Find out how to get an alcohol interlock licence, how to have an alcohol interlock device fitted to your vehicle and how to exit the alcohol interlock programme.
If you’re convicted by the courts (under section 65AC of the Land Transport Act 1998) for driving offences involving alcohol, you’ll be given an alcohol interlock disqualification of 28 days or more.
Any driver licence card you held before your disqualification is cancelled and you won’t be entitled to a limited licence.
At the end of the alcohol interlock disqualification, you’re still disqualified from driving until you’ve been issued with an alcohol interlock licence.
If you have any other disqualifications or suspensions, you’ll have to wait for them to end too before you can get an alcohol interlock licence.
After any disqualifications and/or suspensions have ended, you can apply to reinstate your licence at any driver licensing agent.
You'll get an alcohol interlock licence, which means you’ll only be entitled to drive vehicles fitted with an approved alcohol interlock device.
If you were disqualified for 12 months or less the application fee is $31.30.
If you were disqualified for more than 12 months, you'll also need to pass a theory test and practical test, so the fee will be higher.
How to apply for an alcohol interlock licence
Getting your licence back if you were disqualified for more than 12 months
You’ll need to follow step 3 before you can start to drive again.
You must use an approved device, provided and fitted by an approved installer.
You'll need to pay an installation fee and a monthly lease fee. The approved provider can tell you what the fees will be, as they may vary.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) may grant you subsidy assistance for some alcohol interlock costs if your financial circumstances qualify.
Find out if you're eligible for an alcohol interlock subsidy
There are 3 approved providers of alcohol interlocks. Contact them directly for more information about leasing and installing an interlock device.
You can also use our map to find an installer near you.
Find an AID installer near you(external link)
You must breathe into the alcohol interlock before starting the vehicle. If the device detects alcohol, the vehicle won’t start. You also need to provide a breath sample at random times while the vehicle is in use (this is called a rolling retest).
The device will record your vehicle use, alcohol readings and violations. All data will be recorded, so only blow into the device when you intend to drive (don’t use it as a breath test).
Make sure you take every test the device requires, including re-tests. If you don’t take a test it can affect your assessment when you apply for approval to exit this stage of the programme.
Make sure you’re familiar with how your alcohol interlock works. Some substances like sanitiser, mouthwash or food could cause you to fail a test. Check your device’s manual to find out what to do.
You must take your vehicle to the installer for servicing and a data download each month. If you don’t, then the interlock device will stop the vehicle from starting.
If your mechanic needs to start your vehicle for servicing or repair, they’ll need to blow into the device to get it started. We recommend asking them to confirm in writing that it was being serviced at the time.
Breaching any of the alcohol interlock licence conditions defined in the Land Transport (Alcohol Interlock) Regulations 2012 is a violation.
This means that if you do any of the following during the period being assessed (ie 3 months or 6 months) we won't give you approval to exit the alcohol interlock stage.
Before you can exit this stage you must have held your alcohol interlock licence for at least 12 months.
While you have the alcohol interlock device you must:
You also need to meet one of the following criteria:
Option 1
Option 2
Find an approved drug and alcohol assessment centre in your area
If your alcohol interlock sentence replaces a previous indefinite disqualification that hadn't been ended, then you must meet option 2 above.
When you’re ready to exit the alcohol interlock stage of the programme, and you've met the criteria above, you need to get your AID provider to download a reading for you.
Immediately after this download, apply online for approval to exit the programme.
Apply online for approval to exit the alcohol interlock programme
You can supply additional evidence with your application if you wish.
Once we’ve granted you approval to exit the programme, you can move to step 6.
After you get approval to exit the programme, you can apply to get a zero alcohol licence.
The application fee is $37.30.
You’re still subject to the conditions of your alcohol interlock licence (ie you can only drive vehicles fitted with an alcohol interlock device) until you’ve got your zero alcohol licence.
How to get a zero alcohol licence
Take your zero alcohol licence to the approved provider/installer. Your zero alcohol licence lets the installer know that you’re approved to exit the alcohol interlock stage of the programme. The installer will then remove the alcohol interlock from your vehicle.
After the alcohol interlock has been removed from your vehicle, you’ll still be subject to a zero alcohol limit for the 3 years that you hold your zero alcohol licence. This means that if you have even one drink and then drive, you can be charged with drink driving and disqualified.
You’ll need to hold your zero alcohol licence for 3 years, and then it will expire. You can then apply to reinstate your licence at any driver licensing agent and be issued with a standard licence.
The application fee is $48.00.
You can apply for your driver licence at any driver licensing agent.
Find a driver licensing agent in your area.
You'll need to:
You'll have to pass a theory test and a practical test for a car.
| Class you're getting back | Application fee |
| Learner car licence | $77.00 |
| Restricted car licence | $163.60 |
| Full car licence | $136.90 |
Your application fee includes 2 theory tests and 2 practical tests.
If you need to sit 3 tests or more of either test type, you'll pay a fee for each test.
| Test type | Test fee for each test from 3rd attempt |
| Theory test | $54.60 |
| Restricted practical test | $102.80 |
| Full practical test | $71.90 |
If you need to change or cancel your test, please do it as far in advance as possible. Then another person can book the test slot.
When you change or cancel your test, you may need to pay a fee.
Changing a test for a car licence
If you had a heavy vehicle licence (classes 2–5), you only sit a theory and a practical test for the highest class. For example, for a class 5 licence you just sit a theory and practical test for class 5.
You can complete an approved course instead of passing a practical test. You won’t have to pay the practical test fee.
You'll pay a one-off test fee when you book each test type for the first time. It’s free to change, cancel or rebook your test.
| Class you're getting back | Application fee (including theory test fee) | Practical test fee |
| Heavy vehicle licence (class 2-5) | $77.00 | $59.90 |
You’ll have to pass a theory and practical test for a motorcycle. If you also want to get your car licence back, you’ll need to sit both sets of tests.
You'll pay a one-off test fee when you book each test type for the first time. It’s free to change, cancel or rebook your test.
| Class you're getting back | Application fee (including theory test fee) | Practical test fee |
| Learner motorcycle licence | $77.00 | - |
| Restricted motorcycle licence | $77.00 | $86.60 |
| Full motorcycle licence | $77.00 | $59.90 |
If you’ve passed a theory test but still have to sit a practical test, you’ll get a licence with a supervisor condition.
The supervisor condition will remain until you’ve passed your practical test.
A supervisor is a person who:
If you’re getting a motorcycle licence back, you’ll get a motorcycle learner licence. You’ll need to follow the motorcycle learner conditions until you’ve passed your practical test.
You can apply to renew, replace or reinstate your alcohol interlock licence.
You can't get a limited licence, or any new classes or endorsements.
