Driving in Canada vs. New Zealand: Key Differences Revealed
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for safe navigation. This comparison between Canada and New Zealand reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on opposite sides of the road and distinct speed limits in urban areas. By familiarizing yourself with these variations, you can enhance your driving experience and ensure a secure journey.
Lanes
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | Not applicable |
Driving Side
canada:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
new zealand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
canada:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
new zealand:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
canada:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
new zealand:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
canada:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
canada:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
canada:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
canada:
911
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay