How to Register a Vehicle for the First Time
Moving to New Zealand and want to bring your trusty motor with you? Whether you need your vehicle for work purposes or you just can’t bear to leave it behind, you’ll need to get familiar with the vehicle registration process in NZ.
Want to register a vehicle in NZ? Here’s what you need to know
First things first: If you’re only visiting New Zealand on a temporary basis, you may not need to register your vehicle. Tourists can import their car, bike or camper duty-free for up to 12 months. You won’t need to gain entry certification or change your vehicle’s existing plates.
There are two ways to do this:
- Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD Carnet) – kind of like a passport for your vehicle. Arrange a Carnet through an authorised issuer (like a motoring organisation) before shipping your vehicle to New Zealand.
- Customs Temporary Import – involves a bond held by the New Zealand Customs authorities, which covers the GST needed in the event of your vehicle being lost or sold while you’re in the country. Speak to a customs broker to help out with this.
Planning on sticking around for longer than 12 months? You’re in the right place. There are strict rules and regulations to follow when importing and registering a vehicle in NZ.
Plus, before you can apply to register the vehicle, you must successfully complete the entry certification. You’ll need to pay a fee to use the vehicle on public roads (we’ll cover the fees a little later on) and once registered, you’ll have a label to display in the bottom left of your windscreen.
Most vehicles in New Zealand must be registered and display a valid Vehicle License. Here, we also call that a “rego”.
One last thing before we get into the registration process: New Zealanders drive on the left. So, if you’re visiting from the United States, for example, your car may need to be converted to a right-hand drive. Ask us if you have any questions about this.
Why do you need to register your vehicle, anyway?
Vehicle registration requirements are in place to keep people safe.
During the registration process, vehicles undergo safety and identification inspections. This is to make sure all cars, bikes and campers meet New Zealand safety standards, and that authorities have a record of all vehicles on the road, along with details of the registered owner.
The vehicle registration process
Your step-by-step guide to registering a vehicle in New Zealand for the first time.
- On arrival in New Zealand, your vehicle undergoes entry certification. This is in place to verify that it meets NZ standards.
- If your vehicle meets these standards, it’s approved for registration. At this point, a registration application form (MR2A) is printed.
- You’ll complete this form and present it to a registration agent for processing. This includes companies such as AA, VINZ and VTNZ. Remember to bring ID!
- The agent processes your application. They will register and license the vehicle so you can legally drive it on the road. You’ll receive new number plates and a licence label.
- Only once you’ve attached the new number plates, licence label, WoF and (if applicable) road user charges licence can you take your vehicle for a spin on NZ’s roads.
- Once you have completed this process, you become the registered person!
What is an entry certifier?
An entry certifier can help with getting your head around the rules, determining whether your vehicle can be imported, and understanding the required documentation and procedures.
Find an approved entry certifier in the early stages to make sure your vehicle is suitable for importation into the country and to ensure you have all the documentation in place. This should help to avoid delays when your vehicle arrives.
The entry certifier will check if the vehicle:
- Was manufactured in line with the required safety emissions and frontal impact standards
- Is still in a good condition
- Needs any repairs or specialist certification
They’ll also verify the legal owner alongside the vehicle’s identity, and check that a valid VIN is assigned. They will also confirm that fuel consumption, C02, gross vehicle mass and unladen weight information have been enclosed.
When your vehicle enters New Zealand, it must be checked, certified, registered and licensed. With an approved certifier, you can make sure yours ticks all the boxes it needs to get out on the roads.
What fees will you have to pay?
Moving your vehicle to NZ and making sure it can be legally driven on the roads comes with a few fees to pay. Here are the costs you should be prepared for:
- Licensing fees (rego)
- Registration fees
- Administration fees
Licensing fees
Your vehicle licensing (or rego) fees include:
- A license fee
- An ACC levy
- Applicable standards levies
- A label fee
- An online administration fee
The actual amount varies depending on the type of vehicle and length of licensing period, but you can check your rego fee online.
Registration fees
Your vehicle registration fees include:
- A registration fee
- A license fee
- An ACC levy
- Application standards levies
- Number plate fee
- Label fee
- Registration administration fee
- GST
Again, the amount varies depending on the length of the registration period, and whether your car is driven by petrol, diesel or electricity.
Administration fees
Admin fees are involved throughout the licensing and registration process whenever you use an agent. Although some transactions require an agent, you can access some services online – this will save you time and money.
You can expect to pay administration fees for the following transactions:
- Rego renewal
- Putting your rego on hold
- Changing the registered vehicle owner
- Registration
- Cancellation of registration
- Replacing your certificate of registration
- Replacing your rego label
- Applying for a trader notice of acquisition
- Reversing your registration
Where to get your vehicle registered in NZ
Wherever you’re heading in New Zealand, you can find a local registration agent. The following three organisations are the most popular go-to’s, but as long as you find an agent displaying the NZ Transport Agency logo, you’re in good hands:
- The Automobile Association (AA)
- Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ)
- Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)
Your certificate of registration
Once you’ve been through the entire process, you can sit back and relax. The New Zealand Transport Agency will post your Certificate of Registration. When it arrives, double-check the information is correct and let the agency know if any details aren’t right.
Making sure your car stays legal
Driving a car legally on the NZ roads calls for updates and maintenance.
Here’s a quick snapshot of three things you must keep up-to-date to ensure they’re valid – and so you don’t get in trouble.
Warrant of Fitness (WoF)
This is a regular inspection that confirms your vehicle meets all required safety standards. Any vehicle registered on or after January 1st 2000 will need an annual WoF inspection. New vehicles will have an initial inspection and won’t need another until they’ve been registered for 3 years.
The length of time a WoF is issued for depends on when the vehicle was first registered.
Licence AKA rego
Your car needs to always have a valid licence (which comes with a fee). Be sure to display this inside the windscreen on the passenger’s side.
You’ll receive a renewal notice from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency before your licence expires.
Distance licence
This licence is only required for diesel vehicles. If your vehicle runs on diesel, you’ll have to pay road user charges (RUC).
In most cases, you’ll purchase a distance licence in 1000km units (or multiples of this), and must buy a new licence before you reach the distance covered on your current licence.
Shall we take the hassle off your hands?
At The Shipper, we specialise in the import of vehicles into New Zealand. So, we can offer our help and advice if you need it on your vehicle registration journey. Give us a call on +64 9 942 5806 or send us a message online and we’ll bring some much-needed clarity to the process!