Rental Service Licence

Rental services rent out, or let on hire, vehicles to a person who intends to drive the vehicle or to a person who intends to employ someone to drive the vehicle.

A rental service licence is needed by anyone who rents out vehicles and charges for the use of that vehicle.

If you are not sure whether or not you require a Rental Service Licence, or have any other questions, please contact Land Transport New Zealand (Land Transport NZ).

How to apply for a Rental Service Licence

In order to obtain a Rental Service Licence you must submit the following documents and fees to the nearest regional office of Land Transport NZ:

A completed Application for Transport Service Licence form (TL01). Note: Must be witnessed by an officer authorised to take statutory applications, i.e. a Justice of the Peace, lawyer or an officer of Land Transport NZ.
A completed Personal Details form (TL02) for each person in control of the transport service. This includes all partners in a partnership application and all Directors for company applicants. Note: Must be witnessed by an officer authorised to take statutory applications, i.e. a Justice of the Peace, lawyer or an officer of Land Transport NZ.
If the applicant is a company or other incorporated body, a Certificate of Incorporation and a list of Directors and shareholders.
If the application is for a partnership, a copy of any partnership agreement.
A $440.00 application fee.
A $28.20 fee, per person, for Police vetting. (Each person named as being in control of the licence will be vetted by the Police. There is no vetting charge if the person has been vetted in the previous three months.)

You should allow a minimum of six weeks for your application to be processed.

What's the vetting fee for?

Land Transport NZ is legally obliged to ensure that holders of a rental service licence are 'fit and proper' people. Some of the factors which may be taken into account when determining if a person meets the fit and proper person criteria are:

criminal conviction history, including charges or convictions relating to violent or sexual offences
drug or firearm offences, or offences involving organised criminal activity
any transport-related offending, especially offences related to safety
any history of mental health or behavioural problems, any past complaints about a transport service provided by the person
any history of persistent failure to pay fines for transport-related offences.

Note: the Director Land Transport may take into account any other relevant matter which he or she considers is in the public interest when determining a person's fitness to hold any licence.

Last updated: 18 October 2007