Factsheet 11 – July 2009

Driver licence classes

How do I know which class of driver licence I need?

Driver licence classes cover cars, motorcycles and heavy vehicles, and are based on the type of vehicle and the weight of the vehicle.

Vehicles can be rigid (eg a truck) or a combination (eg a truck and trailer).

The class of driver licence required will depend on the gross laden weight (GLW) for rigid vehicles and gross combined weight (GCW) for combination vehicles.

• Read vehicle weight definitions (at the end of this factsheet).

The GLW or GCW generally refers to the weight specified by the manufacturer. This is the weight you should use to determine what class of driver licence you need.

How do I find out the weight?

All vehicles over 3500 kg are required to have a certificate of loading, which is usually displayed on the vehicle front windscreen. The certificate of loading will state the Gross Vehcile Mass (GLM) or Gross Combined Mass (GCM) of the vehicle.

In most cases the GVM (on the certifcate of loading) will be the same as the vehicle's GLW and the GCM will the same as the vehicle's GCW.

Make sure you don't use the vehicle's unladen weight, tare weight or the weight on the Road User Charges (RUC) distance licence.

What does each class cover?

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.

A holder of a Class 1 full licence can also drive:

• a tractor with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg if driven at a speed not exceeding 30 kph
• a tractor/trailer combination of more than 4500 kg but not more than 25,000 kg if being used in agricultural or land management operations and driven at a speed not exceeding 30 kph.

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 with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg
• a combination vehicle (that is not a tractor/trailer combination) with a GCW of 12,000 kg or less
• a combination vehicle consisting of a rigid vehicle (that is not a tractor) 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
• a tractor with a GLW of more than 4500 kg but less than 18,001 kg if driven at speed exceeding 30 kph
• 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:

• a 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:

• a rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg
• a 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:

• a 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.

Other requirements

Trailers and articulated vehicles

Holders of Class 2 and Class 4 licences are permitted to tow light trailers (GLW of 3500 kg or less) behind rigid vehicles of those classes. Don't count the weight of the trailer in any gross combined weight calculations.

An articulated special-type vehicle can be driven on a Class 2 or Class 4 licence, depending on its weight. This is because its handling characteristics are determined by it being a special-type vehicle, not because it's articulated.

Tractors

If you're a tractor driver, you simply need to hold the right class of licence for the weight of the tractor. You don't need a 'W' or any other special-type endorsement.

Traction engines

A person steering (or directing) a traction engine must hold a Class 2 licence and one of the following:

• a unit standard relating to steam driven vehicles (11157 or other equivalent unit standard)
• an appropriate qualification or certificate of competency under the Boilers, Lifts and Cranes Act 1950 that was current immediately before 16 January 2006 and allowed the holder to steer a traction engine.

A person driving (firing or operating) a traction engine's pressure equipment and managing the engine's steam pressure levels must hold a class 2 licence and one of the following:

• a unit standard relating to steam driven vehicles (21754, 21755, or other equivalent unit standard)
• an appropriate qualification or certificate of competency granted under the Boilers, Lifts and Cranes Act 1950 that was current immediately before 16 January 2006 and allowed the holder to operate traction engine pressure equipment.

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, P endorsements for carrying passengers for more information.

A vehicle recovery (V) endorsement is required to operate a tow truck. See Factsheet 46, V endorsements for vehicle recovery services for more information.

A driving instructor (I) endorsement is required to earn money teaching people to drive. See Factsheet 5, I endorsements: How to become a driving instructor for more information.

A testing officer (O) endorsement is required to conduct driving tests. See Factsheet 48, O endorsements: How to become a testing officer for more information.

A dangerous goods (D) endorsement is required to transport dangerous or hazardous goods (eg explosives). See Factsheet 37, D endorsements for carrying dangerous goods 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, F endorsements for driving forklifts and Factsheet 40, R, T and W endorsements for special-type vehicles 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 driven at speed not exceeding 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 driven at speed not exceeding 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, R, T and W endorsements for special-type vehicles 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 NZ Transport Agency
• 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 NZTA.

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Phone our driver licensing contact centre: 0800 822 422.
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.