Limited Licence for Courier Drivers: The Delivery Round
For a courier driver, driving is not how you get to work. It is the work. That makes a Limited Licence application harder than most, because the court needs to see the whole delivery day, not just the trip to the depot.
Two kinds of driving
Split your driving in two:
- Getting to work: home to the depot and back.
- The work itself: loading, the delivery round, pickups and the return to base.
A letter saying you need to get to the depot explains the first part only. If the order is meant to cover the round, the evidence has to cover the round.
Describe the run
Most couriers do not have the same stops every day. That is fine. Describe the area you are assigned, how dispatch hands out work, and your usual start and finish times. Back it up with run sheets or app records. The area has to be set by a route or clear boundary points, not a radius [2], so be ready to draw it. See routes and maps.
Keep the request to the work. The court can only allow the driving needed to ease the hardship [1]. Weekend or relief runs belong in the request only if you really do them.
The van
The order names the vehicle, or type of vehicle, you can drive [1]. If you use a depot van one day and your own car the next, both need to be covered. If you drive bigger trucks, read Limited Licence for truck drivers. You can only drive a class you held immediately before losing your licence [1].
Employee or contractor
If you are employed, the practice note expects an employer affidavit for work hardship [2]. It should describe your round, your hours and what happens to your job if you cannot drive.
Many couriers are owner drivers on contract. Then the evidence is yours: the contract, settlement statements, fuel and vehicle costs. Show what you take home, not the gross figure. A van you own does not give you the right to drive it. Only the order does. More in driving a work vehicle on a Limited Licence.
Other options
Could another driver do your run while you ride along? Could the depot give you warehouse work? Expect those questions, and answer them with facts [3].
Every affidavit is signed only in front of the person who witnesses it, and the easiest place to do that is at the court when you file. Never sign one in advance.
Sources
- Land Transport Act 1998, sections 103, 104 and 105, New Zealand Legislation, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0110/latest/DLM434582.html (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Practice Note: Applications for a Limited Licence (24 May 2024), District Court of New Zealand, https://www.districtcourts.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Publications/2024/Limited-Licence-Practice-Note-FINAL.pdf (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Applying for a Limited Licence (2024 guide), Community Law, https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/Applying-for-a-Limited-Licence-Guide-CL-2024.pdf (accessed 2 November 2026)
- Limited Licence, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/driving-offences/limited-licence (accessed 2 November 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Can a Limited Licence cover a changing delivery round?
It can cover an area, if your evidence explains why you need it.
Can I carry passengers on my round?
Carrying paying passengers is a passenger service. The court cannot allow that unless demerit points were the only reason for your suspension. See [Limited Licence for passenger service drivers](/blog/limited-licence-passenger-service-drivers).
Can I work while I wait for the hearing?
Not behind the wheel. Filing does not give you permission to drive.
Need to drive for your job? See our Limited Licence for work page.
We prepare Limited Licence documents. From $645 + GST. Call 0800 437 005 or start at nzlimitedlicence.co.nz/apply.
Checked by Guy Hollister, Director, NZ Limited Licence, on 7 Nov 26