Ask an expert

My daughter has recently received her restricted licence and I was wondering if she would be able to get a exemption to allow her to take her sister to and from school.

Karen

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 1 October 2009

Exemptions can be applied for but in your case it's a safe bet it would be declined flat.

When applying for an exemption you need to prove why you shouldn't be required to comply with the law and only in extreme circumstances are exemptions issued.

To be honest this would have to be one of the most commonly asked questions from parents or their siblings in recent times. If exemptions were given out lightly, the amount of young inexperienced drivers carrying unlicensed drivers would skyrocket and defeat the purpose of the rule.

While it may be frustrating for you as a parent, the importance of abiding by the rules cannot be overstated. If for example a driver on a restricted license was to be carrying unlicensed passengers and was unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, it may place any insurance claim in serious doubt.

Getting stopped by the authorities and asked to explain the reason for carrying unlicensed drivers or driving outside their curfew hours is also an experience those on restricted licenses need to avoid.

You can try calling the NZTA Driver Licensing free help line (0800 822 422) and asking the same question but I know what their answer would be.