Older drivers: Licence renewal

This factsheet explains what older drivers need to do to renew their driver licence. It provides helpful information outlining medical requirements and when you may need to do a practical driving test, advises what you need to bring for your renewal and where you need to go.

Older drivers: licence renewal

Drivers must renew their driver licence at age 75, 80 and every two years after that.

When renewing your licence from age 75, your health and vision must be regularly checked, both for your own safety and the safety of other road users. This process is summarised in the diagram below.

Getting a medical certificate

To renew your licence at age 75 and over you will need to visit your doctor to get a medical certificate for driver licence.

Tell your doctor the certificate is for your driver licence. You will have to pay for the appointment yourself.

During your appointment your doctor will discuss your present state of health with you and test your eyesight. He or she will then recommend whether you are:

• medically fit to drive without restrictions
• medically fit to drive – with conditions (such as correcting lenses, time-of-day restriction, distance restriction)
• medically fit to drive – but referred for an On-road Safety Test due to uncertainty about your ability to drive safely (see below for more information)
• to be referred to a specialist (such as an optometrist or occupational therapist driving assessor) for further assessment
• not medically fit to drive. In this case your doctor is required to advise the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). Unless notified otherwise, your licence will expire on your birthday, as indicated at section 4b on your photo driver licence.

If your doctor decides you are medically fit to drive, he or she will provide you with a medical certificate for driver licence.

Visiting the agent

You will then need to visit a driver licensing agent (selected branches of the NZ Automobile Association, Vehicle Testing New Zealand and Vehicle Inspection New Zealand) and bring:

• your completed Application for renewal of driver licence form sent to you by the NZTA in your renewal pack. (If you didn't receive a form – for example, because we don't have your current address details – you can fill in a form (DL1) at the driver licensing agent.)
• your existing photo driver licence or other acceptable evidence of your identity (page 1 of the application form has a full list)
• confirmation of your address, such as a recent bank statement (page 1 of the application form has a full list)
• Medical certificate for driver licence issued within the previous 60 days
• driver licence application renewal fee of $18.70.

If you are required to sit the On-road Safety Test you will need to pay an additional $41.80 test fee (see below for more information).

A new photograph will be taken and your signature recorded when you renew your licence at age 75, 86 and every ten years afterwards.

Once you have completed the application process, your new photo driver licence will be sent to the mailing address you supply. The agent will give you a temporary driver licence, so you can drive while your new photo driver licence is being produced.

The on-road safety test

If your doctor decides you are medically fit to drive, but is unsure about your ability to drive safely, he or she may issue you with a medical certificate for driver licence enabling you to renew your driver licence, provided you pass an On-road Safety Test with a testing officer.

You will need to book a separate appointment to do this at a driver licensing agent. (If you have a credit card, you may book the test by phoning 0800 822 422).

For more information, ask for a copy of the Guide to the On-road Safety Test when you book your test.

If you have booked an On-Road Safety Test and can't make the appointment, please contact your driving licensing agent.

Changing or cancelling your test

If you want to change or cancel your test, you will have to pay a further fee.

Where there are two or more complete working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you will need to pay a rescheduling fee of $16.40.

This is a regulated fee to cover the time taken and costs incurred when a test is cancelled or rescheduled.

Where there are less than two complete working days (excluding weekends and public holidays) between the day you change or cancel your test and the date of your appointment, you will not pay a rescheduling fee but will need to pay a further test fee. This further test fee is not refundable.

You may be eligible for a refund of the first test fee paid where the cancelled test time was subsequently filled by another person. If the test fee is refunded, a processing fee of $16.40 will be deducted.

Refreshing your knowledge

The NZTA's booklet Keeping moving contains tips on refreshing your knowledge and suggests other ways you can maintain your independence. Call our contact centre (0800 822 422) for a copy.

Where can I find out more?

For more information on the older driver test, contact the NZTA:

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Call our driver licensing contact centre: 0800 822 422.
• Write to us: Transport Registry Centre, NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 11777, Palmerston North 4442.

About factsheets

The information in this factsheet is a general guide only. It is not the source of the law.