Driving Licences: New Zealand
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance is provided to holders of New Zealand driving licences who seek to exchange their licence for a UK licence, and whether the Department plans to update this guidance to reflect current verification requirements.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
There have been no changes in policy relating to New Zealand driving licences being exchanged for a GB equivalent.
It has always been the case that a GB licence to drive manual vehicles can only be issued in exchange for a New Zealand licence when confirmation is supplied that the applicant passed a test in a manual transmission vehicle. Where such evidence has not been supplied, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will issue the applicant a GB licence with entitlement restricted to driving automatic vehicles. This policy has not changed and the DVLA accepts such verification from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
The DVLA maintains engagement with the NZTA which has confirmed that it is developing a single document which will specify whether a New Zealand driving test was taken in a manual or automatic vehicle or if the NZTA does not have this information.
Up to date information on driving licence exchange arrangements is provided in the DVLA’s information leaflet INF38: Driving in Great Britain as a Visitor or New Resident. More guidance on driving in GB with a non-GB licence can be found at https://www.gov.ukY/driving-nongb-licence.
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