FAQ

Sometimes were are told by applicant's that "the judge told me that I was illegible for a work licence...".

We actually hear this quite often. The reality is Judges are people, people make mistakes. There are completely precise rules written into the Land Transport Act 1988 relating to exactly who may and who may not apply for a Limited Licence - or work licence.

Laws are not written by courts - they are enforced by courts. Law cannot be altered by courts - only by the Government and thats Parliament.

Being told in court by a Judge, that you are eligible for a Limited Licence when the law says that you are not (depending exactly on your situation and precise reason for your disqualification) does not and will not ever change the fact that if you are "statute barred" from applying for a Limited Licence, then that is exactly what you are. No Judge can change that.

A perfect example is an Interlock Device. Once you achieve a Excess Breath Alcohol reading of 800mcg/l of breath you instantly trigger the Land Transport Act 1988 meaning you will be convicted of EBA over 800mcg/l and the sentence for that is an automatic Interlock Disqualification. The only licence achieveable from the NZTA in that situation is an Interlock Licence. Nothing else. It goes further, if the Judge somehow fails to disqualify you with an Interlock Disqualification then you simply cannot actually get an Interlock Device installed and get an Interlock Licence. That means it's worse than having an interlock not better than and they have done you a disservice. We have seen this happen in a NZ Court, once. Mistakes can happen. The driver was not able to get an interlock and was also not able to get a Limited Licence.

Firstly - it is critical to note that drivers on International Driver's Licences do NOT hold a New Zealand Drivers Licence.

International drivers are however able to drive in NZ on their "home country" drivers licence - normally for 12 months (however during covid it has been extended to Mar 31 2022). Any demerit points they incur on that licence are recorded with the Police and the NZTA under their identity and a record called their "Pseudo Record". The Pseudo Record is not a NZ Drivers Licence and is the only way for the NZTA to track that driver. There is NO way for the driver to drive on NZ roads once they incur 100 Demerit Points. If they do so and they are stopped by Police they will be arrested and charged with DWS. Driving while disqualified and incur the normal penalties for that charge - 6 months added disqualification, fines and vehicle impounded. It is interesting to note that if they were able to - the driver could return to their country of origin and their drivers licence would not be suspended and they could drive there.

The Police are a large number of employees working hard at what they do and the law around a Limited Licence is very complicated and absolutely precise.

The fact is :-

When your driver's licence is suspended by the NZTA - ALL Demerit Points on it at that moment are wiped. The maximum suspension for Demerits in 3 Months and once you trigger that - all points on your record are erased.

In this example the Police are wrong and, you will only be suspended once.

The short answer is:
‍At the exact moment you were suspended – your NZ Driver's Licence is frozen.‍
No endorsements or additional classes can be added to it until you have completed your suspension, disqualification or Limited Licence.‍

No insurance will cover a driver with a suspended licence. However, if you are granted a Limited Licence, you should still be covered by your car insurance policy, as long as you are adhering to the conditions approved within that licence. That being said, always check with your own insurance company that your coverage remains in place.

It depends. Your Limited Licence will allow you to:

• Drive from home to work and return
• Carry out the duties of your employment should they require driving (such as a courier or sales rep)
• Travel to see your children if you need to, and to take them to school etc.

We will customise a Limited Licence, including the terms and conditions that fit your life, and one that is tailored to your circumstances. Click here to request a call back from one of our experts to discuss your circumstances.

Unless the requirement to supervise them is written into your Court Order for your Limited Licence - the answer is a flat NO.

If you’re on a Limited Licence we DO NOT recommend you attempt to supervise a learner driver.  
This is because the terms of your Limited Licence are very specific – and designed to ensure you can go to and from work. The moment those hours are over each day, you instantly don’t have a drivers licence. It’s as simple as that.  

If you are supervising a learner driver outside those times, then they are an "un-licenced learner driver" who is driving without a licenced driver supervising them. This means they will incur a 50 demerit point infringement immediately. If you are next to them in the vehicle you would likely be charged with driving outside the terms of your court order and that is a criminal offence which will get you a criminal record, an impounded vehicle and about $2,000 in fines, as well as a 6 month disqualification added - and your Limited Licence cancelled.

Under no circumstances do we provide legal advice, legal representation, or legal consulting for your Limited Licence application. For those services, you would need to pay a lawyer between NZD$1,800 and $2,800. For 90% of driver licence issues, with the correct documentation, anyone can easily represent themselves in court.

If you are caught driving on your Limited Licence, the care you are driving will immediately be impounded for 28-days (costing you $650 in impound fees) and your driver’s licence will be suspended for an additional 6-months – meaning you will be suspended from driving for up to 9 months in total. If you are caught driving while suspended, you will not be able to apply for a limited licence, either.  You’ll get a $750 compulsory fine, and a criminal conviction for driving while suspended. This will appear on your records, and will need to be disclosed to any potential employer, landlord, or country you wish to apply for a visa to travel to.

It costs far less to apply for a Limited Licence with NZLL than it would to pay the consequences of driving while your licence is suspended.  If you do need to drive to, from or for work, we can help you apply for a Limited Licence so you can get back on the road legally.

No – absolutely not. The New Zealand Police and the District Courts both take a very dim view of a driver who has been suspended for 3 months deciding to get behind the wheel and drive while suspended, whether or not you are going to work.

They will immediately impound whatever vehicle you are driving for 28 days (including a $650-$900 impound fee), and arrest you for driving while suspended.

This offence is a criminal offence and is treated very differently from a 3-month suspension of your driver’s licence. It carries a $750 fine, a compulsory 6-month licence disqualification, and a criminal conviction. It also removes any ability for you to apply for a Limited Licence, so you will not be able to drive for a total of 9 months. Your new criminal conviction must be disclosed to any potential employer, landlord, or country you wish to apply for a visa to travel to - for 7 years.

Right now your driving matter is currently a ‘civil matter’ – you simply have a drivers licence suspension. Please, don’t go criminal!

Drivers start their licence with no demerit points. Infringements (such as speeding or using a mobile phone, or not wearing a seat belt) incur demerit points. If you accumulate 100 or more active demerit points within any 2-year period, your licence will be suspended for a period of 3 months and you will not be entitled to drive.

Visit the Demerit Check website to find out your demerit points balance and demerit and suspension history:
https://www.demeritcheck.co.nz/

As at May 2021 - we are currently getting clients coming from law firms with quotes of $2,350 for a Limited Licence. Therefore when you hire a lawyer for this outcome you can expect to pay at least NZD$1,800 to $2,800.

‍Our prices start from $475 - (if your issue is Demerit Points). It will cost you an additional $200 to file your civil application in court, plus $50 District Court "sealing fee". Then the VTNZ or AA will charge you $39.40 for the application, plus $66.40 to request for your driver's licence to be reissued with a new version number at the end of your suspension or disqualification.

When you’re given a limited licence, you now have your driver’s licence – but ONLY for the precise terms granted in the court order. The second those hours are over each day, you instantly don’t have a drivers licence. It’s as simple as that.  

So, if you are caught driving outside the conditions outlined in your court order, even by 5 minutes, the effects are the same as driving while on a suspended or disqualified licence. Your car will be impounded for 28 days (that’s a $650-$900 storage fee), and you’ll get your driver’s licence disqualified for a further 6 months (importantly without the option to reapply for a Limited Licence), you’ll receive a $750 compulsory fine, and an additional criminal conviction for driving while suspended.