If you drive a special-type vehicle on the road, you must have an endorsement on your licence
There is also a separate forklift (F) endorsement you need if you drive a forklift on the road.
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.
You can apply for an R, T or W endorsement at your nearest driver licensing agent.
You need to:
Note: your endorsement will expire on the same date as your driver licence.
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.
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 |
| More than 18,000kg | 2F | T | |
| Vehicle that runs on rollers | 18,000kg or less | 1F | R |
| 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 | - |
If you’re still not sure if you need an R, T or W endorsement, please call us on 0800 822 422.
Download Factsheet 40: R, T and W endorsements for special-type vehicles [PDF, 60 KB]
Download Factsheet 66: Driver licensing courses for licence classes and endorsements [PDF, 68 KB]
