Before you drive your car in New Zealand you need to make sure it is registered and has a current vehicle licence and a warrant of fitness.
Warrant of fitness inspections
A warrant of fitness (WoF) is a compulsory safety inspection carried out by approved testing stations every six months, or every 12 months if registered less than six years ago.
If it passes, a WoF sticker with an expiry date is attached to the inside of the front windscreen. Your car must be inspected again before the expiry date.
It is illegal to drive a vehicle if it does not pass the WoF or does not have a valid WoF sticker.
A WoF will cost between $25-$45 for the mechanics time plus any repairs needed for the warrant.
Vehicle licensing
In New Zealand you need to pay a motor vehicle licensing fee (often incorrectly called registration) to use your car on public roads. The fee is compulsory and helps pay for roading projects and road safety programmes.
You can licence your vehicle for three months, six months or 12 months. You need a current warrant of fitness to get a licence label.
Private petrol passenger car licensing fees (as at October 1 2007)
| 3 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| 51.50 | 95.39 | 183.22 |
You can buy one from the Land Transport Safety Authority or the local post shop.
You will be given a label that shows the date your licence expires and you must display it on the left-hand side of your windscreen.
If the vehicle remains unlicensed for 12 months, its registration will be cancelled.
Registration
Vehicles must be added to the Motor Vehicle Register and issued registration plates. This is only done once, the initial recording of a vehicle, unless it has been significantly modified.
Road user charges
If you drive a diesel or electric car you need to pay road user charges (petrol road users pay levies in the price of their fuel).
You will probably need a distance licence - purchased in 1000 km units (621 miles). Your vehicle must be continuously licensed. The amount you pay will depend on the vehicles type and weight.
See the LTSA fact sheet on road user charges for more information.
More information
To find out more you can contact a vehicle registration and licensing centre.
Land Transport New Zealand agents include:
The LTSA Transaction Centre
The Automobile Association (AA)
Post Shops and Books & More outlets
On Road New Zealand
Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ)
Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)