Limited licence - driving for work after disqualification

Losing your licence doesn't always have to mean losing your job. A limited licence lets some disqualified drivers keep driving for tightly defined purposes - if the application is done properly.

This guide is general information, not legal advice about your situation - every case turns on its own facts.

What a limited licence is

A limited licence is a court order under the Land Transport Act 1998 permitting a disqualified driver to drive for specific, limited purposes - typically work - on defined days, times, routes and vehicles. It is not a full licence back: driving outside the order's terms can amount to driving while disqualified.

Who can apply - and who can't

Not every disqualified driver is eligible. For a typical first drink-driving disqualification there is a stand-down period - generally 28 days - before a limited licence can take effect. Some situations are excluded altogether, including certain repeat offending and cases where the alcohol interlock regime applies. Whether you qualify is a technical question that should be answered early - ideally before sentencing, so the whole strategy fits together.

The test the court applies

The court must be satisfied that the disqualification is causing, or will cause, extreme hardship to you (for example, losing your livelihood), or undue hardship to someone else - such as an employer who depends on you, or family you transport. Inconvenience alone is generally not enough; the hardship needs to be real and well evidenced.

How the application works

A limited licence application is a paper exercise done properly: affidavits from you (and often your employer), evidence of the hardship, and a carefully drafted order specifying exactly when, where and what you may drive. Vague or over-broad applications tend to fail; well-prepared ones are often dealt with without drama.

Frequently asked questions