Getting a transport service licence
You'll need a transport service licence to own and manage a vehicle rental service business. Find out how to get one.
Understanding the Operator Licensing Rule
Section 9 of the Land Transport (Operator Licensing) Rule 1999 (PDF, 630 KB, 32 pages) specifies the minimum legal standards and requirements you must meet in operating a vehicle rental business.
Most importantly, it requires you to:
- keep a register of your vehicles and the people who hire them
- sign a written agreement with each vehicle hirer and provide them with a copy
- explain the hire agreement if the hirer asks you to
- ensure that the hirer and/or anyone who intends driving the vehicle has a current and valid driver licence for the vehicle (find out more)
- offer the driver insurance for the vehicle for the term of their hire.
Meeting vehicle requirements
The vehicles you hire to customers must meet higher safety standards before you can provide them for hire. These include registration and annual licensing requirements and routine certificate of fitness inspections. Your vehicles must continue to meet these safety standards while operated in a transport service.
When buying vehicles for your business, you should also be aware of the safety features common in many modern vehicles and any features that could affect the environment.
How we can help
Call our contact centre for advice on and help with complying with all transport-related rules, regulations, and vehicle standards and requirements.
