Passenger service licences

A Passenger Service carries passengers on a road:

in a vehicle, for hire or reward; or
in a large passenger service vehicle (such as a bus), whether or not for hire or reward

This includes any owner-operators such as taxi drivers, school bus operators, shuttle operators and limousine operators.

If you are not sure whether or not you require a passenger service licence, or have any other questions, please contact the NZ Transport Agency.

How to apply for a passenger service licence

In order to obtain a passenger service licence you must:

Submit the following documents and fees to the nearest regional office of the NZ Transport Agency:
- A completed Application for transport service licence form (TL01). Note: must be witnessed by an officer authorised to take statutory applications, ie 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, ie a Justice of the Peace, lawyer or an officer of Land Transport NZ.
- A copy of your certificate of knowledge of law and practice (not required for 'dial-a-driver' service applications).
- 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.

Registering your private hire or shuttle service

From 1 October 2007, the Land Transport Rule Operator Licensing 2007 requires operators of private hire and shuttle services to register their service with the Director of Land Transport.

If you operate a private hire or shuttle service you'll need to register your service with Land Transport NZ by 1 October 2007 to comply with the new requirement. Other types of small passenger service don't need to register. This flowchart (PDF, 27 KB) may help you to confirm what type of service(s) you operate.

Every person who holds a Passenger Service Licence (PSL) and operates under the umbrella of your company will also need to register. Individual employees driving vehicles operating under your PSL do not need to register.

Private hire service operators must register the following information:

your general area of operation (the town or city that you operate in)
the type of service that you operate (for example, a wedding car, or a limousine).

Shuttle service operators must register the following information:

your general area of operation (the town or city that you operate in)
the start or end point of your service (as appropriate). This must be an airport, a railway station or a ferry or bus terminal, and
a schedule of fares (including GST, if charged).

How to register your service

Download the form or forms you need and send them to us: our address is on the forms. If you operate both types of service you'll need to complete both registration forms:

private hire service registration form (PDF, 21 KB)
shuttle service registration form (PDF, 21 KB).

We'll acknowledge your registration and return the form to you. The new law requires drivers of private hire and shuttle services to carry the acknowledged registration form and make it available to an enforcement officer on demand.

If you require more information, please contact the Land Transport NZ call centre on 0800 699 000.

What's the vetting fee for?

Land Transport NZ is legally obliged to ensure that holders of a passenger 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 of 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.

What's a certificate of knowledge of law and practice?

A Certificate of Knowledge of Law and Practice (CKLP) is a legal requirement for those persons wishing to obtain a Transport Service Licence. At least one of the persons in control of a transport service (unless exempt) must hold a CKLP on the rules/standards for that service.

Applicants must pass an examination run by Assessment Systems Limited (ASL). Land Transport NZ regional offices will have application forms for this examination. If you want more information ASL's contact details are:

Assessment Systems Ltd
PO Box 30-343
Level 9, Avalon Tower
Percy Cameron Street
Lower Hutt
Phone: (04) 913 9812
Fax: (04) 913 9816
Internet: www.exams.co.nz

The examination

The examination is based on general transport industry laws and safety standards as well as specialised rules and practices that apply to the particular class of transport service you wish to operate.

You are allowed up to 2¹/₂ hours to complete the exam.

The course material is contained in a handbook which you purchase from ASL. You should familiarise yourself with the handbook prior to sitting the exam.

The examination is 'open book', which means you may take the handbook into the exam with you. Handbooks will not be supplied by ASL at the time of the exam. The pass mark for the CKLP is 80% or more.

After passing the exam, individuals can obtain a CKLP in more than one transport service class by passing the exams required for each class. The certificate awarded to each successful candidate states the class or classes of transport service(s) they are qualified for.

You must include a copy of your certificate with your Transport Service Licence application.

Handbooks and test

Handbook	$40.00
Test	$90.00
TOTAL	$130.00

Optional extras

Priority marking	$30.00
On-demand examination	$310.00
Late entry fee (if test is applied for after the closing date and received by 5 working days prior to the test date)	$40.00

Last updated: 28 September 2007