Vehicle Recovery Service Licence

Vehicle recovery services tow or recover vehicles. A vehicle recovery service licence is needed by anyone who tows or carries vehicles, except where it is a person's own vehicle being towed; or the vehicle is a motorcycle; or the towing is not for hire or reward; and the vehicle doing the towing has not been designed or modified to tow or carry.

If you are not sure whether or not you require a Vehicle Recovery Service Licence, or have any other questions, please contact the NZ Transport Agency.

How to apply for a Vehicle Recovery Service Licence

In order to obtain a Vehicle Recovery Service Licence you must:

• submit the following documents and fees to the nearest regional office of the NZ Transport Agency;
  • A completed Application for Transport Service Licence form (TL01). Note: Must be witnessed by an officer authorised to take statutory applications, i.e. a Justice of the Peace, lawyer or an officer of Land Transport NZ.
  • A completed Personal Details form (TL02) for each person in control of the transport service. This includes all partners in a partnership application and all Directors for company applicants. Note: Must be witnessed by an officer authorised to take statutory applications, i.e. a Justice of the Peace, lawyer or an officer of Land Transport NZ.
  • A copy of your Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice.
  • If the applicant is a company or other incorporated body, a Certificate of Incorporation and a list of Directors and shareholders.
  • If the application is for a partnership, a copy of any partnership agreement.
  • A $440.00 application fee.
  • A $28.20 fee, per person, for Police vetting. (Each person named as being in control of the licence will be vetted by the Police. There is no vetting charge if the person has been vetted in the previous three months.).

You should allow a minimum of six weeks for your application to be processed.

What's the vetting fee for?

Land Transport NZ is legally obliged to ensure that holders of a vehicle recovery service licence are `fit and proper' people. Some of the factors which may be taken into account when determining if a person meets the fit and proper person criteria are:

• criminal conviction history, including charges or convictions relating to violent or sexual offences
• drug or firearm offences, or offences involving organised criminal activity
• any transport-related offending, especially offences related to safety
• any history of mental health or behavioural problems, any past complaints about a transport service provided by the person
• any history of persistent failure to pay fines for transport-related offences.

Note: the Director Land Transport may take into account any other relevant matter which he or she considers is in the public interest when determining a person's fitness to hold any licence.

What's a Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice?

A Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice (CKLP) is a legal requirement for those persons wishing to obtain a Transport Service Licence. At least one of the persons in control of a transport service (unless exempt) must hold a CKLP on the rules/standards for that service.

Applicants must pass an examination run by Assessment Systems Limited (ASL). Land Transport NZ regional offices will have application forms for this examination. If you want more information ASL's contact details are:

Assessment Systems Ltd
PO Box 30-343
Level 9, Avalon Tower
Percy Cameron Street
Lower Hutt
Phone: (04) 913 9812
Fax: (04) 913 9816
Internet: www.exams.co.nz

The examination

The examination is based on general transport industry laws and safety standards as well as specialised rules and practices that apply to the particular class of transport service you wish to operate.

You are allowed up to 2¹/₂ hours to complete the exam.

The course material is contained in a handbook which you purchase from ASL. You should familiarise yourself with the handbook prior to sitting the exam.

The examination is 'open book', which means you may take the handbook into the exam with you. Handbooks will not be supplied by ASL at the time of the exam. The pass mark for the CKLP is 80% or more.

After passing the exam, individuals can obtain a CKLP in more than one transport service class by passing the exams required for each class. The certificate awarded to each successful candidate states the class or classes of transport service(s) they are qualified for.

You must include a copy of your certificate with your Transport Service Licence application.

Handbooks and test

Optional extras

Last updated: 28 September 2007