If a vehicle inspector considers that your vehicle's exhaust system may be too noisy, your vehicle will undergo an objective noise test.
Find out what the objective noise test involves
The noise of your vehicle may not be related to your exhaust system and the police have different penalties for noise depending on what causes it. If the cause is a noisy exhaust, they can issue you with an infringement notice and/or withdraw your warrant of fitness.
Read the detailed requirements for exhaust systems in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment 2004.
We collect information about the fuel consumption of every light vehicle (except motorcycles) when it is entry certified. Since the Clean Car scheme was introduced in 2022, we also collect information about carbon dioxide emissions.
The consumption information we collect helps us to develop polices to improve the fuel economy and reduce fuel consumption and harmful CO2 emission across New Zealand. This information can be helpful when choosing your next vehicle.
Vehicle Efficiency and Emissions Data 2022 [PDF, 320 KB] contains detailed requirements for fuel consumption information.
You can use our online tool to provide the fuel consumption compliance information.
Pre-compliance tools for importers and certifiers(external link)
Just enter your vehicle data on the website. You’ll then receive a fuel consumption certificate which you take to the entry certifier.
Most vehicles entering New Zealand must be manufactured to meet an approved emissions standard.
Entry certifiers check the vehicle’s compliance with emissions standards as part of assessing a vehicle for registration for use on our roads.
You may not have to prove your vehicle complies with this requirement if:
it is more than 20 years old
it is a ‘special interest’ vehicle
you’re emigrating to New Zealand and seeking to bring a class MA, MB or MC vehicle with you.
For hybrid and plug-in electric hybrid cars you must:
show that they are certified to meet appropriate emissions and safety standards
provide fuel consumption information.
For a battery electric car – totally powered by electricity – you must show it meets safety standards. But you don't need to provide:
evidence that it meet emissions standards
fuel consumption information.
The approved emissions standards we recognise are from Japan, USA, Australia and Europe. The Vehicle inspection requirements manual – entry certification outlines these requirements.
Technical bulletin 28 – Exhaust emissions standards compliance(external link)
Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007 contains a more detailed breakdown.
Owners of passenger vehicles and goods vehicles that contain a synthetic greenhouse gas (SGG) in the air conditioning unit are required to pay a synthetic greenhouse levy when their vehicle is registered.
The levy needs to be paid in addition to the registration fees above. The levy is collected by the NZ Transport Agency on behalf of the Environmental Protection Authority.
New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme(external link)
Check the levy you will need to pay when registering your vehicle
