Vehicle registration, often called “rego,” is a necessary part of owning a vehicle in New Zealand. The motor vehicle licence fee, or rego, is a composite cost that includes several components designed to keep you legal on the road and contribute to national transportation funds. This guide breaks down what you need to know about vehicle rego fees to help you understand where your money goes and ensure your vehicle is properly licensed.
Motor vehicle licence fees in New Zealand are comprised of:
- A Licence Fee: This is the core fee associated with licensing your vehicle for road use.
- ACC Levy: This levy contributes to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), providing no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors.
- Administration Fee: This fee covers the costs associated with processing your vehicle licensing.
For vehicles operating under a Transport Service Licence (TSL), such as those used for passenger or goods services, an additional TSL fee is also applicable.
To help you understand the costs involved, here are the most common vehicle licensing (rego) fees. These prices are inclusive of the online administration fee and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
| Most common motor vehicle types/usage | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private passenger vehicle | Petrol | $40.47 | $72.26 |
| Diesel | $57.41 | $106.17 | $203.67 |
| Electric | $40.47 | $72.26 | $135.84 |
| Taxi or rental vehicle | Petrol | $65.17 | $121.69 |
| Diesel | $82.11 | $155.61 | $302.53 |
| Electric | $65.17 | $121.69 | $234.70 |
For motorcycle enthusiasts, understanding Bike Rego costs is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of motorcycle registration fees:
| Motorcycle | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private passenger | Petrol – 0-60cc incl | $108.12 | $207.56 |
| Petrol – 61cc-600cc incl | $112.57 | $216.48 | $424.28 |
| Petrol – 601cc and over | $141.11 | $273.55 | $538.44 |
| A motorcycle registration cashback programme is running until 30 June 2025 |
Mopeds, another popular two-wheeled vehicle, have their own rego fee structure:
| Moped | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private passenger | Petrol | $51.03 | $93.38 |
For those with goods vehicles, such as trucks, vans, and utilities, the fees are categorized by weight and fuel type:
| Goods truck/van/utility | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private passenger | Petrol – 0-3500kg GVM | $49.78 | $90.86 |
| Petrol – 3501–6000kg GVM | $98.39 | $188.12 | $367.56 |
| Diesel – 0-3500kg GVM | $65.62 | $122.59 | $236.52 |
| Diesel – 3501–6000kg GVM | $103.33 | $198.02 | $387.37 |
| Electric – 0-3500kg GVM | $49.78 | $90.86 | $173.06 |
| Electric – 3501–6000kg GVM | $98.39 | $188.12 | $367.56 |
| Transport licensed goods | Petrol – 6000–12000kg GVM | $128.41 | $248.18 |
| Diesel – 6000–12000kg GVM | $133.34 | $258.08 | $507.48 |
| Electric – 6000–12000kg GVM | $128.41 | $248.18 | $487.68 |
| Other (standard) goods | Petrol – 0-3500kg GVM | $49.78 | $90.86 |
| Petrol – 3501–6000kg GVM | $98.39 | $188.12 | $367.56 |
| Diesel – 0–3500kg GVM | $65.62 | $122.59 | $236.52 |
| Diesel – 3501–6000kg GVM | $103.33 | $198.02 | $387.37 |
| Electric – 0-3500kg GVM | $49.78 | $90.86 | $173.06 |
Administration Fees Explained
When you license your vehicle, an administration fee is applied to cover processing costs. The fee varies depending on whether you renew your rego online or in person:
| Motor vehicle licensing (MR1 and MR1B) | Fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Online | $8.66 | |
| At an agent | $11.99 |
Upcoming Changes to Licence Fees
It’s important to be aware of upcoming changes to the vehicle licence fee portion of your rego. While the ACC levy and administration fees can fluctuate, the annual licence fee itself had remained unchanged since 1994.
However, starting January 1, 2025, the government has decided to increase these fees to align them with inflation since 1994. This means you can expect to see a change in your rego costs. Furthermore, similar increases are planned again for January 2026.
The majority of the funds collected through vehicle rego fees are directed to the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF), which is used to improve and maintain New Zealand’s land transport network. Other portions are allocated to ACC, administration, and GST.
To check the specific rego fee for your vehicle, you can use the Rightcar website. If your vehicle type isn’t listed in the tables provided, it is recommended to contact the relevant authorities for precise fee information. You can also renew your vehicle licence online via the official NZTA website.
By understanding the breakdown of vehicle rego fees, including costs for different vehicle types from cars to bike rego, you can better plan for vehicle ownership expenses and stay compliant with New Zealand regulations.
