A limited licence is not a full licence. It specifies exactly when you can drive, where you can drive, why you can drive, and what vehicle you can use. The conditions are set by the court under section 104 of the Land Transport Act 1998, and driving outside those conditions is a criminal offence.
How conditions are set
Under section 104, the court may impose any conditions it thinks fit when granting a limited licence. The judge considers:
- The hardship evidence presented
- The proposed conditions in the application
- Any police submissions on conditions
- Public safety considerations
- The nature of the offence
The court is not bound by the conditions you propose. It can grant narrower conditions than requested, or add conditions not included in the application.
Standard conditions
Days and times
The court specifies which days of the week and which hours you can drive:
- Work days only — e.g. Monday to Friday
- Specific hours — e.g. 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Weekend conditions — only if supported by evidence (e.g. shift worker, Saturday work)
The hours should reflect your actual needs. Requesting 5:00 am to 11:00 pm when you work 8:00 am to 5:00 pm will raise questions.
Geographical area
The court defines where you can drive:
- A specific area (e.g. within 30 km of your workplace)
- Named routes (e.g. between your home address and workplace address)
- A town or region boundary
Your boundary map (filed with the application) is the basis for this condition. The court may adopt your proposed boundary or narrow it.
Purpose
The licence is restricted to specific purposes:
- Employment — travelling to and from work, and driving during work hours for work purposes
- Medical — attending medical or dental appointments
- Education — travelling to and from an educational institution
- Dependant transport — driving a dependant to school, medical appointments, or other essential activities
Recreational driving, social visits, and general errands are not covered.
Vehicle
The court may specify:
- The particular vehicle (by registration number)
- The class of vehicle
- Whether a company vehicle or personal vehicle
Additional conditions
The court may also impose:
Zero alcohol condition
Particularly common for alcohol-related disqualifications. The condition requires zero breath or blood alcohol while driving on the limited licence — not the normal adult limit of 250 mcg/L or 50 mg/100mL.
Passenger restrictions
The court may restrict who can be in the vehicle — for example, only passengers related to the approved purpose.
Reporting conditions
In some cases, the court may require the licence holder to report to police or NZTA at specified intervals.
Restrictions under s103
Certain activities cannot be authorised by a limited licence regardless of conditions:
| Restriction | Section |
|---|---|
| Driving a transport service vehicle (taxi, ride-share, bus, courier, passenger service) | s103 |
| Giving driving instruction for hire or reward | s103 |
If your employment is as a taxi driver, courier driver, bus driver, or driving instructor, a limited licence cannot cover that specific activity. You may be able to obtain a limited licence for other driving purposes, but not for the transport service or instruction work itself.
Practical implications
Keep the court order in your vehicle
Always carry a copy of the court order. If stopped by police, you will need to produce it to show you are driving within your conditions.
Strictly comply with every condition
The conditions are precise for a reason. If the licence says Monday to Friday, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, you cannot drive at 6:01 pm or on Saturday — even if it seems trivial. Breach is a criminal offence.
Changes require a variation
If your circumstances change (new job, different hours, moved house), you cannot simply adjust your driving. You must apply to the court for a variation of conditions.
Multiple purposes
If you have more than one hardship ground (e.g. work and medical appointments), the court can set conditions covering both — but each purpose will have its own days, times, and routes specified in the order.