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Please note: from 1 October 2017, there will be fewer requirements for a new P endorsement application, meaning you have three options for submitting your application. Find out more. |
Find out who needs an endorsement to carry passengers and how to get one.
| From 1 July 2017 the vetting fee has changed from $28.80 to $9.70 per year. |
You need a passenger (P) endorsement if you’re driving a small passenger service vehicle such as a taxi or shuttle and you’re getting paid for it or receiving any type of reward. This includes dial-a-driver type services where the passenger provides the vehicle and you’re paid to drive it.
You also need a P endorsement if you’re driving a large passenger service vehicle such as a bus, regardless of whether you’re getting paid for it. Volunteers and some other people may be exempt from holding a P endorsement. See Volunteer drivers and exempt passenger services to check if that’s you.
You may hold endorsements for both large and small vehicles at the same time.
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Tip: Want to become a taxi driver? We recommend also being skilled in speaking English, and learning about the local area.
| What you need to do | What we will do | ||
| 1. Preparing to apply | 2. Applying | 3. We’ll process your application | 4. New Licence and ID card |
| Get started by gathering (and possibly printing) your required documents. Optional first step:
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Submit your documentation and application [PDF, 361 KB] to a driver licensing agent, and complete an endorsement course (if you haven’t already). | Allow 10 days. Use our online tracking tool to view your application status:
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Your new licence and ID card will be printed and delivered within 7-10 days. |
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Small vehicle |
Large vehicle |
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1 year |
5 years |
1 year |
5 years |
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Endorsement application |
$73 |
$254.90 |
$64.40 |
$246.30 |
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Vetting fee* |
$9.70 |
$48.50 |
$9.70 |
$9.70 |
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Full licence test** |
$59.90 |
$59.90 |
$59.90 |
$59.90 |
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Total cost |
$142.60 |
$363.30 |
$134 |
$315.90 |
* If you only drive a large passenger vehicle, the police check is done once every five years.
** If you’ve passed a class 1 full licence in the last five years, you don’t need this again.
A small passenger service vehicle has a maximum of 12 seats, including the driver.
To drive a small passenger service vehicle you need:
a current P endorsement, and
a current driver identification card (ID), and
a current licence for the type of vehicle you’re driving. For example, if you’re driving a car or a van, you need a class 1 licence.
A large passenger service vehicle has more than 12 seats.
To drive a large passenger service vehicle you need:
a current P endorsement, and
a current licence for the type of vehicle you’re driving. For example, if you’re driving a bus with a gross vehicle mass of 10,000kg, you’ll need a class 2 licence.
You don't need to have an ID card to drive large passenger service vehicles.
If you’re not sure if you need a P endorsement, please call us on 0800 822 422.
To get a P endorsement, you must have a current New Zealand full licence (class 1) that you’ve held for at least two years.
Holding an equivalent overseas licence doesn’t meet this requirement. If you’ve held an overseas licence, you may be able to apply for an exemption to get your overseas driving experience recognised. You’ll still need to sit a practical driving test (see below).
If you’re planning to drive a heavy vehicle as a passenger service vehicle, make sure you have the right class of driver licence.
Before a P endorsement is granted you must demonstrate your ability to drive safely. This means you’ll need to sit a full licence test or show that you’ve passed one in the last five years.
Even if you’re applying for a large vehicle endorsement (eg bus driver) you’ll need to sit the test for a car licence. You’ll also need to hold the appropriate licence for the type of vehicle you’ll be driving with your endorsement.
Your application will be sent to the NZ Transport Agency so that a fit and proper person check can be done. This will check on things like transport-related offences, criminal convictions and past complaints about you. Serious criminal convictions may prevent you ever receiving a passenger endorsement.
If you’ve lived overseas for more than 12 months after the age of 14, or since your last application, you’ll need to have police and traffic documentation from those countries too.
It’s important that commercial drivers are in good health. We want to ensure that you won’t cause an accident through a health-related incident when you’re responsible for the lives of passengers or driving large vehicles on public roads.
Ask your doctor to complete a Transport Agency medical certificate for you.
Good vision is essential to driving a vehicle safely. You’ll need to provide proof your vision meets the standards for safe driving.
You'll need to provide a certificate showing you've successfully completed an approved P endorsement course. This course will ensure you know the legal requirements for drivers of a passenger service vehicle and how to manage and log your time spent driving.
If you want, you can make your application before sitting the P endorsement course. You can then do the course while the application is being processed (it can take up to eight weeks).
If you’re not sure whether you might pass the fit and proper person check, you can choose to make your application and have the check done first. If you pass the check, you’ll be sent a Notice of determination (valid for 90 days) to let you know, and you can then do your course.
The course length and cost are set by the course provider and aren’t part of your application fee.
Find an approved course provider in your area
To drive a taxi, you may also need to hold an area knowledge certificate for the area where you drive.
As a taxi driver, there are responsibilities you have in the delivery of your service, particularly concerning passengers with limited mobility. You also have the right to refuse service.
More information on your rights and responsibilities
Download Factsheet 42: P endorsements for carrying passengers [PDF, 81 KB]
Download Factsheet 66: Driver licensing courses for licence classes and endorsements [PDF, 70 KB]
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