Vehicle traders news

4 July 2024

In this third issue of Vehicle traders news, we fill you in on the latest updates to the Clean Car Standard (CCS) and road user charges (RUC). If you’re a vehicle trader, this is essential information for you.

There's also an update on some of our road safety public awareness activities.

You’re always welcome to drop us an email if there’s any particular topic you’d like more information on. You can also forward this newsletter onto your contacts or colleagues who may be interested in any of the articles or might like to subscribe.

Changes to the act that regulates Clean Car Standard

The Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Act 2024, which passed last week, will make it possible for emissions targets to be adjusted more easily through regulation rather than through legislation, so that it can be more responsive to market conditions.

The changes also allow for the introduction of a user-pays model to cover the administration costs of running the Clean Car Standard.

A review of the Clean Car Standard is currently underway. We’ll keep you updated on any changes.

Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Act 2024

More interest in vehicle safety

Public interest in vehicle safety has jumped in recent months.

Over the past six months, the number of people visiting the Rightcar website has significantly increased. Most are checking the details of their current car, and/or a potential future one.

The biggest spike in visitors to Rightcar was in early December following the release of the 2023 used car safety ratings and associated media coverage. Since February, there’s a notable boost in interest too, driven by our latest vehicle safety advertising campaign.

We shared the new campaign with you in our last e-newsletter. You can expect to see these ads again later this year as part of our continuing effort to raise awareness of vehicle safety ratings.

Consumers’ interest in crash avoidance features has also grown recently. A new series of videos on Rightcar, explaining features such as automatic emergency braking and lane keeping systems, has received thousands of views in the last couple of months.

Vehicle safety has engaged lots of people at events around the motu too. Our crashed cars exhibit, which shows a video of a crash between a 1- and a 5-star car and the two actual vehicles involved, has been a drawcard at Fieldays and other events.

Elsewhere, the star of an old NZTA advertising campaign is popular when used by councils in their road safety education work. The ‘Decepta’ looks ok on the outside, but on the inside people can see what happens to a vehicle with little safety substance in a crash.

It’s easy to maximise your customers’ understanding of vehicle safety. You can display vehicle safety rating labels and include relevant vehicle safety information in your listings. Use the links below to find out more.

Create rating labels for vehicles you’re selling

Explaining the safety rating system

Explaining crash avoidance features in vehicles

Check our current safe vehicles ad campaign

Watch our 1-star vs 5-star car crash test video

RUC now apply to all BEVs and PHEVs

RUC now apply to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) – so make sure you comply.

The change, effective from 31 May, means any BEVs and PHEVs you sell must have a current RUC licence. It's an offence to sell one of these vehicles without one.

The RUC rate for light BEVs is $76 per 1000km, while for PHEVs, it’s $38 per 1000km. The PHEV rate is lower as it recognises that owners also pay tax when they buy petrol.

Helpful tips for vehicle traders

• Include how much RUC has already been bought as part of on-road costs (ORC) in your sale agreements.
• Buy RUC online for BEVs and PHEVs via the NZTA website, in person via an NZTA agent, or through your usual processes. The minimum purchase is 1000km.
• Let buyers know they’ll need to maintain a RUC licence and keep it up to date.

For more information, including a definition of which vehicles are subject to RUC, see our website.

www.nzta.govt.nz/ruc-ev

For more information about RUC in general, visit:

www.nzta.govt.nz/about-ruc

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) has published a glossary of vehicle types you may find helpful:

Vehicle classifications

Please email ruc-ev@nzta.govt.nz if you have any questions.

Did you know?

• Consumer recently surveyed over 8,000 New Zealanders to find out which cars have the most satisfied owners. The survey included questions on practicality, safety and performance. Read more on the Consumer website.
  
  Survey results: best and worst cars 
   
• Public consultation is open on a new approach to setting speed limits. You can find out more about the draft Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024 and make a submission (by 11 July) via the Ministry of Transport website.  
  
  Setting of speed limits consultation

More information

To find out more about the topics covered on the newsletter or to share your feedback, contact us on vehicletraders@nzta.govt.nz