Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has taken to communicate with the New Zealand Transport Agency regarding the verification of manual driving test records for New Zealand licence holders seeking to exchange their licence in the UK.

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.