Travellers tips

Driver’s Licence

To drive in the Cook Islands you must hold a valid Cook Islands Driver’s Licence, that will be issued for the class that you have on your current foreign licence.

Foreign or international driving permits are not accepted here in the Cook Islands and will need to be converted into a local driver’s licence. This licence can be obtained from our Local Police station in downtown Avarua at a cost of $20.

The process is relatively simple, just complete the application form, pay the $20 fee and smile for the camera, the whole process should take approximately 20 minutes. However, during peak times waiting periods can be longer.

In the Cook Islands all scooters are classed as motorbikes therefore the corresponding class is required to rent and drive a scooter. If you don’t have the class endorsed on your current foreign licence a practical test is required to be completed at the police before you are issued with a licence for that class. To complete this test you are required to supply your own bike to complete the test and have had some driving experience, the additional fee to complete the test is $5.

All our offices are able to issue temporary driver’s permits at a cost of $2 this enables the renter to drive their rental vehicle to the police in order to get the photo driver’s licence.

(Please note that a UK Licence PROVISIONAL licence for motorbikes is only valid in the UK)

We are able to issue a temporary permit to a driver as long as they have the above classes endorsed on their current licence or if they have an expired Cook Islands licence.