The New Zealand driver licence system is organised into classes, each covering a specific type of vehicle.
The main car class
Class 1 covers cars and light vehicles, and is the class held by the vast majority of drivers on New Zealand roads.
Motorcycles
Motorcycle licences are covered under a separate class system with their own learner, restricted and full stages.
Heavy vehicles
- Class 2: medium rigid vehicles
- Class 3: heavy rigid vehicles
- Class 4/5: heavy combination and articulated vehicles
Why this matters for conversion
When converting an overseas licence, Waka Kotahi determines which classes on your foreign licence have a direct equivalent under the NZ system. Not every overseas class transfers automatically, so it is worth checking your specific situation with an AA agent.
