When you're turning 75 or over, you'll need to get a medical certificate before you can renew your driver licence.
Your licence will expire on your 75th birthday, on your 80th birthday, and every second birthday after that.
You must renew your driver licence on or before its expiry date if you want to keep driving.
You can renew your driver licence up to 6 months before it expires.
We’ll send you a reminder and an application form about 8 weeks before your licence is due to expire, but you can renew earlier if you wish.
You'll need to make an appointment with your doctor to get a medical certificate. You may also need to see a specialist or take a test, so allow plenty of time.
Once you've got your medical certificate, you'll need to visit a driver licensing agent in person.
Find your nearest driver licensing agent
You'll need to complete an application form (DL1). You can download the form and take it with you, or fill one in when you get to the agent.
Download the application form to renew your driver licence (DL1) [PDF, 202 KB]
When your renewal is complete, the agent will give you a temporary licence which is valid for 21 days. Keep this on you whenever you’re driving until your new driver licence arrives in the mail – within 2 to 3 weeks.
You need to get a medical check to renew your licence, so make an appointment with your doctor.
The doctor will give you the medical certificate you'll need to renew your driver licence. The certificate is valid for 60 days, so make sure you take it to a driver licensing agent before the 60 days runs out.
Your doctor will give you one of the following results:
You're able to drive safely in all conditions.
Your doctor will give you a medical certificate to take with you to renew your licence.
You're able to drive safely, but only if you do, or don't do, specific things. For example, you might need to wear glasses or not drive at night.
Your doctor will give you a medical certificate with the conditions on it. Take this with you to renew your licence.
You need to see a specialist for more testing. Your doctor will tell you what kind of specialist. It could be an optometrist to test your eyes, or an occupational therapist to check you can safely cope with complex driving situations.
If you pass, you're able to drive safely and can renew your licence. The specialist will give you a medical certificate to take with you to renew your licence.
Your doctor may ask you to do a driving test in a car with a testing officer.
The doctor will give you a medical certificate with a requirement to sit an on-road safety test. Take the certificate with you to a driver licensing agent, and they'll start your renewal application and book the test.
The test is included in your renewal fee. There's no fee to change, cancel or rebook the test. You can sit the test more than once if you need to with no extra fees.
If you live in an area that doesn't have testing officers, you'll need to request an on-demand test. Check our agent list to see if you need to do this in your area. You'll need to apply to renew your licence and present your medical certificate at the agent first. It can take up to 3 months to get a test booking, so make sure you do this early.
Find your nearest driver licensing agent
Prepare for the on-road safety test
If you pass the test, you're able to drive safely. The testing officer will give you a temporary driver licence to use until your photo driver licence arrives in the mail.
You're not able to keep yourself and others safe when driving. It's no longer safe or legal for you to drive, and you must stop driving immediately. Your doctor will let NZTA know, and you won't be able to renew your licence.
Not being able to renew your licence can be upsetting. Take some time to process this news. There are many options for people who don't drive.
If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely, NZTA may need to review your medical certificate and determine whether you can continue to drive before your licence can be renewed. See our Medical reviews page for more information.
The on-road safety test checks you still have a good knowledge of the road rules and continue to use safe driving skills. It takes about 30 minutes.
Staying safe: a refresher course for senior road users is a classroom-based course that aims to maintain and improve safe driving practices.
During the course you will re-familiarise yourself with traffic rules as well as increase knowledge about other transport options available to keep you mobile for as long as possible.
See if any courses are available in your area
Driving as a senior [PDF, 7.8 MB]
Supporting senior drivers [PDF, 2.9 MB]
Download Factsheet 57: Senior drivers licence renewal [PDF, 243 KB]
