Eligibility criteria for vehicles registered for the first time in New Zealand

Vehicle requirements

1. A rebate is payable for an eligible light vehicle (see definition) only if the following criteria have been met:
   1. It's being registered in New Zealand for the first time.
   2. It must have a safety rating of 3 stars or more on the Rightcar website at the time of registration:
      rightcar.govt.nz(external link)
   3. The vehicle must have been bought for less than $80,000 (New Zealand dollars), including GST and on-road costs (the purchase price).
      1. A trade-in can be associated with the vehicle purchase, but this is considered to be a form of payment towards the vehicle, rather than a reduction in the vehicle price.

Who receives the rebate?

2. The rebate is payable only to the first person registered to the vehicle (regardless of ownership), unless the first person registered is a:
   1. registered motor vehicle trader – in which case clause 3 applies; or
   2. lessee of the vehicle – in which case clauses 4 and 5 apply.

Registered motor vehicle traders (dealers) as the first registered person

3. A registered motor vehicle trader who is the first registered person of the vehicle is not eligible to receive a rebate unless they:
   1. do not sell, and do not offer to sell, the vehicle to another person within 3 months of first registration; and
   2. the vehicle is being used as one of the following:
      1. a company vehicle; or
      2. a demonstration vehicle; or
      3. a courtesy vehicle; and
   3. all other criteria for receiving a rebate are satisfied, including complying with all requirements in the Clean Car rebate application form and providing the required supporting documentation.

When lessee is first registered person

4. A lessee who is the first registered person of the vehicle is not eligible to receive a rebate.
5. A lessor is eligible to receive a rebate when they are not the person registered to the relevant vehicle if:
   1. the lessor owns the relevant vehicle; and
   2. there is a lease agreement between the lessor and the lessee for the vehicle; and
   3. the first registered person to the vehicle is the lessee; and
   4. all other criteria for receiving a rebate are satisfied, including complying with all requirements in the Clean Car rebate application form and providing the required supporting documentation.   

Applications

6. To apply, you must complete the online application form (including reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions) and provide the required supporting documentation.

Funding restrictions

7. If rebate funds are exhausted at any given time, no rebate will be paid. Once the scheme restarts, only vehicles registered from the restart date that meet the eligibility requirements will qualify for a rebate.

Rebates available for vehicles first registered from 1 July 2023

8. An eligible light vehicle may obtain a rebate if it produces:
   1. zero CO₂ emissions; or
   2. between 1 to 100 grams of CO₂ emissions per km.
9. The amount of rebate payable is set out in the tables below and is dependent on:
   1. the grams of CO₂ emissions per km produced by the vehicle; and
   2. whether the vehicle is a disability vehicle or not.
10. The CO₂ emissions of the vehicle must be calculated in accordance with the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Efficiency and Emissions Data 2022 (see clause 3.5 of that Rule).

Rebate amounts for vehicles first registered from 1 July 2023

Note: Rebate payments to public authorities will exclude GST.

Definitions

Company vehicle means the vehicle is to be used by staff members of the registered motor vehicle trader for the primary purpose of carrying out their work.

Courtesy vehicle means a vehicle used for the primary purpose of being provided to customers while their vehicle is temporarily unavailable.

Demonstration vehicle means a vehicle used by staff members of the registered motor vehicle trader for the primary purpose of demonstrating the vehicle to potential customers.

Disability vehicle has the same meaning provided in regulation 3 of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Discount Scheme Charges) Regulations 2022.

Regulation 3 of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Discount Scheme Charges) Regulations 2022(external link)

Eligible light vehicle means:

1. a vehicle:
   1. classified as MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2 or NA in Table A in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 that is required by that rule to be certified for entry into service, other than an excluded vehicle; and
   2. with a gross vehicle mass of no more than 3500 kilograms.

1. Excluded vehicle means:
   1. a special interest vehicle as defined in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001;
   2. a vehicle manufactured 40 years or more before the date on which it was certified for entry into service in New Zealand
   3. a motor sport vehicle as defined in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001
   4. a vehicle specified in paragraph (a) of the definition of low volume vehicle in Part 2 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 that is certified in accordance with the Low Volume Vehicle Code.

Lessee means a person who is leasing a vehicle from a lessor.

Lessor means a person who is recorded as a leasing company in the motor vehicle register.

New, in relation to a vehicle, has the meaning given in section 172(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Registered, in relation to a vehicle, means registered under Part 17 of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Registered motor vehicle trader or dealer means a person registered as a motor vehicle trader under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.

Used, in relation to a vehicle, has the meaning given in section 172(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998