License application proof of address

**jono035** · 20th February 2010, 21:25

Got my full license yesterday and just figured I'd make a note of something that very nearly caught me out.

When you bring some form of Proof of Address, make sure that it isn't too old. I was sure that it needed to be less than a year old, so just grabbed any old power bill. This turned out to be a huge pain in the ass when it was 8 months old (2 months 'expired'! gasp!) and I was told to go home and get something else. Luckily I found the invoice for my eyesight cert and it had my address on it. I don't know if this would actually stop them from letting you do the practical part, but given that the woman acted like I should be hung for this grievous offense, I wouldn't want to put money either way.

Phone and Electricity bills etc. are valid for 6 months.
Bank statements are valid for 1 year.

Info here: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fa...licensing.html

Edit: Edited to clarify that I grabbed a power bill instead of a bank statement.

**YellowDog** · 20th February 2010, 21:28

Useful info. It would have been a shame to have failed due to a numpty trying to look important.

**pc220** · 20th February 2010, 21:40

When I did mine in Tokoroa they didnt care what it was or how old it was. Mind you they have always been good to deal with, they actually try to help and make the process easy.Who would have thunked such a thing still existed ?

**jono035** · 20th February 2010, 21:54

Originally Posted by pc220

When I did mine in Tokoroa they didnt care what it was or how old it was. Mind you they have always been good to deal with, they actually try to help and make the process easy.Who would have thunked such a thing still existed ?

That sounds pretty good to me. One of the two women I dealt with was extremely helpful for the most part and went well out of her way to help me. The other woman (the one who was actually processing the license application) was the reason that I needed all the extra help. Both of them flatly said that I would have to come back tomorrow with the proper papers.

All in all it was a pretty horrific experience. Even with the 3 hour ride to Tokoroa, I probably would have been done quicker down there!

**jimichelle** · 21st February 2010, 06:33

got sick of all the junk mail and our letterbox was damaged a couple of times so try doing that with only a post office box

**Ratti** · 21st February 2010, 08:09

believe it or not, i had the same problem when I applied for a library card. I'd only just moved here, all the utilities were in my husbands name...wtf was I meant to do?
The nice man behind the counter offered to send me an empty envelope so that I had some thing that had been officially delivered by NZPost. It worked tho', and we now have library cards..sheesh..

**oldrider** · 21st February 2010, 08:48

Originally Posted by jono035

That sounds pretty good to me. One of the two women I dealt with was extremely helpful for the most part and went well out of her way to help me. The other woman (the one who was actually processing the license application) was the reason that I needed all the extra help. Both of them flatly said that I would have to come back tomorrow with the proper papers.

All in all it was a pretty horrific experience. Even with the 3 hour ride to Tokoroa, I probably would have been done quicker down there!

That was one of the positives of Hitler's regime,!

The detention camps gave appropriate employment for women like that!

**jono035** · 21st February 2010, 10:06

Originally Posted by Ratti

believe it or not, i had the same problem when I applied for a library card. I'd only just moved here, all the utilities were in my husbands name...wtf was I meant to do?
The nice man behind the counter offered to send me an empty envelope so that I had some thing that had been officially delivered by NZPost. It worked tho', and we now have library cards..sheesh..

Yeah, I remember my girlfriend going through the same process. Someone who is willing to go out of their way to help out can really make all the difference.

Oldrider: Yeah, she would have fit right in.

**kwaka_crasher** · 22nd February 2010, 09:18

I question why they need PROOF. It used to be you just gave them the address and they noted it.

Originally Posted by oldrider

That was one of the positives of Hitler's regime!

Speaking of Hitler's regime...

**jono035** · 22nd February 2010, 20:14

Originally Posted by kwaka_crasher

I question why they need PROOF. It used to be you just gave them the address and they noted it.

Yeah, that's a good point actually... It's used as a proof of ID and age, not as a proof of address... It can't even be so they know where to send the speeding tickets, because that's done by license plate number...

Bastards, the lot of em!

**IdunBrokdItAgin** · 22nd February 2010, 21:20

If caught out with no proof of address then a trick that I found out is that you can walk into any branch of your bank and ask them to print your name and address on their letter head.

Takes about 30 seconds and you can ask for it to be done at the reception - you just have to prove you are you (bank card and personal details confirmed). This is the equivalent of a bank statement for proof of address purposes.

I forgot to take a bank statement along when I went to book my first test and this is what they told me to do - AA accepted it.

**kwaka_crasher** · 23rd February 2010, 15:14

Originally Posted by jono035

Yeah, that's a good point actually... It's used as a proof of ID and age, not as a proof of address... It can't even be so they know where to send the speeding tickets, because that's done by license plate number...

Bastards, the lot of em!

Your drivers license is linked to your vehicle registrations yet they never seem to be able to send you anything helpful, like vehicle license renewal or drivers license expiry reminders...

**davereid** · 2nd March 2010, 06:47

Originally Posted by jono035

... It's used as a proof of ID and age, not as a proof of address...

Yeah, I always thought it was a qualification - you know "you have passed the test now you can drive..." but its well morphed into ID, demanded by all with whom you wish to do business.