Exemptions related to vehicle recovery (V), driving instructor (I) and testing officer (O) endorsements

Recognition of overseas driving experience

Your application for a P, V, I or O endorsement requires you to have held a New Zealand full class 1 licence for at least two years. If you’ve held an overseas licence before getting your New Zealand full licence, you may be able to get your overseas driving experience recognised.

This could exempt you from needing to have held the New Zealand licence for two years before applying for an endorsement.

All applicants still need to sit the New Zealand practical driving test

If you haven’t passed a full licence driving test in the last five years, you’ll need to do this before your endorsement can be granted. This is true even if you have held a New Zealand full licence for more than two years.

 

Overseas P, V, I or O endorsements cannot be recognised or converted.

If you have questions about getting your overseas driving experience recognised, please call our Commercial Licensing Team on 0800 822 422.

Make an application

Find out how to make an application for an exemption

Note: even if your application for an exemption is granted, it doesn’t guarantee you an endorsement. You’ll still need to complete the application process for your endorsement and have it on your licence.