You will also need to tick the appropriate box for the type of license you are applying for, for example, "B" for any motor car and/or "A1" motorcycle class for an engine capacity not exceeding 125cc. You'll then tick the appropriate boxes for the fees you'll be paying under "cash" or "cheque". For example, most visitors will select "Visitor", "Police Theory", and "Police Practice".

You'll then need to sign and date the application and hand it over to the Driver's License desk at the Police Station, located in a small room to the right-hand side of the main entrance.

Theory Test

For the theory test, you must provide your passport or a notarised copy of your birth certificate. Tests are available to take from Monday to Thursday at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm and on Friday at 9 am and 11 am. Theory tests cost NZ$10. If you fail, you can retake the test at a later time and date.

Practical Test

If you pass your theory test, you will be allocated a specific time and date for your practical test. Practical testing takes place from Monday to Thursday at 10 am and 2 pm and on Friday at 10 am and 1 pm.

Practical tests cost NZ$10, and you need to provide your own vehicle (vehicle hire is available next door to the Police Station). If you fail, you can retake the test at a later time and date. 

Once you have passed your test, you will be given a visitor's driver's license at a cost of around NZ$20.

How Long is a Cook Islands Driver's License Valid For?

Visitors' licenses for the Cook Islands are valid for up to 30 days from the date of issue. One-year, five-year, and 10-year driver's licenses are also available for application.

More About Applying for a Driver's License

Want to know more about applying for a driver's license in the Cook Islands? Check out How to Get a Rarotonga & the Cook Islands Scooter License, which is the most common type of license visitors get in the Cook Islands. This guide goes into much more detail on the application process, with many steps similar to getting a car license.