Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Driver licensing

23: Issue of driver licences

You could also call this:

“How you get a driver's licence and how long it lasts”

The Director must give out driver licences as set out in the rules. Your licence can last for up to 10 years. When this time is up, your licence will end unless it’s extended. The Director can give out licences for up to 11 years in some cases. They can also add up to 12 more months to your licence if the rules allow it. Any licences that were valid before this law came into effect will still work. They will end on a date that will be decided by the rules, even if they were originally given out for more than 10 years.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM434552.

Previous

22C: Traction engine to be safe and operated in compliance with regulations and rules, or

"Traction engines must be used safely and follow the rules"

Next

24: Director may issue temporary driver licences, or

"The person in charge can give you a short-term driver licence if you need one"

Part 4 Driver licensing

23Issue of driver licences

  1. The Director must issue driver licences in accordance with the regulations and the rules.

  2. Except as provided in subsection (3), a driver licence may be issued for a period not exceeding 10 years and, unless the licence is extended under that subsection or for any reason ceases to have effect on an earlier date, the licence expires on the expiry date specified on the licence.

  3. The Director may—

  4. issue licences for a period not exceeding 11 years in cases provided for by the rules:
    1. extend, in accordance with the rules, the term of a driver licence by 1 further period not exceeding 12 months.

      1. All driver licences in force immediately before this subsection comes into force continue in force and expire on a date to be determined in accordance with the rules, even though they may have been valid for more than 10 years when issued.

      Compare
      • 1986 No 6 s 4
      Notes
      • Section 23(1): amended, on , by section 29 of the Land Transport (NZTA) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 48).
      • Section 23(3): amended, on , by section 29 of the Land Transport (NZTA) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 48).