No Fixed Address and a Limited Licence
Losing your licence often comes at a hard time. Some people are between rentals, staying with whānau, or sleeping in a car when the disqualification lands. Not having a settled address does not, by itself, stop you applying for a Limited Licence. The law does not list it as a reason you cannot apply [1]. It does make some parts of the application harder.
What the court needs to see
The test is the same for everyone. The court must be satisfied that losing your licence causes extreme hardship to you or undue hardship to someone else, and that an order is not against public safety [1]. Housing trouble can be part of that story, but it has to be shown with facts, not just stated [2].
The route problem
The order must say where you can drive, using a clear route or an area with clear boundary points, not a radius from a central point [2]. Most routes start at home. If home keeps changing, the start point is hard to pin down.
Ways people handle it:
- Use where you are staying now. Give the address you are actually living at, even if it is temporary.
- Define an area, not a single route. If you move around one town, an area with clear boundaries can cover more than one base. See routes and maps on a Limited Licence application.
- Keep it narrow. The order can only allow the least driving needed to ease the hardship [1].
Contact details matter
The court, Police and NZTA all need to reach you. A missed letter can mean a missed hearing or a licence you never collect. Use a reliable postal address, such as a family member's home, and a phone number you will keep. Make sure the address NZTA holds is correct. Read check your NZTA record before you apply for why your record has to be right.
If you move after the order
Your order does not move with you. If a new address puts your driving outside the route or area, you need the court to change the order before you drive the new trips.
Evidence that helps
- an affidavit from your employer about the work and hours, which the practice note expects for employment hardship [2]
- proof of where you are staying now, such as a letter from the person you board with, annexed to their own affidavit [2]
- why public transport or lifts do not work for your trips; read no bus, no lift? Proving you need to drive
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 and 105, New Zealand Legislation, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/0110/latest/whole.html (accessed 9 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 9 November 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a friend's address?
Use an address where you can actually be reached. Be honest in your affidavit about where you live.
What if I am living in my car?
Say so. The court deals in facts, and an honest account is better than an address you do not use.
Does it change who can apply?
No. Eligibility is set by the type of disqualification or suspension, not your housing. Check [who is eligible](/limited-licence-eligibility).
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 15 Nov 26