Your 3-month demerit suspension is over. Can you drive?
Not automatically. This one catches a lot of people out.
Your licence doesn't switch back on
When your 3-month demerit suspension ends, you're unlicensed. You can't drive until you've got your licence back. Any licence card you held when you were suspended is cancelled for good.
What that means
If you drive the day after your suspension ends without getting your licence back first, you're driving unlicensed.
What about a limited licence?
A limited licence covers you during the suspension. It doesn't cover you after it. Once the suspension is over, you need your full licence back to keep driving.
Check before you drive
The rules for getting your licence back depend on your situation.
Not sure what you need to do? Call us on 0800 437 005.
Sources
- Demerit points, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/demerit-points (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Getting your licence back, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/getting-your-licence-back (accessed 27 September 2026)