Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Driver licensing

25: Minimum age for driver licensing

You could also call this:

“You must be 16 or older to get a driver licence”

You need to be at least 16 years old to get a driver licence in New Zealand. You can’t get one if you’re younger than that.

If you already had a New Zealand driver licence before 1 August 2011 and you were younger than 16, you can keep that licence.

If you’re one of those people who got their licence before they turned 16, you can ask the Director to give you a new licence if you need one. You can also ask for a limited licence if a court has said you can have one under section 105.

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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=DLM434555.

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24A: Authorised persons may request driver licences for certain persons, or

"Police and officials can ask for fake driver licences to protect certain people"

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26: Drivers may be tested and examined, or

"You might need to take courses or tests to get or keep your driver licence"

Part 4 Driver licensing

25Minimum age for driver licensing

  1. A person who is younger than 16 years may not hold or obtain a driver licence.

  2. However, a person who holds a New Zealand driver licence immediately before 1 August 2011 and is younger than 16 years may continue to hold that driver licence.

  3. A person referred to in subsection (2) may apply to the Director to reinstate or replace that licence as necessary, or apply for a limited licence if an order has been made under section 105.

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Notes
  • Section 25(1): amended, on , by section 12(1) of the Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 13).
  • Section 25(2): added, on , by section 12(2) of the Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 13).
  • Section 25(3): added, on , by section 12(2) of the Land Transport (Road Safety and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 13).
  • Section 25(3): amended, on , by section 32 of the Land Transport (NZTA) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (2020 No 48).