RUC rates and transaction fees

RUC rate changes April 2022

The government has announced a transport package to support New Zealanders through the global energy crisis. 

This package includes a 36 percent cut to RUC rates from 21 April 2022 to 31 January 2023. 

More information about the road user charges rates reduction scheme

Minister Wood's announcement of transport support package details(external link)

Road user charges rates

Check the tables below to see the rates for your vehicle type:

• RUC administration fees
• Distance licences for powered vehicles
• Distance licences for unpowered vehicles
• Distance licences for all terrain cranes
• Distance licences for vintage vehicles
• Distance licences for motor caravans
• RUC rates for distance licences for overweight specialist RUC vehicles
• Distance licences for Type H vehicles
• Additional licences for powered vehicles
• Additional licences for all-terrain cranes
• Additional licences for combination vehicles
• Waiver or refund of road user charges

Read the Road User Charges (Rates) Amendment Regulations 2020(external link)

RUC licences for heavy vehicles with a GVM of over 3.5 tonne will expire one month after any rate increase.

This means within one month of a rate change when purchasing a new RUC licence an operator is required to purchase an ‘overlap’ licence that starts from the current hubodometer reading. The end distance of this licence must exceed or be equal to the current licence end distance.

Any unused portion of the current licence is automatically credited against the cost of the new licence.

RUC licences for light vehicles (3.5 tonnes and under) will not expire.

RUC administration fees

An administration fee applies to all types of RUC licence.

RUC rates for distance licences for powered vehicles (except H vehicle types)

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

RUC vehicle type number	Description and example (images are indicative only)	Weight bands	RUC rate up to 20 April 2022	RUC rate from 21 April 2022 to 31 January 2023
1	Powered vehicles with two axles (except type 2 or type 299 vehicles)	Not more than 3.5 tonnes	76	49
		More than 3.5 tonnes and not more than 6 tonnes	82	52
		More than 6 tonnes and not more than 9 tonnes	167	107
		Any RUC weight more than 9 tonnes	352	225
2	Powered vehicles with one single-tyred spaced axle and one twin-tyred spaced axle	Not more than 6 tonnes	80	51
		More than 6 tonnes and not more than 9 tonnes	126	81
		More than 9 tonnes and not more than 12 tonnes	172	110
		Any RUC weight more than 12 tonnes	315	202
311 (Bus)	Powered passenger service vehicles with three axles	Not more than 18 tonnes	336	215
		Any weight more than 18 tonnes	413	264
6	Powered vehicles with three axles, (except type 308, 309, 311, 399 or 413 vehicles)	Not more than 12 tonnes	110	70
		More than 12 tonnes and not more than 18 tonnes	356	228
		Any RUC weight more than 18 tonnes	434	278
14	Powered vehicles with four axles (except type 408, 414 or type 499 vehicles)	All RUC weights	435	278
19	Powered vehicles with five or more axles (except type 599 vehicles)	All RUC weights	389	249
308	Towing vehicles with three axles that are part of a combination vehicle with a total of at least 8 axles	All RUC weights	431	276
408	Towing vehicles with four axles that are part of a combination vehicle with a total of at least 8 axles	All RUC weights	401	257
309	Towing vehicles with three axles that are part of a combination vehicle with a total of at least 9 axles	All RUC weights	346	221

RUC rates for distance licences for unpowered vehicles

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

RUC vehicle type number	Description	Weight bands	RUC rate up to 20 April 2022	RUC rate from 21 April 2022 to 31 January 2023
24	Unpowered vehicles with one axle	All RUC weights	126	81
28	Unpowered vehicles with two axles (except vehicle types 29, 30 and 929)	Not more than 10 tonnes	48	31
		Any RUC weight more than 10 tonnes	311	199
29	Unpowered vehicles with two twin-tyred, or single large-tyred close axles, (except vehicle type 929)	Not more than 10 tonnes	41	26
		Any RUC weight more than 10 tonnes	139	89
30	Unpowered vehicles with two twin-tyred spaced axles	Not more than 10 tonnes	41	26
		Any RUC weight more than 10 tonnes	234	150
33	Unpowered vehicles with three twin-tyred, or single large-tyred, close axles (except vehicle type 939)	All RUC weights	186	119
37	Unpowered vehicles with three axles, (except vehicle types 33 and 939)	Not more than 10 tonnes	44	28
		Any RUC weight more than 10 tonnes	318	204
43	Unpowered vehicles with four axles	All RUC weights	238	152
951	Unpowered vehicles with five or more axles	All RUC weights	179	115
929	Leading trailer with two twin-tyred, or single large-tyred, close axles	All RUC weights	101	65
939	Leading trailer with three twin-tyred, or single large-tyred, close axles	All RUC weights	67	43

RUC rates for distance licences for all terrain cranes**

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

**An all-terrain crane is a non-load-carrying self-propelled vehicle designed solely or principally for lifting objects using a boom with lifting gear and with a tyre contact area of more than 1500cm² per tyre.

RUC rates for distance licences for vintage vehicles*

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

*A vintage powered vehicle means a motor vehicle that is more than 40 years old on the date that it is registered, reregistered or licensed, and is not used for commercial purposes.

+Note: a vintage powered vehicle with two axles and a RUC weight of 12 tonnes or less remains a RUC vehicle type 1.

RUC rates for distance licences for motor caravans*

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

* A motor caravan is a motor vehicle that:

1. has more than one-half of the vehicle floor area permanently fitted out for accommodation by the inclusion of sleeping and cooking facilities; and
2. is registered as a motor caravan on the register of motor vehicles maintained under section 234 of the Land Transport Act 1998.

but does not include a combination vehicle.

RUC rates for distance licences for overweight specialist RUC vehicles

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

RUC rates for distance licences for type H vehicles

These licences substitute for the standard type licences for the powered vehicles. They are to be used in combination with the appropriate standard licences for the related trailers.

RUC rates are $ per 1000km, GST inclusive

RUC rates for additional licences for powered vehicles

Additional licences must be purchased for any vehicle operating on an overweight permit. The weights shown refer to the amount of additional weight allowed under the permit.

These licences are in addition to the standard licences that must also be carried by the vehicles concerned at all times.

Rates of road user charges for additional licences for powered RUC vehicles ($ per km, GST inclusive)

Additional rates up to 20 April 2022

Additional RUC rates between 21 April 2022 and 31 January 2023

RUC rates for additional licences for all-terrain cranes

Additional licences must be purchased for any vehicle operating on an over-weight permit. The weights shown refer to the amount of additional weight allowed under the permit.

These licences are in addition to the standard licences that must also be carried by the vehicles concerned at all times.

Rates of road user charges for additional licences for all-terrain cranes ($ per km GST inclusive)

Additional rates up to 20 April 2022

Additional rates from 21 April 2022 to 31 January 2023

RUC rates for additional licences for combination vehicles

Additional licences must be purchased for any combination vehicle operating on an over-weight permit. The weights shown refer to the amount of additional weight allowed under the permit. These licences are in addition to the standard licences that must also be carried by the vehicles concerned at all times.

Charges for additional licences for combination vehicles ($ per km GST inclusive)

Additional rates up to 20 April 2022

Additional rates from 21 April 2022 to 31 January 2023

Road user charges handbook

The Road user charges handbook is unavailable during the discount period. Check the tables above for the rates that apply during the discount period. 

Waiver or refund of RUC

Under section 33 of the Road User Charges Act 2012, Waka Kotahi (as RUC collector) may waive or refund road user charges if satisfied that the vehicle will, or is likely to pay, excessive road user charges.

In deciding whether to waive charges, Waka Kotahi may only consider the road wear that is likely to be caused by the owner's RUC vehicle.

Applications under section 33 will generally be considered where the axle configuration or the wheel type and/or tyre size differ from the norm for the allocated RUC vehicle type. Even when these do differ, a waiver or refund will not necessarily be applied.

Certain factors will not usually be considered under section 33. These include:

• whatever sits above the vehicle chassis – unless there are legal limitations that apply to whatever sits above the vehicle chassis

• the purpose for which a vehicle is used

• the fact that a vehicle operates in the lower part of, or below, its allocated weight band. (The rates in the new legislation are set for an average of the weight band and are intended to apply to all vehicles within a band regardless of the actual weight.)

• the age of a vehicle and/or the fact that it always travels unladen.

The Transport Agency has absolute discretion in its decision to waive part of the road user charges under section 33.

Once a decision is made, there is no ability to apply for a review of that decision. You may seek a judicial review with the High Court. If you choose to do this it is advisable to seek legal guidance.