Penalties for driving without a current and valid licence
If you drive without a current and valid licence, you risk:
- receiving an infringement fine of $400
- receiving a fine of up to $1,000 if summonsed to court (this would likely follow persistent offending)
- being forbidden to drive by police
- having your vehicle seized on the roadside and impounded for 28 days
- being declined vehicle insurance
- having an insurance claim declined.
Your licence is suspended or you are disqualified from driving
Your driver licence will be suspended on-the-spot for 28 days if you:
- exceed a permanent speed limit by more than 40 km/h (or another speed limit by 50 km/h)
- drive with more than 650 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath
- drive with more than 130 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
- fail or refuse to take a blood test for excess blood alcohol, or refuse to supply a blood sample
- are caught drink-driving and have been convicted of a similar offence within the previous four years.
The 28-day suspension begins immediately.
You can also have your licence suspended - for three months - if you accumulate 100 or more active demerit points over two years. The suspension begins when you are served notice of the suspension.
The courts may disqualify you from driving.
In all these cases, you must surrender your licence to the New Zealand Police or to us.
What if I need to drive?
In some circumstances, you may be able to apply for a limited licence, though not if you've received a 28-day on-the-spot suspension. Find out more.
See also:
Don't know when your driver licence expires?
Your photo driver licence shows expiry dates.
See 'number 4b' on the front of your photo driver licence for the expiry date. (Or see 'About your photo driver licence'.)
Check 'number 8' on the back of your licence for the expiry date of any endorsement you may hold. (Or see 'About your photo driver licence'.)
How to renew your expired licence
Generally, you can renew your driver licence once it's expired without having to sit any tests. However, if your licence expired more than five years ago you'll likely need to sit theory and practical tests/courses to regain your licence. If you had any licence endorsements you'll have to pass the required courses to regain the endorsement.
Find out more about renewing your licence.
Weren't able to renew your licence?
If you're overseas, in prison or in hospital when your licence expires and are still there five years (or more) later, you may not have to sit the theory and practical tests to renew your licence. But you must apply to renew your licence within 90 days of your discharge, release or return.
Remember, you cannot drive while your licence isn't current and valid. You can only begin driving again once you've renewed your licence.
Travelling overseas?
You can only renew your licence when you're in New Zealand. So if your licence is likely to expire while you're overseas, it's worth renewing your licence before you leave. Find out more.
