If you drive a special-type vehicle on the road, you must have an endorsement on your licence
- R endorsement for vehicles on rollers.
- T endorsement for vehicles on self-laying tracks.
- W endorsement for special-type vehicles on wheels like those used in mining or roadworks, that are not forklifts, passenger vehicles, tractors, fire engines, trade vehicles or vehicle recovery service vehicles.
You need a forklift (F) endorsement if you drive a forklift on the road.
If you’re not sure if you need an F, R, T or W endorsement, please call us on 0800 822 422.
You need to do a course
You’ll need to provide evidence that you’ve successfully completed an approved course that teaches specialist knowledge and skills relating to driving special-type vehicles safely on the road.
Note: the approved course will cover and basic handling skills only. You’ll still need to complete courses covering health and safety requirements and the skills required for particular work environments.
Find an approved course provider in your area
Please note: you can’t drive on the road just because you’ve got the course certificate. The endorsement must be on your driver licence.
Applying for the endorsement
You can apply for an R, T or W endorsement at your nearest driver licensing agent.
You need to:
- complete an Application for endorsement D, F, R, T, W (DL19) form
- present your New Zealand full driver licence or two other forms of identification
- have your eyesight checked or show an eyesight certificate
- provide a certificate showing you’ve successfully completed an appropriate approved endorsement course
- pay the application fee of $44 (per endorsement).
Note: your endorsement will expire on the same date as your driver licence.
What’s the definition of a road?
The definition of a road, for the application of transport laws, is very broad. It includes not only streets and highways, but also any place the public has access to (by right or not) including bridges, culverts, beaches, riverbeds, reserve lands, wharves and road shoulders. A property without a gate may also fit this definition.
If you drive a vehicle in any of these areas, the rules relating to registration, licensing and general driver behaviour all apply.
Vehicle weight covered by licence class
In addition to the appropriate special-type vehicle endorsement, you must hold the appropriate full class of licence of the for the vehicle you want to operate. The class of licence depends on the type of vehicle, it’s weight and how fast you’re driving (see table below).
| Vehicle type | Weight and/or speed | Minimum licence class required | Endorsement required |
| Vehicle with tracks | 18,000kg or less | 1F | T |
| More than 18,000kg | 2F | T | |
| Vehicle that runs on rollers | 18,000kg or less | 1F | R |
| More than 18,000kg | 2F | R | |
| Special-type vehicle that runs on wheels | 6000kg or less | 1F | W |
| Between 6000kg and 18,000kg and 30km/h max speed | 1F | W | |
| Between 6000kg and 18,000kg driven above 30km/h | 2F | W | |
| More than 18,000kg and 30km/h max speed | 2F | W | |
| More than 18,000kg driven above 30km/h | 4F | W | |
| Special-type agricultural motor vehicle which runs on wheels | 6000kg or less | 1F | W |
| Between 6000kg and 18,000kg and max speed 40km/h | 1F or 2F* | W - | |
| More than 18,000kg | 4F | W | |
| Agricultural tractor (not a special-type vehicle) | Between 6000kg and 18,000kg and max speed 40km/h | 1R/1F | - |
| Between 6000kg and 18,000kg and driven above 40km/h | 1F | F, R, T, or W | |
| More than 18,000kg | 4F | - | |
| Agricultural tractor (not a special-type vehicle) with an agricultural trailer | 25,000kg or less and 40km/h max speed | 1R/1F | - |
| 25,000kg or less driven above 40km/h | 1F | F, R, T, or W | |
| More than 25,000kg | 4F | - |
Factsheets
Download Factsheet 40: R, T and W endorsements for special-type vehicles
Download Factsheet 66: Driver licensing courses for licence classes and endorsements