What is exempt Class A?
Exempt Class A vehicles are exempt from registration fees and the vehicle licence portion of the licensing fee. You still have to register the vehicle and pay for other fees and levies included in the total licensing fee. For example, you still have to pay for the appropriate ACC levy, registration plates and labels. For cars and other light vehicles exempt Class A status was a saving of $43.50 per annum, for motorcycles a saving of $24.50 and for vintage cars and motorcycles a saving of $19.50.
Why has exempt Class A changed?
The exemption from registration and licensing fees was introduced in the 1960’s for vehicles that had restricted road use either by way of their design or the purpose for which they were used. In some instances an exemption from registration and licensing fees is now no longer relevant or fair to other motorists who are required to pay registration and licensing fees. As a result the exemption has been removed for vehicles which are capable of being used on a road in an unrestricted manner.
What has changed?
From 1 August 2011 only the following vehicles may be licensed as exempt Class A:
- Pedestrian Controlled Goods Service vehicles;
- Motor vehicles propelled and supported solely by self laying tracks;
- Mobile machinery used on roads only in road construction zones in accordance with notices declaring such zones; and
- All Terrain Vehicles.
What about the other ways of qualifying for exempt Class A?
Vehicles used to qualify for exempt Class A if they were being driven:
- For the purpose of inspection, servicing or repair;
- On a road that was not a public highway; or
- To cross a road.
These reasons no longer qualify a vehicle for exempt Class A. However, if you are driving a vehicle in these circumstances your vehicle does not have to be licensed – in technical terms these circumstances are a “defence” against a ticket for driving an unlicensed vehicle. These are explained below:
1. Using a vehicle on the road for inspection, servicing or repair
If you are using your vehicle on a road solely for the purpose, and directly to the place, of inspection, servicing or repair, you will have a defence for using an unlicensed vehicle. This is similar to the law which allows people to drive a vehicle without a current Warrant of Fitness as long as they are taking the vehicle directly to a garage or testing station. This means that your vehicle must be licensed if you are using it for any other purpose but you may drive it unlicensed for these purposes. Please note however, that the vehicle must still be safe to be operated on the road even if it requires repairs in order to obtain an inspection.
2. Using a vehicle on a road that isn’t a public highway
Vehicles used on a private road do not need to be registered and licensed at all. A private road is a road or place laid out or formed on private land by the owner of that land. Note that a beach is not a private road and any vehicle used on a beach must be registered and licensed appropriately.
3. Using a vehicle to cross the road
If you are using your vehicle on the road solely for the purpose of crossing that road you will have a defence for using an unlicensed vehicle. This means that your vehicle must be licensed if you are using it for any other purpose but you may drive it unlicensed if it is only for the purpose of crossing the road. Crossing the road does not mean you can drive down the road for any distance; you must be crossing in a direct line from one side of the road to the other.
What does this mean to me?
Unless your vehicle is one of the vehicles that still qualify for Exempt Class A your vehicle will no longer be exempt from registration and licensing fees. You will no longer be able to licence your vehicle as Exempt Class A. Your existing EA licence will remain valid until it expires but when you purchase your new licence you will need to select one of the licence categories below appropriate for your vehicle type and use:
- 1 Private Passenger
- 2 Taxi, Commercial Passenger
- 3 Transport Licensed Goods
- 4 Other (Standard) Goods
- 5 Commercial Ambulance
- 6 Other (Non-Commercial) Ambulance
- 7 Rental
- 8 Recovery Service
- 9 Fire Brigade
- 13 Caravan/Special Purpose
Please be careful to choose the correct category as you could be fined if you licence your vehicle with a category which is not appropriate for your vehicle type and use.
