Motor vehicle admin fees changed from 1 October 2023

From 1 October 2023, motor vehicle admin fees and TSL fees changed.

Waka Kotahi funding and fees changes

What is registration

When you pay your registration fee to get your vehicle on the road for the first time, you also need to pay 6 or 12 months of licensing fees at the same time.

Looking for your regular licensing (rego) fees?

Common vehicle registration fees

The following table contains the most common vehicle registration fees.

Motor vehicle registration fees include:

  • a registration fee
  • a licence fee
  • an ACC levy
  • a number plate fee
  • an administration fee:
    • $14.38 if you’re registering a vehicle with a vehicle identification number (VIN)
    • $14.70 if you’re registering a vehicle without a VIN number, or
    • $6.33 if you’re re-registering a vehicle that’s been registered in the past
  • and GST.

For some vehicles, they may also include:

Paying ACC levies if you own or drive a vehicle(external link)

Registration of motor vehicle (issued with standard plates) 6 months 12 months
Private passenger – petrol 0–1300 $166.48 $215.22
1301–2600cc $210.18 $258.92
2601–4000cc $241.23 $289.97
4001–over $348.18 $396.92
Private passenger – diesel 0–1300 $200.89 $284.04
1301–2600cc $244.59 $327.74
2601–4000cc $275.64 $358.79
4001–over $382.59 $465.74
Private passenger – electric $187.18 $235.92

Registering your vehicle

If your vehicle is not included in this table, contact us for more information.

Tyre stewardship fee 

You'll pay a tyre stewardship fee when registering a vehicle for the first time. This fee will cover the cost of recycling the tyres when they reach the end of their life. 

For smaller vehicles with a set amount of tyres, you'll pay one fee for the vehicle. For larger types of vehicles that could have a variable amount of tyres, you'll pay a fee for each tyre. 

   Fee per vehicle (incl GST)
Passenger vehicle (car) $38.24
Light goods vehicle (up to 3500kg) $76.47
Small bus (more than 9 seating positions and under 3500kg)
  Fee per tyre (incl GST)
Medium goods vehicle 3500kg-6000kg $15.29
6001kg-9000kg $24.47
9001kg-12,000kg $32.12
Large goods vehicle Over 12,000kg
Medium bus 3500kg-5000kg $15.29
Large bus Over 5000kg $32.12

Tyre stewardship fee for all vehicle types - Waste Minimisation (Tyres) Regulations 2023(external link)

Tyrewise – Turning waste into opportunity(external link)

Tyrewise – Frequently asked questions(external link)

Synthetic greenhouse gas levy

Owners of passenger vehicles and goods vehicles that contain the synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG) HFC-134a (R134a) in the air conditioning unit are required to pay a synthetic greenhouse gas levy when their vehicle is registered.

Passenger car/van 2024 Levy rate ($)
Small passenger vehicle
(cars and vans with no more than nine seating positions including the driver)
$64.56
Medium bus
(passenger vehicle with more than nine seating positions including the driver with a gross vehicle mass five tonne or less)
$86.07
Large bus
(passenger vehicle with more than nine seating positions including the driver with a gross vehicle mass over five tonne)
$430.38
Goods vehicles 2024 Levy rate ($)
Small goods vehicles
(vehicles constructed primarily for the carriage of goods with a gross vehicle mass 3500kg or less)
$64.56
Large goods vehicles
(vehicles constructed primarily for the carriage of goods with a gross vehicle mass over 3500kg)
$86.07

Annual updates to synthetic greenhouse gas levy rates (Ministry for the Environment website)(external link)

Climate Change (Emissions Trading Scheme and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Levies) Amendment Regulations 2022(external link)

New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS)(external link)

VIN data maintenance fee

This fee is charged to the first registered person of all vehicles new to New Zealand. It covers the cost to Waka Kotahi of maintaining the integrity of vehicle identification number (VIN) data in the motor vehicle register.

  Fee (incl GST)
VIN data maintenance fee $8.60

Chassis rating fee

This fee is charged at registration for heavy vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) over 3500kg. It covers the cost to Waka Kotahi to assess the chassis rating of a vehicle.

  Fee (incl GST)
Vehicle chassis rating fee $40.97