You must have a transport service licence (TSL) to operate a goods service, large or small passenger service, vehicle recovery service or rental service. The licence shows that you are 'fit' to operate such a service and have the required knowledge of the laws and practices relating to the safe and proper operation of a transport service.
As evidence that you're a TSL holder, your vehicle must display a TSL label.
Find out more about transport service licences
These vehicles need to display TSL labels:
small passenger service vehicles
vehicles used in vehicle recovery services (towing)
goods service vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 6000 kilograms or more
large passenger service vehicles.
TSL labels are not required on trailers.
The way that you display your TSL label on your vehicle depends on the type of vehicle you use.
Passenger service vehicles* and vehicle recovery service vehicles (tow trucks) must display TSL labels on the inside of the windscreen, as close as practicable to the bottom of the passenger’s side.
Goods service vehicles must display TSL labels as described above, or in the window behind the passenger seat.
*Dial-a-driver services and facilitated cost-sharing services must have a TSL, but don't need to display the label in their vehicles.
If you need to get more labels, or replace labels that have been lost or destroyed, you can do this online.
There's an application fee of $25.90. You just pay one application fee no matter how many labels you apply for.
Your application will automatically be approved if:
The TSL labels will be mailed to the address we have recorded for the TSL.
If you apply for more labels than that, your application will be reviewed by Waka Kotahi before it's approved. This could take up to 5 working days.
