Licensing of secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers

To apply for a licence or certificate, find out the fees or find more information, visit the website of the Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers [Ministry of Justice website].

Who needs a licence?

You need a licence if you are engaged in business as a secondhand dealer or pawnbroker (Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004).

If you are in a business partnership with one or more people, each of you must hold a licence.

If you are in business as a secondhand dealer or pawnbroker using a licence issued before 1 April 2006, you need to get a new licence.

You do not have to become a licence holder if you are selling your own property which you acquired for your own use.

More about secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers licences.

Who needs a certificate?

You need a certificate if:

  • you work for a licensed secondhand dealer and enter into transactions on their behalf
  • you work for a licensed pawnbroker and issue pledge tickets on their behalf
  • you manage, supervise or control a person who works for, and enters into transactions on behalf of, a licensed secondhand dealer or issues pledge tickets on behalf of a licensed pawnbroker.

More about secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers certificates.

Expiry and renewal of licences and certificates

Unless your licence or certificate is cancelled earlier, it will be valid for five years from its date of issue. If you apply to have your licence or certificate renewed before the five year period has expired, the document will continue in force until the renewal application has been considered. The renewal form is the same as the application form, found on the website of the Licensing Authority of Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers [Ministry of Justice website].

Your licence will expire when you return it, with all certified copies of the licence, to the Licensing Authority. You should return your licence and its certified copies if, at any stage, you decide not to continue to trade. In that case your licence will expire on the date that the Licensing Authority receives the documents.

More about cancelled licences and certificates.