How do I get my class 5 truck licence?

To get a class 5 truck licence so you can drive a large combination vehicle you will first need to have held a full class 4 licence for at least 6 months (or 3 months if you are 25 or older) then apply for your class 5 learner licence.

How much does a class 5 licence cost?

There is no learner licence theory test if you already hold a class 3 licence, otherwise you need to pass a theory test which you can practice here.

The learner licence application fee is $77.50 and you can do the test as many times as you like.

The full licence application fee is $39.80 and you can do the test as many times as you like.

There will be a fee to use or borrow a truck to do the practical test.

What sort of vehicles can you drive on a class 5 licence?

Getting a class 5 learner licence

You must have had a full class 4 (medium rigid vehicle licence) for at least 6 months (or 3 months if you are over 25 years old) before applying for the 5L (class 5 learner licence) at a driver licencing agent:

• Fill out the application form
• Present evidence of your identity
• Prove your eyesight meets the required standard
• You may need to present a recent valid medical certificate. There are extra medical restrictions for driving heavy vehicles.
• Let the agent take your photo and signature
• Pay the learner licence application and test fee and book a theory test.
• Pass the theory test.

Getting a class 5 full licence

You must have had a class 5 learner licence for at least 6 months or pass an approved course.

Apply at a driver licensing agent.

• Fill out the application form (DL1)
• present evidence of your identity
• prove your eyesight meets the required standard
• let the agent take your photo and a signature
• provide a medical certificate if required
• pay the full licence application and test fees.

Then either pass a class 5 practical test in a class 5 vehicle or provide the approved course certificate from a heavy vehicle training company.

Taking the practical test

The full licence test is 30 minutes including 20 minutes of driving.

If you fail the test, or do not show up, you will have to pay the testing fee again.

Can I convert my overseas heavy vehicle licence to a class 5 licence?

All drivers of heavy vehicles must take and pass a heavy vehicle theory test to change their valid overseas heavy vehicle licence to a New Zealand heavy vehicle licence.

If your licence is from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK or USA then you don’t need to take a practical test as long as you have held your licence for more than two years.

There are fees for licence conversion:

If you are from a non-exempt country, the price is $123.20 for a learner or $85.50 for a full licence.

If you are from an exempt country, the price is $27.10 for a learner or $29.50 for a full licence.

Proposals for class 5 licences

Current proposals are that:

• class 5 learner licences will be removed
• class 4 full licence holders will be able to drive class 5 vehicles with a supervisor
• class 4 full licence holders that are under 25 years old will have to wait 6 months from getting a class 4 full licence to getting a class 5 full licence; for drivers over 25 years old, there’s no wait time.
• courses and practical tests will be made more difficult, including important tasks such as coupling and decoupling trailers, lashings and loading, etc.