Limited Licence Applications — Auckland
Keep driving
for work with a
limited licence.
If you have been disqualified from driving, a limited licence under section 103 of the Land Transport Act may allow you to continue driving for work or essential purposes. These applications must be prepared carefully — poorly prepared ones are regularly declined.
- Application under s103–105 of the Land Transport Act 1998
- 28-day stand-down after disqualification (in most cases)
- No stand-down for demerit point suspensions
- Must prove extreme hardship to yourself or undue hardship to another
- Employer affidavits and supporting evidence prepared
- Conditions set by the court — purpose, times, routes
- Available for drink driving, careless driving, and other disqualifications
What you need to know
Limited licence applications in New Zealand.
A limited licence is a court order under section 105 of the Land Transport Act 1998 that allows a disqualified driver to drive under specific conditions — typically for work, medical appointments, or essential family responsibilities. It is not automatic. You must apply to the District Court, and the court must be satisfied that the inability to drive causes extreme hardship to you, or undue hardship to another person such as a dependent or employer.
In most cases involving a court-imposed disqualification, including drink driving — there is a mandatory 28-day stand-down period before a limited licence can take effect. You can make the application during this period, but the licence cannot be issued until the stand-down has passed. For demerit point suspensions under section 90 of the Act, there is no stand-down and the application can be made immediately.
Not everyone is eligible. Section 103(2) sets out the statutory bars, including persons who are subject to an alcohol interlock sentence, who have two qualifying driving offences within five years, or who are indefinitely disqualified. Your driving history needs to be reviewed before any application is made.
The quality of the application matters enormously. Courts see many of these applications and give little weight to generic hardship claims. A properly prepared application — with a sworn affidavit from you, employer evidence, specific details of your driving requirements, and realistic proposed conditions — stands a significantly better chance of success than one prepared without proper care.
The hardship test
The test is extreme hardship to you, or undue hardship to another person. This must be evidenced specifically — courts require more than inconvenience. The inability to work, loss of income, and impact on dependants are all relevant.
28-day stand-down
For most court-imposed disqualifications, you must wait 28 days before the licence can be issued. The application can be filed earlier, but the licence itself cannot take effect until the stand-down expires. There is no stand-down for demerit point suspensions.
What evidence is needed
An affidavit from you setting out your driving needs, an affidavit from your employer confirming your work requirements, evidence of the financial impact of disqualification, and information about why alternative transport is not practicable. Sam will guide you through exactly what is needed.
If your application is declined
If the court declines your application, you must wait three months before applying again. This makes it critical to get the application right the first time — a poorly prepared or premature application can leave you unable to drive for significantly longer than necessary.
Get in Touch
Don't wait.
Early advice can change the direction of your case. All enquiries strictly confidential.
Call Sam directly
022 690 5828
Available 7 days.