If you have a private motor vehicle licence (Class 1 for a car or Class 6 for a motorcycle), you will have to stop driving for 1 year if you have a seizure.
This is regardless of how brief or small the seizure is, and whether or not it makes you unconscious. It includes the single jerking movements that you can get with some kinds of epilepsy.
However, if after having a single seizure there are no risk factors for you having another one, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) may let you return to driving after 6 months without any more seizures.
Your neurologist can apply to NZTA for this after the 6 months have passed.
Commercial or passenger licence
The regulations for a commercial or passenger licence (Class 2, 3, 4, 5 or ‘P’ endorsement) are different. You must be free of seizures for 5 years and not taking any anticonvulsant treatment (epilepsy medicine) during that time.
You will need approval from a neurologist before you can start driving again.
Withdrawing from anticonvulsant medicine
With all types of driver's licence, if you have been free of seizures for a number of years and are considering coming off your anticonvulsant medication, bear in mind that you won't be able to drive while withdrawing from the medicine and for 6 months afterward.