Applying for an R, T or W endorsement for special-type vehicles

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.

Forklifts

There is also a separate forklift (F) endorsement you need if you drive a forklift on the road.

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 driver licensing requirements only. Your employer may require you to attend health and safety courses as well as having the R, T or W endorsement on your driver licence.

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) [PDF, 170 KB] 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 $62.10 (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
Vehicle with tracks	More than 18,000kg	2F	T
Vehicle that runs on rollers	18,000kg or less	1F	R
Vehicle that runs on rollers	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	-

Not sure if you need an endorsement

If you’re still not sure if you need an R, T or W endorsement, please call us on 0800 822 422.

Factsheets

Download Factsheet 40: R, T and W endorsements for special-type vehicles [PDF, 228 KB]

Download Factsheet 66: Driver licensing courses for licence classes and endorsements [PDF, 237 KB]

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