Time limits for driver licenses

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#743477 11-Jan-2013 18:38

ajobbins: Passports are only 5 years, too.

NZ ones yes. But overseas ones, such as European ones are still 10 years, and many people will qualify for overseas ones with family. Personally I wouldn't get a NZ one if I had a choice to also get a euro one.
The problem with NZ having just 5 years, is that many countries now require passports to not be within 6-12 months of their expiry, otherwise you can't enter. So If you are going overseas a lot (say once every 3-6 months), you have to actually have to renew them every 4 - 4 and a half years.

nickb800

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#743478 11-Jan-2013 18:40

Does it matter that it has expired - will the above institutions refuse to accept expired ID?

Logically you would hope not, because (when you consider a drivers license as an ID and not a qualification) the govt is arbitrarily setting them to expire earlier, so if the bank (for example) previously accepted a 10 year old ID, they shouldn't suddenly fail to accept a 10 year old ID because the qualification behind it has expired.

Elpie

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#743489 11-Jan-2013 18:49

There are a load of service providers both in NZ and overseas that require a driver's license as one of the mandated forms of ID. I've had to send certified scans of my drivers license to overseas organisations so I really feel for those people who have a learners or restricted license purely for ID purposes. Requiring a passport AND driver's license is commonplace for identification.

To me, this just reeks of money-making. The government wants everyone to pay up the $111.70 fee for a full license and then get caught in the renewal-go-round, whether they are driving or not.

However, I hope all those negatively affected don't yell too loud about a national ID system. The last thing this country needs is a national ID card.

SpookyAwol

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#743490 11-Jan-2013 18:51

Not many institutions would refuse it - however the licence should have been returned to the NZ Transport Agency if expired.

As ID, you would be fine to present it. Just not to a cop at 3 in the morning :-)

Byrned

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#743505 11-Jan-2013 19:21

No, I don't think this is discriminatory in any way.

A drivers licence is intended to prove that you can drive. Its primary purpose is not for anything else. The fact that you can is secondary.

Whilst I have sympathy with those who only need their restricted, I don't see it as a major point of contention.

clevedon

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#743546 11-Jan-2013 20:11

Kyanar: Incorrect, on virtually every front. To a government department, finance company, insurance provider, or bank, there are two forms of ID. Drivers license, or Passport. An 18+ card does not qualify as ID for anything except buying alcohol.

So really, unless this government is prepared to introduce a national ID scheme that does not require expensive renewals every 5 years, this move is simply unacceptable.

Incorrect. Get a firearms licence, lasts for 10 years. That is all I ever use for ID for anything if requested, including govt departments. And yes, I also have a full drivers licence as well.

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#743572 11-Jan-2013 20:57

mattwnz: Also I don't believe drivers licenses are a legal form of ID anyway, and they intentionally are not supposed to be.I believe you can also buy 18+ cards as ID.

Not quite right.

The 18+ card is only accepted as valid ID for purchasing alcohol, an initiative of the hospitality association.

If it makes you feel any better (and completely off-topic) we (that is, licensed premises) can't accept international driver's licenses here, only passports.

You can go to USA/Aussie and use your license as ID but they can't do the same here. Go figure.

jfanning

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#743576 11-Jan-2013 21:04

mattwnz:
ajobbins: Passports are only 5 years, too.

NZ ones yes. But overseas ones, such as European ones are still 10 years, and many people will qualify for overseas ones with family. Personally I wouldn't get a NZ one if I had a choice to also get a euro one.
The problem with NZ having just 5 years, is that many countries now require passports to not be within 6-12 months of their expiry, otherwise you can't enter. So If you are going overseas a lot (say once every 3-6 months), you have to actually have to renew them every 4 - 4 and a half years.

Actually not all European passports are 10 years, the Dutch ones are only 5 years

qwerty7

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#743608 11-Jan-2013 21:59

YadaMe: About time, I know too many people who sit on their restricted licenses, and never have any intention of getting there full. They also need to bring in compulsory third party insurance.

agree
There is also passport and 18 plus cards for id.

Zeon

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#743615 11-Jan-2013 22:18

If they really want to do something good - have 1 month expiry for bloody old people :rant:

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reven

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#743630 11-Jan-2013 23:21

i am for this change, i know too many people still on their restricted license after 10+ years.

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gzt

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#743656 12-Jan-2013 09:28

I did not really see the point of the change so I read that Herald article. Not enough information.

The original press release has more info: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1301/S00013/safety-of-young-drivers-on-going-strong-focus-for-govt.htm

The arguments for making the change still do not add up. Govt says 71 per cent of learner licence breaches were incurred by holders for over two years and 36 per cent of restricted licence breaches were incurred by holders for over two years.

Govt does not say the actual number of offenses so the entire argument is missing perspective so far.

Toledo

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#743658 12-Jan-2013 09:28

Incorrect. Get a firearms licence, lasts for 10 years. That is all I ever use for ID for anything if requested, including govt departments. And yes, I also have a full drivers licence as well.

+1

Its only $123 plus the gear required to get it and lasts for 10 years.

Im am fully behind the changes to the drivers licencing, As far as I am concerned a restricted driver has still not proven themselves in a final test. The difference in driver performance between a restricted test and full test is more than the difference in the licences ie: ability to drive after 10pm and have other people in the car.

My opinions are purely my own and are not at all those of my employer 2degrees.

Kyanar

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#743662 12-Jan-2013 09:41

mattwnz:
I don't think so. I am pretty sure that the NZ drivers license when it came out was not considered a legal form to prove someones identity. Only a passport and birth certificate was. However it has become a defacto one, due to NZ not having any form of national identity card. Not unless legislation has changed since the photo license came out.
Do you have evidence that it is an actual legal form to prove someones identity? I can't see any information that says it is. Just because banks / finance companies use them doesn't really prove much, as they probably have not choice but to accept them when NZ doesn't have an national identity card. Also you will note that banks also require other ID too to support someones identity, such as IRD number, passport and letters with address details etc. If there was a national ID card, I would presume that they would only need that.

Not true. In fact, I don't get why you say that a Birth Certificate is a valid form of ID, the fact that it isn't is printed right on it. No-one accepts a Birth Certificate as ID unless accompanied by - wait for it - a Driver's License or Passport.

Clevedon's idea of getting a Firearms license seems like it would work though - 10 year expiry, everyone accepts them (you'd be a fool not to - the identity verification to get one is more stringent than a freaking passport). Only downside is... wait for it... you need a Driver's License AND Passport to prove your identity when applying for one.

So, again, unless this government wants to launch a National ID card, how exactly are people who don't drive going to prove their identity without a driver's license? I don't see why I should be required to go and get a full license at ridiculous expense when the only vehicle I'm ever in is a UMW-Dennis bus driven by someone else. But now this government says I have to.

Kyanar

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#743667 12-Jan-2013 09:45

nickb800: Does it matter that it has expired - will the above institutions refuse to accept expired ID?

Logically you would hope not, because (when you consider a drivers license as an ID and not a qualification) the govt is arbitrarily setting them to expire earlier, so if the bank (for example) previously accepted a 10 year old ID, they shouldn't suddenly fail to accept a 10 year old ID because the qualification behind it has expired.

Yes. No-one accepts expired driver's licenses either, with the exception of NZTA itself, who will accept a recently expired driver's license, but only for the purpose of renewing it. Every other NZ service provider and government agency rejects expired licenses.

gzt: I did not really see the point of the change so I read that Herald article. Not enough information.

The original press release has more info: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1301/S00013/safety-of-young-drivers-on-going-strong-focus-for-govt.htm

The arguments for making the change still do not add up. Govt says 71 per cent of learner licence breaches were incurred by holders for over two years and 36 per cent of restricted licence breaches were incurred by holders for over two years.

Govt does not say the actual number of offenses so the entire argument is missing perspective so far.

Actually, they do say the numbers. See http://www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/land/timelicences/ for that.

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