Information for new traders of motor vehicles

The Transport Registry Centre and you

If you're a new motor vehicle trader, this information will help you understand what benefits you can gain from the Transport Registry Centre (TRC).

Find out about:

• Forms you'll encounter
• Buying a vehicle
• Online trader change of ownership transactions and the Government Logon Service (GLS)
• Accessing online services
• Selling a vehicle
• If a vehicle has been registered in error
• Continuous vehicle licensing
• Motochek
• Road user charges (RUC)
• The change of ownership process

What is the Transport Registry Centre?

The TRC is part of the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). It handles all aspects of motor vehicle registration, motor vehicle licensing, road user charges transactions and the Driver Licensing Register.

Some TRC services are contracted out to agents. Our agents include the New Zealand Automobile Association, NZ Post shops and Books & More outlets, Vehicle Inspection New Zealand, Vehicle Testing New Zealand, On Road New Zealand and some independent agencies.

How the NZTA records trader details

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) advises the NZTA when a customer registers as a motor vehicle trader.

The trader's registered trader number (issued by MED), status and effective date are recorded on the Motor Vehicle Register (MVR) and linked to an NZTA customer number. For example:

MED trader number: M999999
NZTA customer number: 999999-999

Your NZTA customer number identifies you on the MVR when you complete MVR transactions.

MVR transactions include (but are not limited to) the following transactions:

• Application for registration of a motor vehicle (form MR2A)
• Notice of change of ownership of motor vehicle (form MR13B)
• Trader change of ownership (form MR13C)

Note: Your NZTA customer number may be referred to as a 'Land Transport New Zealand or NZTA trader customer number' on some MVR application forms (eg, MR13B, MR13C).

Your responsibilities

Your legal responsibilities in trading vehicles centre on:

• checking buyer and seller identification
• notifying us of vehicle registration
• notifying us of changes of ownership.

Much of what we require you to do involves completing forms. For example, you need to complete an MR2A to apply for registration, or an MR13B to change ownership. See the collection of forms you're likely to handle.

Checking ID

You must include a customer's ID details when completing registration and change of ownership transactions. If you don't record the details on forms we'll decline the transaction.

Our licensing agents will usually sight a customer ID, but if youre a registered trader you are authorised to sight some forms of ID:

• New Zealand driver licence. You must write the driver licence number and your NZTA customer number on the form.
• NZ Transport Agency customer card number.
• New Zealand temporary driver licence. This must be valid, - ie, 21 days from date of issue.

As a registered trader you can also present registration and ownership transactions on behalf of your customers.

Establishing your trader status

The Ministry of Economic Development advises us whenever it registers a motor vehicle trader. We then record the MED issued trader number on the Motor Vehicle Register and assign an NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) number. For example:

• MED trader number: M999999
• NZTA customer number: 999999-999

Your NZTA customer number identifies you on the Register when we process the transaction forms you send us.

To activate your 'trader' status with us, you need to set up a payment arrangement for trader changes of ownership. The only accepted means is through direct debit.

When MED notifies us you're an approved trader we'll send you a direct debit authority and a Trader customer details form. You need to complete these and send them back to us, along with a preprinted bank deposit slip.

You can only use your NZTA customer number for registration and change of ownership transactions once you've supplied these documents to us.

The billing process for trader changes of ownership

We automatically generate a monthly tax invoice or direct debit notice based on the transaction information recorded on the Motor Vehicle Register. The invoice or notice details:

• the charges due for MR13C transactions
• the date the amount will be direct debited from your account.

We send these at the beginning of the month for the previous month's transactions.

Setting up your Trader Changes of Ownership access

The trader change of ownership process (MRC13C) is an online transaction for which you must first register with the Government Logon Service. This site allows you access to a range of government service providers through the one portal.

To set up the online change of ownership service

• Register with the Government Logon Service (igovt).
• Choose the 'How to get an igovt logon' tab and follow the instructions to get a log on.
• Go to Do It Online.
• Select the 'Traders' link and then the 'Trader change of ownership' link. The next screen will give you the option to register your organisation so that it can process online trader change of ownerships.
• To register to use our services choose the 'Request access' button. This will take you through to the Application access screen. Choose the trader change of ownership (MR13C) application.
• The system will then redirect you to the GLS screen to logon, after which you need to complete the Organisation Administration screen that appears.

• Once you submit this, your application comes to us for consideration. We'll email you within 10 working days to let you know if your application is approved.
• If your application is approved we'll send another email with detailed instructions on using your online processing account.

Buying and selling

You need to complete a number of steps when both buying and selling vehicles. Check the steps involved.

Fast check for vehicle and owner details

Visit the Motochek website for quick and easy access to details such as registration status, warrant of fitness/certificate of fitness expiry country of origin and check for 'reported stolen' flags. Motochek can also help with CIN card requirements.

Page updated: 30 October 2009