Official figures show more than 200,000 drivers' licences were reported lost in the past three financial years.
The Transport Agency says 203,821 licences had to be re-issued because they were misplaced.
A spokesperson Andy Knackstedt says almost half of them were lost by those aged under 25.
He says the 70 to 74 age group lost the fewest licences, with 2,275 misplaced over the three year period - just 1% of the total.
An Automobile Association spokesperson Mike Noon says it is alarming so many licences were lost.
He drivers' licences are used in New Zealand as identification tools and people need to be more careful.
"Not only does it incur a cost for you, but there are dangers in terms of losing your drivers licence - identity fraud and those sorts of issues," he says.
