A Limited Licence, sometimes called a Work Licence, is a special type of driver licence issued under a court order that allows someone who has been disqualified from driving to continue driving in very specific circumstances.

We understand that driving disqualification can cause serious problems for people who rely on driving for their job, business, or family responsibilities. A Limited Licence provides a legal pathway for people to keep working and supporting their families while still serving their disqualification period.

It’s important to understand that a Limited Licence is not a full licence. It comes with strict restrictions set by the court. These usually include:

• The hours you are allowed to drive.

• The specific vehicle(s) you can use.

• The routes or regions where you are permitted to drive.

• The purpose of your driving (usually only for employment or essential tasks).

In short, a Limited Licence is designed to balance accountability for driving offences with the practical reality that many New Zealanders need a licence to earn a living.

Not everyone who loses their licence will qualify for a Limited Licence. The court will only grant one in cases where not having a licence would cause extreme hardship to you or undue hardship to others.

You may be eligible if:

• You are disqualified from driving but need to use a vehicle for your job.

• Your employer confirms in writing that your role requires driving.

• You are self-employed and your business would suffer without the ability to drive.

• Your family or dependents would face hardship without your ability to drive or work.

However, there are situations where you cannot apply, such as:

• Serious or repeat drink-driving offences within certain timeframes.

• Driving offences considered too dangerous by the court.

• Situations where the judge believes public safety would be at risk.

Every case is different. That’s why it’s important to get advice before applying — so you don’t waste time or money on an application that is unlikely to succeed.

Under section 105(2) of the Land Transport Act 1998 the court can grant a limited licence if it is satisfied that the disqualification has or will result in ‘extreme hardship’ for the applicant, or ‘undue hardship’ for someone else.

Extreme hardship is a high threshold and would usually be loss of your job and source of income. Despite being the most common, loss of employment isn’t the only way to establish extreme hardship. A range of other circumstances can be successful if presented to the judge in the right way.

Undue hardship is a lower threshold and relates to hardship that will be experienced by someone else. An example of this would be if your employer was losing money because you weren’t able to do your job properly, or if other staff members were being required to work extra hours to compensate for you. Another common scenario is if you need to care for children or a sick family member who relies on you.

Pursuant to sections 103 and 105 of the Land Transport Act 1998 you may be eligible to apply for Work Licence if:

1) You have either:

1.1) been disqualified from driving by the Court; or

1.2) been suspended from driving as a result of excess demerit points;

(i.e you have lost your driver’s licence)

AND

2) the Court is satisfied that the disqualification or suspension has resulted or will result in:

2.2) extreme hardship to you; or

2.2) undue hardship to someone else.

Yes, not everyone is eligible for a Work Licence. You may be ineligible to apply for a Limited Licence if:

• You have been convicted of a driving offence which carries a minimum disqualification of 6 months or longer at any time in the past 5 years; or

• If you have produced a breath alcohol reading of over 800 mcg/L or a blood alcohol reading of over 160 ml/L ; or

• If you are disqualified for driving while disqualified or driving contrary to a limited licence; or

• If you want a limited licence to drive a passenger or transport vehicle; or

• If you are disqualified from driving indefinitely by an order made under s65 of the Land Transport Act.

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible for a Limited Licence contact us today and we can advise you.

Applying for a Limited Licence involves several steps, and getting it right the first time is crucial. If your application is declined then you are unable to apply again for three months.

Here’s a simple outline of the process:

1. Prepare Your Application – You need to complete the correct legal forms and gather supporting evidence. This includes an affidavit (your personal statement), an affidavit in support, a Notice of Application, and a Draft Order. These are formal legal documents and need to be prepared in accordance with the District Court Rules or they will be rejected by the court.

2. File at the District Court – Applications are lodged at the court that handled your disqualification. There are filing fees that must be paid.

3. Court Hearing – You will attend a hearing where a judge reviews your application. The judge decides whether to grant your Limited Licence and sets conditions such as when, where, and why you can drive.

4. Licence Issued by Waka Kotahi (NZTA) – Once the court grants your application, you must apply to NZTA to have a physical Limited Licence card issued.

Many people find the process overwhelming, especially because small mistakes (like vague employer letters) often cause delays or outright rejection. At Easy Work Licence, we specialise in preparing applications correctly to maximise your chances of approval.

If you have been convicted of an offence that carries a mandatory disqualification of 6 months or more then you will be subject to a statutory 28 day ‘stand down.’ This means that the court will not accept your application until the expiry of the stand down period.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should wait for the stand down period to expire before getting in touch with us. We can make use of the stand down period and lodge your application during this time so that it is heard by the court on the 29th day. This way you’re only off the road for the absolute minimum amount of time.

If you are disqualified due to excess demerits, or for an offence which carries a mandatory disqualification of less than 6 months, then you are not subject to a stand down period and can apply for a limited licence straight away.

Maybe. When the application is filed with the court the judge will usually review it in their offices (known as ‘chambers’) first. Sometimes, the Judge will be satisfied with the application and will grant it ‘on the papers’ which means that a hearing is not required.

Other-times, the Judge will prefer that the matter is heard in court and you will need to appear.

We understand that the thought of going to court can be pretty daunting, but the reality is that self-representing is quick and easy. Before your court date we will have been liaising with the police and working tirelessly to obtain their approval. The Judge will have already read your application, and with the police on your side it’s as simple as appearing and answering a few questions.

We provide a comprehensive ‘going to court’ guide to make sure that you know what you need to do and feel confident doing it.

The cost of a Limited Licence in New Zealand depends on several factors:

• Court filing fee: a mandatory cost when submitting your application. This is $171 for a court sentence disqualification or $269 if your disqualification is the result of excess demerits.

• NZTA Limited Licence card fee: charged once your application is approved and you apply to obtain the actual physical licence.

• Legal assistance fees: optional but highly recommended, as professional guidance reduces the risk of rejection.

At Easy Work Licence, we understand that financial stress is often part of the challenge when people lose their licence. That’s why we offer clear, upfront pricing and flexible payment options, including Afterpay. This means you can spread the cost across smaller instalments rather than paying everything at once.

It’s also important to think about the cost of not applying. For many people, being unable to work without a licence leads to lost wages or even job loss — which far outweighs the cost of applying.

n New Zealand, there is no difference between a Limited Licence and a Work Licence. They are two terms used to describe the same thing: a court order that allows you to drive under specific conditions after disqualification.

The confusion comes from everyday language. Some people call it a Work Licence because the main reason people apply is to keep their job. Others use the legal term, Limited Licence, which is what the courts and NZTA call it.

Whether you refer to it as a Limited Licence or a Work Licence, the rules, restrictions, and application process are exactly the same.

Not usually. A Limited Licence is not a full driver licence. It only allows you to drive for the specific reasons approved by the court, usually related to work.

This means you cannot use it for personal errands like grocery shopping, visiting friends, or social outings. Driving outside your approved conditions is illegal and can lead to further penalties, including extended disqualification periods or criminal charges.

The purpose of a Limited Licence is to prevent unnecessary hardship (such as job loss) while still ensuring that the penalty for the driving offence is meaningful.

In some situations a Limited Licence is granted to assist with childcare or caring for other deendent family members, and in these cases the applicant may be able to drive to run errands for the family. This will be clearly set out in the Limited Licence.

If you want to drive for personal reasons please contact us for a free chat about how that might be possible.

While it is technically possible to apply on your own, many applications are declined because of errors or incomplete documents. Common issues include:

• Employer letters that don’t meet legal requirements.

• Applications that don’t show enough evidence of hardship.

• Missed deadlines or incorrect filing procedures.

At Easy Work Licence, we make the process simple, affordable, and stress-free. Our team specialises in Limited Licence applications, so we know exactly what the court expects. We’ll help you prepare the right documents, avoid mistakes, and increase your chances of success.

We also offer flexible payment options, including Afterpay, so financial stress doesn’t stop you from getting help. With our support, you can feel confident knowing your application is in good hands.