Factsheet 49 – June 2009

Vehicle licensing

What is motor vehicle licensing?

Motor vehicle licensing is where you pay a fee to use your vehicle on public roads. The fee helps to pay for roading projects and road safety programmes.

Motor vehicle licensing is often incorrectly called registration. However, registration is different – it is where a vehicle is added to the Motor Vehicle Register and given registration plates. The combination of numbers and letters on the plate is used to identify the motor vehicle.

How do I relicense my motor vehicle?

You'll receive a relicensing notice in the mail two to four weeks before your licensing fee is due. (This is called a MR1.) It will set out the fees and your options.

You can pay for your motor vehicle licence at an NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) agent. You can also pay for your motor vehicle licence at some independent agents that display the NZTA logo.

You can either use the MR1 notice you got in the mail, or fill out a licensing form (MR1B) at the agent.

Relicense your motor vehicle online

It's quick and easy to relicense your vehicle online at NZTA's Transaction Centre. We'll send the label to you in the post.

How much does it cost?

Look at our list of common vehicle licensing fees to see how much it will cost to relicense your vehicle.

What to do with your licence label

When you pay the licensing fee, you get a label that shows the date your licence expires. You must display this label on the left-hand side of your motor vehicle's windscreen, or near your number plate (for trailers or motorcycles).

Your motor vehicle must have a current warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness before you can get a licence label or use the motor vehicle on the road.

What if I don't relicense in time?

The registered owner of a motor vehicle is responsible for keeping that vehicle licensed.

If your motor vehicle is unlicensed, you'll be sent notices to remind you that you need to relicense it.

• Six weeks after your licence expires, you'll receive an overdue notice.
• If you've still taken no action six months after the original licence or exemption expiry date, you'll receive a warning notice.
• If the vehicle remains unlicensed for 12 months, its registration will be cancelled. You'll be sent a final notice two to four weeks before this happens.

The NZTA will then use a debt collection agency to recover outstanding licence fees.

What should I do if I don't get the notices?

Not all owners receive all the notifications outlined here – it depends on the address recorded on the Motor Vehicle Register and when the ownership transferred to the new owner's name.

If you don't receive any of these notices, you are still liable for licensing fees. If your licence has expired and you haven't received a notice, don't wait – use a licensing form (MR1B), available from an NZTA agent.

Note also that the New Zealand Police and local authorities fine owners caught using unlicensed motor vehicles on the road. You could be fined $200 for not displaying a current licence on your vehicle.

Can I get an exemption from licensing?

Yes. Anyone who won't be using their motor vehicle on the road for a continuous period of at least three months should apply for an exemption, or arrange for someone to do it on their behalf. (Note that an exemption period can be for no more than 12 months, but you can apply for consecutive exemptions.)

Exemptions must be applied for in advance. They take effect from when your current licence (or existing exemption) expires. If the motor vehicle isn't licensed, the exemption will start from the application date.

Fill out an Exemption application form (MR24), available from the NZTA agents.

Before the exemption can be processed, you'll have to pay any outstanding fees.

Alternatively, it's quick and easy to apply for an exemption online at the NZTA's Transaction Centre. You'll need your driver licence, plate number and credit card.

When the exemption expires, you'll need to either relicense the motor vehicle or apply for another exemption. If you don't do this, you'll be sent the reminder notices listed earlier in this factsheet.

There is a minimum of three months for an exemption period. If you license your motor vehicle within the first three months of your exemption period, the licence will backdate to the expiry date of the previous licence, exemption, or change of ownership, whichever is the most recent.

Questions and answers

Can I change the licence expiry date?

You can change your motor vehicle's relicensing date by completing an Application to change licence expiry date form (MR27), available from NZTA agents. The agent will advise you of your options and the fee you need to pay.

What about refunds?

A licence fee can't be refunded unless the motor vehicle's registration is cancelled and you hand over the registration plates.

My vehicle's registration has been cancelled: How can I get it back on the road?

If your motor vehicle's registration has been cancelled and it will be used on a public road at a later date, there are several steps you need to follow first – inspection, certification, reregistration, licensing, and getting registration plates and labels issued to you. (See Factsheet 9.)

Do all vehicles have to be licensed continuously?

All motor vehicles must be continuously licensed while using the road, except for the following:

• vehicles that are not required by law to be registered or licensed
• vehicles that are more than 40 years old
• agricultural machinery, tractors and mobile machines
• exempt class EA and EB vehicles
• trailers and trailer-type caravans having a gross laden weight not exceeding 3500 kilograms
• all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

These motor vehicles can be unlicensed while they're off the road (eg for repairs or restoration). They don't require exemptions to remain unlicensed.

However, if these vehicles remain unlicensed for two years, their registrations are cancelled. If you have one of these vehicles and you won't be using it for more than two years, make sure you request an exemption before the two years is up, to prevent the registration being cancelled.

How is the licensing money spent?

The money collected through motor vehicle licensing goes to a variety of funds:

• The licence fee goes to the National Land Transport Fund for road construction, and to safety programmes run by the NZTA and the New Zealand Police.
• The Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) Motor Vehicle Account Levy is collected on behalf of the ACC. This levy covers the medical costs related to injuries that happen on public roads.
• An administration and licence label fee funds the operating costs of the services provided by the NZTA and its agents.

Motor vehicles may be subject to one or more of the following levies, depending on their type and use:

• Safety Standards levy
• Audit and Standards levy
• Transport licence fee.

Are there any special circumstances?

I've bought a vehicle without a licence

You'll only be required to pay from the date you or the seller notifies the NZTA of the change of ownership, not the date the licence was due. The seller is liable for the unpaid fees before the change of ownership date.

I've sold an unlicensed vehicle

You are liable for any outstanding licensing fees up to the date the change of ownership is processed. Normal debt collection practices are employed to recover outstanding licence fees.

My vehicle has been stolen

If its license has expired you won't be required to pay from the date it was stolen, as long as you contact the Transport Registry Centre and provide a copy of the Police report. If your vehicle is recovered, you'll only be required to pay licensing fees from the date of its return.

If your vehicle has been stolen and is licensed, contact our Motor Vehicle Licensing and Registrations contact centre on 0800 108 809.

My vehicle will be permanently off the road

You'll need to cancel its registration by completing an MR15 form, available from some NZTA agents. It's very important that you hand in the registration plates at the same time as the MR15 form. (For information about which agents you can do this at, phone our Motor Vehicle Licensing and Registrations contact centre on 0800 108 809.)

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz
• Phone our Motor Vehicle Licensing and Registrations contact centre on 0800 108 809.
• Write to us:
  NZ Transport Agency
  Transport Registry Centre
  Private Bag 11777
  Palmerston North 4442