FAQs

A Limited Licence is a Court Order made by a District Court Judge under the Land Transport Act 1998. It allows a person whose driver licence has been suspended or disqualified to drive only in limited circumstances and subject to strict conditions set by the Court. Neither NZTA nor the Police have the authority to grant a Limited Licence—only a Judge can determine whether one should be issued.

Every Limited Licence is tailored to the applicant's individual circumstances. Depending on the evidence before the Court, a Judge may authorise driving only for specific purposes, during certain hours, within defined geographical boundaries, or in particular vehicles. The conditions imposed must be no more extensive than is reasonably necessary to address the hardship being experienced.

The purpose of a Limited Licence is to reduce extreme hardship to the applicant, or undue hardship to another person who relies on the applicant's ability to drive, while continuing to protect public safety. Common reasons for seeking a Limited Licence include travelling to and from employment, carrying out essential work duties, caring for dependent children or elderly family members, attending essential medical or rehabilitation appointments, or meeting other significant personal or family responsibilities.

Every application is considered on its own merits. The Judge will consider the applicant's circumstances, the nature of the offending, their driving history, the evidence of hardship, any opposition from the Police, and whether granting a Limited Licence is consistent with the public interest and the safety of other road users.

Whether you need to attend Court depends on the circumstances of your application. Many Limited Licence applications can be determined by a Judge "in Chambers", meaning a decision is made on the documents filed with the Court without the applicant having to appear personally. However, this is not always the case.

Some District Courts have local practices requiring Limited Licence applications to be heard in open Court rather than in Chambers. In addition, applications following a drink driving conviction are more likely to require a Court appearance, although this is by no means the case for every application.

The procedure will depend on several factors, including the District Court where you were convicted or your application is filed, the nature of your offending, your previous driving and conviction history, whether the Police oppose your application, and the individual practices of the Court dealing with your case.

Where an appearance is required, there is no need to be alarmed. The Court process is generally straight forward,and understanding what to expect beforehand can make the experience much less stressful.

Eligibility for a Limited Licence depends on several factors, including the reason your licence has been suspended or disqualified, your driving history, and your individual circumstances. The District Court considers every application on its own merits and there is no automatic entitlement to a Limited Licence.

In most cases, you must be able to demonstrate that being unable to drive would cause extreme hardship to you, or undue hardship to another person. This hardship must extend beyond the ordinary inconvenience that anyone would experience after losing their licence. For example, the Court may consider the impact on your employment, your ability to care for dependent children or elderly family members, attend essential medical appointments, or meet other significant responsibilities.

The Court will also consider matters such as your driving history, the circumstances of the offending, whether granting a Limited Licence would be consistent with public safety, and whether the driving privileges sought are reasonable and no more extensive than necessary.

Not everyone is eligible to apply. The Land Transport Act 1998 excludes certain drivers from obtaining a Limited Licence, including some people who have been convicted of driving while disqualified, committed repeat alcohol or drug driving offences within specified timeframes, or fall within other statutory restrictions.

If you're unsure how the statutory eligibility criteria apply to a particular situation, obtaining reliable information before lodging an application can help people better understand the Court process, the legal requirements, and the information commonly considered by the Court.

If you have questions about the Limited Licence process or would like further general information, contact us for a free copy of our Limited Licence Information Guide or to discuss the information available on this website.

Several government fees may apply when making a Limited Licence application. The fees payable depend on whether the application relates to a drink driving disqualification or a suspension for excess demerit points.

Current Government Fees:

• District Court Filing Fee (Drink Driving Disqualification): $171.00
• District Court Filing Fee (Demerit Point Suspension): $269.00
• District Court Sealing Fee (Demerit Applications): $67.00 (payable only if your application is granted)
• NZTA Limited Licence Issue Fee: $48.00 (payable when your Limited Licence is issued)

Government filing and licensing fees are set by the relevant agencies and may change from time to time.

If you would like further general information about the Limited Licence process, or information about the government fees that may apply, please contact us for a free copy of our Limited Licence Information Guide or to ask a general question about the process.

The timeframe depends on the reason for your licence suspension or disqualification. If you've been disqualified following a drink driving conviction, there is generally a mandatory 28-day stand-down period before the District Court can grant a Limited Licence. However, this period can be used to better understand the Court process, the statutory requirements, and the types of information commonly considered by the Court.

If your licence has been suspended due to excess demerit points, there is no mandatory stand-down period. Once your suspension begins, an application can generally be filed immediately.

The overall timeframe will vary depending on factors such as the type of suspension or disqualification, the time required to obtain any relevant information, Police processing, Court scheduling, and the practices of the District Court dealing with the application.

Poorly prepared applications, lack of supporting evidence and insufficient information can also delay the processing of your application.

There is generally no formal "urgent application" process for Limited Licence applications. While some organisations may advertise expedited document preparation, applications are ordinarily processed through the District Court and Police in accordance with their usual procedures and priorities.

The conditions of a Limited Licence are determined according to the applicant's individual circumstances and are intended to authorise only the driving that is reasonably necessary to alleviate hardship. Every application is considered on its own merits, but common conditions may include:

• Travelling directly between home and a place of employment.
• Driving as part of your employment, such as for delivery drivers, couriers, truck drivers, tradespeople, sales representatives, real estate agents, or others whose work requires regular travel.
• Transporting dependent children to and from school or childcare where no practical alternative exists.
• Travelling to essential medical, counselling or rehabilitation appointments for yourself or a dependent family member.
• Caring for elderly or vulnerable family members where driving is necessary to provide essential support.

The District Court will normally specify the authorised days, hours, geographical area, routes, vehicles and purpose of travel. These conditions must be strictly complied with. Driving outside the conditions of a Limited Licence is an offence and may result in enforcement action, cancellation of the Limited Licence, further charges, or additional periods of disqualification, depending on the circumstances.

Driving outside the conditions of a Limited Licence is generally treated as driving while disqualified. The consequences can be significant and may include vehicle impoundment, further periods of disqualification, fines, and criminal prosecution. It is therefore essential to comply strictly with every condition contained in the Court Order authorising your Limited Licence.

Always drive within the authorised days, hours, geographical area, purpose and any other conditions specified by the Court.

Don't do it. Driving while your driver licence is suspended or while you are disqualified from driving is a serious offence. Police and the Courts treat this offending seriously, even if you are driving to or from work or for another reason you believe to be important.

If you are caught driving while suspended or disqualified, you may be arrested and charged, and the vehicle you are driving may be impounded in accordance with the law. Depending on the circumstances, the consequences may include:

• A fine of up to $750.
• A further period of disqualification from driving.
• A criminal conviction.
• Vehicle impoundment where authorised by law.

One of the most significant consequences is that a conviction for driving while suspended or disqualified may affect your eligibility to obtain a Limited Licence under the Land Transport Act 1998. In many cases, it can prevent a person from applying for a Limited Licence during the resulting period of disqualification.

A criminal conviction may also have long-term consequences, including affecting employment opportunities, professional registrations, insurance, overseas travel, and other aspects of a person's personal and professional life. A licence suspension or disqualification affects driving privileges. Driving unlawfully can result in additional criminal consequences that extend well beyond the original licence sanction.

Every driver begins with a clean driving record of zero active demerit points. However, traffic offences such as speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, or failing to wear a seatbelt can result in demerit points being recorded against your driver licence.

If you accumulate 100 or more active demerit points within a two-year period, your driver licence will generally be suspended for three months. During the suspension period, you must not drive unless you are lawfully authorised to do so.

If you would like further general information about demerit point suspensions, the Limited Licence process, or the legal requirements that apply, feel free to contact us for a free copy of our Limited Licence Information Guide or to ask a general question about the process.

Great question — and one we hear every day!

The first step is to understand whether you may be eligible to apply for a Limited Licence.

We recommend reading the information available on this website about eligibility, the Court process, likely timeframes, and Government filing fees.

If you still have questions, you are welcome to contact us for a free, confidential and informative chat. We are happy to explain the Limited Licence process, answer your questions, and help you understand your options.

Limited Licence Experts provides independent information about the Limited Licence process throughout New Zealand. Whether a driver has been suspended due to demerit points or disqualified following a drink driving conviction, we provide general information explaining how the process works, the statutory eligibility criteria, the District Court process, and the legal framework governing Limited Licence applications.

If you have questions about the Limited Licence process, you're welcome to contact us for a free, confidential discussion or request a copy of our Limited Licence Information Guide. We're happy to provide general information, explain the Court process, and answer questions about the information available on this website.

Limited Licence Experts is an independent information service. We are not a government agency, the New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Justice, the District Court, or the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

Limited Licences are granted solely by the District Court in accordance with the Land Transport Act 1998. The information provided on this website is general in nature, is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be regarded as legal advice or as a determination of whether any person is eligible for, or will be granted, a Limited Licence.