New Zealand driver licences

Note: From July 2007 there will be slight changes to the layout of licences. Key elements, including photo and text, will be enlarged to make them clearer in poor light. Read more about changes to driver licences.

Licence classes

• Class 1: Car licence. Includes tractors or combinations of vehicles which have a gross laden weight (GLW) or gross combined weight (GCW) of 4,500 kg or less; mopeds and all-terrain vehicles; forklifts with a GLW of 18,000 kg or less and campervans or tradesperson’s vehicles with a GLW of 6,000 kg or less and an on-road weight not exceeding 4,500 kg.
• Class 2: Includes any rigid vehicle (including any tractor) with a GLW of more than 4,500 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 3,500 kg or less); any rigid vehicle with a GLW of more than 18,000 kg with no more than 2 axles; and any vehicles covered in class 1.
• Class 3: Includes any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 12,000 kg but less than 25,001 kg; and vehicles covered in Classes 1 and 2.
• Class 4: Includes 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 3,500 kg or less); and any vehicles covered in class 1and 2, but not 3.
• Class 5: Includes any combination vehicle with a GCW of more than 25,000 kg; and vehicles covered by Classes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
• Class 6: Motorcycle licence. Includes mopeds and all-terrain vehicles.

New Zealand photo driver licences

Full licence - Green

A green licence shows that the licence holder is fully qualified to drive all the classes of vehicle listed under item 7 on
the front of the licence.

Restricted licence - Yellow

A yellow licence shows that the licence holder has restrictions on driving at least one class of vehicle.

If the person has a yellow licence, it is very important to check item 7 on the front of their licence. The licence holder is not fully qualified to drive any class with an 'R' next to it.

Restricted licence holders (eg, 1R) must not drive between 10 pm and 5 am, unless they have a supervisor (someone who has held a current full driver licence for at least two years) sitting in the front beside them. They must not carry passengers, other than their spouse or their spouse’s dependants, unless they have a supervisor with them.

Riders with a restricted motorcycle licence (eg, 6R) must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250 cc. They must not carry a pillion passenger, or ride after 10 pm or before 5 am.

Learner licence - Blue

A blue licence shows that the licence holder is still learning to drive at least one class of vehicle.

If the person has a blue licence, it is very important to check item 7 on the front of their licence. The licence holder is not yet fully qualified to drive any class with an 'L' next to it (eg 3L means the licence holder is learning to drive truck and trailer units that weigh between 12,000 and 25,001 kgs).

Holders of a learner licence must have a supervisor (someone who has held a current full driver licence for at least 2 years) sitting in the front beside them.

Learner motorcycle riders must not ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity greater than 250 cc. They must not go faster than 70km/h on the open road, and must not carry a pillion passenger. Learners must not ride after 10 pm or before 5 am.

The learner has to have an ‘L’ for learner displayed on the vehicle, and carry their licence at all times when they are driving.

Limited licence - Pink

A pink licence shows that the licence holder is currently suspended or disqualified and is driving under the conditions of a court order granted by the courts.  

There are no licence classes showing on the licence. 

There is a condition printed on the back of the licence advising that the driver must carry the court order at all times and drive under the conditions set out in the court order.

Guide to the licence: photo side

1. Licence holder’s family name
2. Licence holder’s other names
3. Licence holder’s date of birth
4a. Date driver licence first obtained
4b. Licence card expiry date
4c. Organ donor status
5a. Licence number
5b. Card version number
Space for signature
6. Licence holder’s address (optional)
7. Licence classes and endorsements

(see Items on your driver licence for more information)

Guide to the licence: reverse side

8. Issue/expiry dates for other classes/endorsements.
9. Classes or endorsements the conditions apply to (eg, must wear correcting lenses, automatic vehicles only, specially adapted vehicles).

(see Items on your driver licence for more information)

Licence endorsements

Endorsements are special driving qualifications gained by people working in the transport sector.

D - Permitted to carry dangerous goods
F - Permitted to operate a forklift
I - Approved driving instructor
O - Approved licence testing officer
P - Permitted to carry paying passengers
R - Permitted to operate a vehicle running on rollers
T - Permitted to operate a vehicle running on tracks
V - Permitted to recover vehicles (tow truck operator)
W - Permitted to operate a specialist wheeled vehicle other than a forklift

(see Getting a driver licence endorsement for more information)

Page created: 30 August 2005
Last updated: 23 August 2007