How to Get a Rarotonga & Cook Islands Scooter License

Scooter licenses must be obtained from the Rarotonga Police Station in the town centre of Avarua. The Police Station is a large building on the main road, Ara Tapu, that's impossible to miss. It's located between Cook's Corner and the BCI Bank.

The driver's license office at the Rarotonga Police Station is open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 12 pm. You can collect, complete and submit driver's license application forms during these hours.

There are allocated theory and practical test times, which are:

• Theory Test - From Monday to Thursday at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm and on Friday at 9 am and 11 am
• Practical Test - From Monday to Thursday at 10 am and 2 pm, and on Friday at 10 am and 1 pm.

Note that times are subject to change.

Where to Apply for a Scooter License in Aitutaki

You can also acquire a scooter license in Aitutaki (and the other outer islands, like Atiu) that allows you to drive a scooter anywhere in the Cook Islands, including Rarotonga. There are no tests required to obtain a scooter licence in Aitutaki; just your overseas driver's licence and a NZ$2.50 fee for the paper licence. Winner!

Scooter licenses in Aitutaki are available at the Aitutaki Police Station, located in Arutanga, just up the hill behind the Vodafone and BCI offices. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

The first step in obtaining your scooter license for Rarotonga is to complete the "Application for a Licence to Drive a Motor Vehicle - Visitors V-1". Don't confuse this with the application for Cook Islands residents.

What You Need to Complete the Scooter License Application Form

You need your passport (or notarised birth certificate - but you're more likely to have your passport with you as a visitor), your overseas driver's license, and your certified translation if the license is not in English (if applicable - see Can You Drive in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands With an Overseas License? for more details). Pens are usually supplied at the Police Station, but it doesn't hurt to take one, just in case.

What Details are Needed for the Application Form?

For the Rarotonga scooter license 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, which is the "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 applying for a scooter license will select "Visitor", "Police Theory", and "Police Practice".

You'll then need to sign and date the application and hand it over at the Driver's License desk at the Police Station, which is well signed on the right-hand side of the main entrance. At the desk, your passport and overseas driver's license will be photocopied. You will then need to pay the applicable fees for your theory and practical tests.

How Much Does the Rarotonga Scooter License Cost?

• Theory test: NZ$10
• Practical test: NZ$10
• Card licence: NZ$20.

Please note that this does not include the cost of a rental scooter and helmet, which are also required for the test. More on that below.

After handing in your scooter license application form, you will be shown where to pick up your theory test to complete in a small room to the right of the main entrance. The hours of testing are from Monday to Thursday at 9 am, 11 am and 1 pm and on Friday at 9 am and 11 am. Note that hours are subject to change.

The short theory test is made up of 25 multiple-choice and short-answer questions checking that you know the road rules. You need to get at least 23 out of 25 answers correct to pass.

If you have any doubts, maybe take a look at How to Drive in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands + 10 Road Rules You Need to Know. Note that the advice we give in this article is general advice about driving in the Cook Islands, not official reading material for your test!

Again, the theory tests cost NZ$10. If you fail, you can retake the test at another time and date, at an additional cost of NZ$10. 

If you pass your theory test, you will be allocated a time 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. Again, note that these hours are subject to change.

For your practical test, you need a scooter and a helmet.

How to Get a Scooter for the Practical Test

This is a question many visitors have when hiring a scooter: how can you do a practical test at the Police Station with your own scooter when you're not licensed to drive a scooter to get there?!

One option is to arrive at the Police Station "scooterless", complete your application and theory test, and then hire a scooter from one of the scooter rental companies within walking distance; Polynesian Rental Cars & Bikes is located right next door.

You can hire a scooter for the day and pay the refundable deposit, then return the scooter after your test if you would rather hire with another company (see Scooter Hire in Rarotonga: Where to Rent, Cost & More for ideas) or if, you know, you fail the test.

Alternatively, some scooter rental companies issue a temporary motorcycle license on pick-up, which you must take with you and ride straight to the Police Station to apply for your license.

What Does the Scooter Practical Test Involve?

Your scooter practical test takes place in an alley alongside the Police Station. There is a line of traffic cones running down the middle.

The test begins with you demonstrating to the examiner that you are confident riding a scooter, showing that you know how to put on a helmet correctly and how to start the scooter. Then you'll ride the scooter to the "Give Way" sign at the end of an alley, use your indicators and check both sides before making a U-turn and returning up the opposite side of the traffic cones to the "Stop" sign. Finally, you'll do the alleyway run again, this time, weaving in and out of the traffic cones without, of course, hitting any of them.

Again, practical tests cost NZ$10. If you fail, you can retake the test at another time and date for an additional NZ$10 fee. 

Once you have passed your scooter practical test, you will need to go back to the driver's license office inside the Police Station, where you will hand over your practical test paperwork and pay the NZ$20 fee for printing your Cook Islands Motorcycle License!

The Conditions of Your Cook Islands Scooter License

Visitor scooter licenses are valid for 30 days from the date of issue and only allow you to drive a scooter with an engine capacity not exceeding 125cc.