British Expats - New Zealand HGV 1 Licence

This the reply i got

Good afternoon Mr Miles

Thank you for your email dated 2 September 2007

If you do not hold a New Zealand (NZ) driver licence and your overseas licence or International Driving Permit is current you are entitled to drive in NZ for up to 12 months. Any continuous period in NZ of more than 12 months would require you to convert your overseas licence to a NZ licence.

You are required to carry your original licence with you at all times when driving. This licence will allow you to drive vehicles of equivalent classes to those listed on your licence.

I have attached a link to a factsheet that provides further information on driver licence classes in NZ.

www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/11.html

Converting a United Kingdom Licence

As long as you have held your full United Kingdom (UK) licence for more than two years and it has not been expired for more than 12 months, you will be able to convert to a NZ driver licence by completing a theory test only.

A medical certificate (that has been issued by a NZ general practitioner within the previous 60 days) will be required to accompany your application, confirming you are medically fit to drive a commercial class of licence if you wish to convert to a higher class of licence I.e. classes 2-5. The cost to convert your licence is currently $44.30 application fee and $39.70 for the theory test. Once you have successfully completed your application and passed the theory test you will be issued with a full NZ licence. Please Note: then you must cease driving on your UK licence.

If you have held your full UK licence for less than two years, you will have to complete a theory and practical test in order to obtain a full NZ licence. In addition to the above costs, the practical driving test will cost up to $70.80.

You cannot convert your licence if it has expired for more than 12 months. You can obtain a licence through the graduated driver licensing system (GDLS), and I have attached a Land Transport NZ factsheet that provides details.

www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/45.html

Please see the following links that contain additional information about driving in NZ, converting to a NZ driver licence, what's different about driving in NZ and the locations of driver licensing agents in NZ.

www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/ove...ing-in-nz.html

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/lic...nce/where.html

An overseas licence will be returned "over the counter" to the licence holder after it is sighted at the approved licensing agents for the overseas conversion application. Converting to a NZ licence does not affect the validity of your overseas licence.

Please note: you can hold both a NZ and overseas licence simultaneously; however as at 1 June 2006, once you have a NZ driver licence you cannot drive on an overseas licence in NZ.

I hope this information is helpful.