Limited Licence for Tradies: Ute, Tools and Job Sites
You cannot carry a ladder, a toolbox and a load of timber onto a bus. For most tradies, losing your licence means losing the work. A Limited Licence can help, but only if your application shows the court exactly what that work involves.
Owning a ute is not the test
The court has to be satisfied that losing your licence causes extreme hardship to you, or undue hardship to someone else, and that the order is not contrary to public safety [1]. Needing a ute for work is a start. It is not the whole answer. Show what happens if you cannot drive: jobs you cannot reach, gear you cannot move, income you lose.
Map the work, not the trade
Write down a normal week:
- where you start, whether that is home, a yard or the first site
- the sites you go to and how jobs are allocated
- trips to suppliers and merchants
- call outs, and how often they really happen
- the time you usually finish
Keep private errands out. The court can only allow the driving needed to ease the hardship [1].
Changing sites are normal in the trades. You do not need to list every future address. Describe the area your jobs come from, and back it up with job sheets or a diary. The area must be set by a route or clear boundary points, not a radius [2]. Our guide to routes and maps shows how.
The vehicle matters
The order names the particular vehicle, or type of vehicle, you can drive [1]. If you swap between a van and a ute, or tow a trailer, say so. You can only drive a class of vehicle you held a licence for immediately before you lost it [1]. More on this in driving a work vehicle on a Limited Licence.
Employed or your own boss
If you work for someone, the practice note expects an affidavit from your employer for work hardship [2]. It should set out your duties, the sites and the hours, and what happens if you cannot drive. See how to tell your employer.
If you run your own business, the evidence comes from you: invoices, bookings and accounts. Show what you actually earn, not just turnover. Booked jobs carry more weight than work you hope to win.
Could someone else drive?
Expect the question. If an apprentice or workmate could drive you to some jobs, explain which ones and why the rest do not work [3].
Be upfront
All previous driving related convictions should be disclosed [2]. Leaving one out can sink an otherwise sound application.
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 I keep driving while my application is in?
No. Filing an application does not let you drive. Wait for the order and the licence.
Can my order cover new job sites?
It can cover an area or routes, if your evidence shows why you need them.
Can I tow my trailer?
Only if the order allows that vehicle or type, and you held the right licence class.
For more on building and owner operator work, see our Limited Licence for builders 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 6 Nov 26