When you turn 75, your licence will be valid for only two to five years, and you will need to present a medical certificate each time you apply. If recommended by your doctor, you will also have to sit a 30-minute On-road Safety Test. As you will need to renew your licence more often you will find the renewal fee decreases as you get older.
You must renew your driver licence at age 75, 80 and every 2 years after that.
How to renew your license
You must renew your driver licence on or before its expiry date if you wish to continue driving – but you cannot renew it more than six months in advance.
Waka Kotahi will send you a driver licence renewal pack about eight weeks before your licence is due to expire. You can also download a driver licence application form (DL1) or get this form from any driver licensing agent.
To apply to renew your licence you need to visit a driver licensing agent in person and take the following things with you:
- A completed driver licence application form
- A current medical certificate issued by your doctor within the last 60 days
- Your current photo driver licence or other acceptable evidence of your identity
- EFTPOS, credit card or cash to pay for your new licence.
Find a driver licensing agent in your area
Once your application is complete, you’ll receive 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 two to three weeks.
This information has been taken from Waka Kotahi’s Renewing your driver licence as a senior handbook (2021) and website with permission. You can download the full handbook for free from the Waka Kotahi website or request free hardcopies by calling 0800 822 422.
If you are no longer driving Age Concern supported by Driving Miss Daisy, a transport provider, have produced a booklet 'Life without a car - Transport options for seniors'.
Find: More about recreation & transport
Updated: 15 Feb 2024