April 2025
Kia ora,
Welcome to the first Motor Vehicle Traders Register newsletter for 2026. I hope you have had an enjoyable summer with whānau and friends and are refreshed for the year ahead.
In this edition of the newsletter we:
- highlight your key obligations as a motor vehicle trader, including expectations for repairs and reasonable timeframes
- outline MBIE’s proactive approach to compliance, including data-matching with the New Zealand Transport Agency to identify sales that may need registration
- provide an update on enforcement action against rogue traders, and explain what the ‘display for sale’ decision means in practice for online advertising and the registration threshold
- summarise key learnings from the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal annual report and other recent Tribunal decisions, including the importance of addressing concerns early and resolving disputes directly with buyers where possible.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to meeting your obligations as a registered motor vehicle trader.
Ngā mihi,
Duncan Connor
Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders
Understanding your obligations as a trader
Being a registered motor vehicle trader means more than selling vehicles. You must also understand and meet your regalatory obligations. Keeping up to date with the law that applies to your business helps you avoid non-compliance, complaints, and enforcement action.
MBIE’s proactive approach to compliance
MBIE is using a proactive, education‑led approach to identify potential unregistered motor vehicle traders and support compliance with the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.
MBIE cracks down on rogue traders to protect car buyers
MBIE is taking proactive action to protect consumers and maintain confidence in the motor vehicle sales industry.
MVDT annual report: key learnings for traders
MBIE have published some key learnings for traders from a selection of decisions highlighted in the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal’s latest annual report
Recent MVDT decisions – March 2026
Two recent MVDT decisions show how the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA) is applied to disputes about vehicle quality, durability, and remedies.
