Where To Go
If you want to get or renew your driver licence, you'll need to apply in person at a Land Transport New Zealand driver licensing agent.
Driver licensing agents are participating offices of:
- The Automobile Association (AA) - most AA offices
- Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) - selected VTNZ stations
- Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ) - Auckland, Lower Hutt, Christchurch & Dunedin only
What to take to the driver licensing agent
Application form
Take your completed application form. (Forms are available from driver licensing agents.)
Identification
Take one of the following forms of personal identification (these must be original documents):
- A New Zealand driver licence that is current or has expired within the last two years
- A New Zealand or overseas passport that is current or has expired within the last two years
- A full birth certificate issued in NZ, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau. (Note: older-style birth certificates that do not include your parents' details are no longer accepted by government agencies (including Land Transport NZ) as evidence of identity.)
- A New Zealand photo firearms licence that is current or has expired within the last two years
- One of the following certificates issued under the Citizenship Act 1977:
- Certificate of NZ Citizenship
- Certificate confirming NZ Citizenship
- Certificate confirming registration of NZ Citizenship by descent
- A certificate of identity issued under the Passports Act 1992 that is current.
- A refugee travel document issued by or on behalf of the NZ Government that is current.
- A certificate of identity issued under the Immigration Act 1987 that is current.
- A NZ Police or NZ Defence Force photo-identity card issued to non-civilian staff that is current or has expired within the last two years.
Evidence of your address
Take one of the following forms of identification as evidence of your postal or residential address:
- An account statement from your bank, building society, credit union or credit card company, issued within the last 12 months, which has your name and address on it
- A telephone, gas, or electricity account, issued within the last six months, which has your name and address on it
- Other evidence of address issued within the last 12 months - for example:
- If you're still at school or are attending a tertiary institution, a school report or records certified by a teacher or lecturer will be accepted
- If you have no fixed abode, proof of mail being sent to a post office for collection is sufficient.
Confirmation of change of name
If the name you want on your driver licence is different from the name on your identification or the evidence of your address, you'll need to take one of the following:
- Your marriage certificate
- A Dissolution of marriage order that says that the dissolution is 'decree absolute' (ie, final)
- An original document from Births, Deaths and Marriages confirming that your name has been legally changed
- A change of name by statuatory declaration, or deed poll of change of name, issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Other suitable identification (eg, adoption papers).
Eyesight certificate or correcting lenses
Each time you apply for a new licence class or endorsement you must prove that your eyesight meets the required standard.
To do this you can take a certificate issued by a New Zealand-registered optometrist or medical practitioner stating that your eyesight is satisfactory or that you may drive safely when using glasses or contact lenses. This certificate must not be more than 60 days old.
Alternatively, you can pass an eyesight screening check at a driver licensing agent. However, if you do not pass this screening check then you must provide an eyesight certificate before your application can proceed. If you're going to be tested by the licensing agent, remember to take your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them for driving.
If you have sight in only one eye, or have only one eye (monocular vision) you must present an eyesight certificate from a doctor or optometrist.
Medical certificate
You must produce a medical certificate, completed by your medical practitioner, if:
- you're turning 75, 80 or an even-numbered age older than 80
- you have, or have had in the last five years, a medical condition that could adversely affect your ability to drive. The types of medical condition that may require a medical certificate include:
- diabetes
- visual disturbances (eg, diplopia (double vision) or cataracts)
- Alzheimers
- seizures, fits, convulsions, epilepsy
- serious injuries (eg, head or spinal injuries)
- high blood pressure
- amputations
- mental illness or nervous disorders
- locomotive joint or limb problems
- stroke
- cerebral vascular accidents/disease
- cognitive impairment
- any other condition that may affect your ability to drive safely
- you're renewing a Class 2, 3, 4 or 5 licence and have not presented a medical certificate in the last five years
- you're renewing a P, V, I or O endorsement and have not presented a medical certificate in the last five years
- you're requested to do so by Land Transport New Zealand.
Note: If you're a driver renewing a commercial licence, you need to provide a medical certificate when you renew your licence class(es). (A medical certificate may not be required, however, if one has been supplied to Land Transport New Zealand within the past five years and any medical condition you may have has not worsened, or any new condition been diagnosed.) The requirement to provide a medical certificate when you renew a commercial licence is a road safety measure that recognises the accident risks associated with driving for extended periods and/or driving heavy vehicles. It also recognises that the public have a right to expect that drivers to whom they entrust their safety (eg, taxi drivers) are proven medically fit.
Means of payment
Make sure you take:
- a means of paying the appropriate fee - cheque, cash or EFTPOS card. (Some agents accept credit cards.)
Note: If you pay by cheque, your driver licence will be delayed while your cheque is cleared.
Driver licence classes
Class 1 - car licence
A holder of a Class 1 learner, restricted or full licence can drive:
- a vehicle that has a GLW or GCW of 4500 kg or less (this includes tractors or combinations of vehicles, but does not include motorcycles)
- a moped or all-terrain vehicle
- any campervan or tradeperson's vehicle with a GLW of 6000 kg or less and an on-road weight not exceeding 4500 kg.
Note: a tradeperson’s vehicle means a motor vehicle that has a body designed or adapted for use principally by tradepersons to carry special-purpose trade equipment or trade goods (excluding general freight).
Class 2 - medium rigid vehicle
Class 2 is the medium rigid vehicle licence. A holder of a Class 2 learner or full licence can drive:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of 12,000 kg or less
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of 18,000 kg or less towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
- any rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg that has no more than two axles
- any vehicle covered in Class 1.
Class 3 - medium combination
Class 3 is the medium combination vehicle licence. A holder of a Class 3 learner or full licence can drive:
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 12,000 kg but less than 25,001 kg
- any vehicle covered in classes 1 and 2.
Class 4 - heavy rigid
Class 4 is the heavy rigid vehicle licence. A holder of a Class 4 learner or full licence can drive:
- any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg
- any combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg towing a light trailer (GLW of 3500 kg or less)
- vehicles covered in classes 1 and 2, but not Class 3.
Class 5 - heavy combination
Class 5 is the heavy combination vehicle licence. A holder of a Class 5 learner or full licence can drive:
- any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 25,000 kg
- vehicles covered by classes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Class 6 - Motorcycle licence
Class 6 is the motorcycle licence. It includes any motorcycle, moped or all-terrain vehicle.
Endorsements
In addition to holding the correct class of licence for the weight of the vehicle you are operating, you will need an appropriate current endorsement to operate a some kinds of vehicles or services.
A passenger (P) endorsement is required to transport fare paying passengers (eg bus and taxi drivers). See Factsheet 42 for more information.
A vehicle recovery (V) endorsement is required to operate a tow truck. See Factsheet 46 for more information.
A driving instructor (I) endorsement is required to earn money teaching people to drive. See Factsheet 5 for more information.
A testing officer (O) endorsement is required to conduct driving tests. See Factsheet 48 for more information.
A dangerous goods (D) endorsement is required to transport dangerous or hazardous goods (eg explosives). See Factsheet 37 for more information.
A forklift (F), roller (R) or tracks (T) endorsement is required to operate a forklift or special-type vehicle that runs on rollers or tracks.
- A Class 1 licence in conjunction with an F/R/T endorsement will permit you to operate the appropriate vehicle with a GLW of 18,000 kg or less.
- A Class 2 licence in conjunction with an F/R/T endorsement will permit you to operate the appropriate vehicle with a GLW exceeding 18,000 kg.
See Factsheet 10 and Factsheet 40 for more information.
A wheels (W) endorsement is required to operate special-type vehicles that run on wheels.
- A class 1 licence in conjunction with a W endorsement will permit you to operate special-type wheeled vehicles:
- with a GLW not more than 4500 kg
- with a GLW more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg if operated at less than 30 km/h.
- A class 2 licence in conjunction with a W endorsement will permit you to operate special-type wheeled vehicles:
- with a GLW less than 18.001 kg
- with a GLW more than 18,000 kg if operated at less than 30 km/h.
- A class 4 licence in conjunction with a W endorsement will permit you to operate special-type wheeled vehicles exceeding 18,000 kg.
See Factsheet 40 for more information.
Vehicle weight definitions
Gross weight means the weight of a rigid or combination vehicle, together with any load it is carrying (including equipment and accessories).
Gross laden weight (GLW) is the greatest of the following:
- any weight specified (following the latest modification, if applicable) as a vehicle's gross laden weight by the vehicle's manufacturer
- any weight specified as the gross laden weight of a particular vehicle (or a vehicle of its kind) by the Director of Land Transport
- the weight of a vehicle together with any load it is carrying, including any equipment and accessories.
Gross combined weight (GCW) is the sum of the gross laden weights of the vehicles that make up a combination vehicle.
Tare weight means the weight of the vehicle without any load.
On-road weight means the total weight of the vehicle and load at any particular time.
Mass means the quantity of material contained in or on that vehicle which, when subjected to acceleration due to gravity, will exert downwards on a level surface a force that can be measured as the weight of the vehicle.
Gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the greater of:
- the mass specified as the gross vehicle mass of a particular vehicle by the vehicle's manufacturer
- the mass specified as the gross vehicle mass of a particular vehicle (or a vehicle of its kind) by the Director of Land Transport.
