Buying a used electric vehicle in NZ: what to check

EV Road User Charges: the 2024 change

Since 1 April 2024, light battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in New Zealand have had to pay Road User Charges (RUC). This applies to both new and used EVs. Plug-in hybrids pay a lower rate than battery EVs.

Before buying a used EV, check whether the RUC licence is current. A MotorWeb VIR^® shows the RUC licence’s end distance and flags a vehicle that needs RUC but has none. Enter the odometer reading in the report and it works out how much RUC is owing.

A RUC licence runs out at a distance, not a date. Check its end distance against the odometer: if the odometer has passed it, RUC must be bought to cover the distance travelled before the car is driven. RUC is bought in 1,000 km units from NZTA or its agents. See how Road User Charges work for more detail.

Purely petrol vehicles and standard petrol-hybrid vehicles (such as the Toyota Prius) are not required to pay RUC. They pay fuel excise duty instead. Battery EVs pay RUC only; plug-in hybrids pay RUC at the lower rate plus fuel tax at the pump.

What a MotorWeb check covers for EVs

A VIR^® for an electric vehicle covers the same 70+ checks as any other vehicle:

• Money owing (PPSR security interests)
• Whether the vehicle is reported stolen
• Road User Charges status
• Warrant of Fitness status
• Odometer history and inconsistency flags
• Damaged import flags (for imported EVs)
• Registration status (for privacy reasons, not a private registered person’s name)
• A check that the plate you searched is the vehicle’s current plate, and every plate and the VIN NZTA holds for it

MotorWeb does not check battery health or remaining battery capacity. That requires a separate battery diagnostic from a qualified EV technician.

EV-specific risks to check before buying

Battery health

Battery degradation is the biggest used-EV risk that a VIR^® cannot address. EV batteries lose capacity over time and charge cycles. A vehicle showing 150 km of range from a battery originally rated at 250 km is a very different proposition from one that still delivers 220 km.

Ask the seller for a battery health report. For Nissan Leafs (the most common used EV in NZ), battery capacity is shown as a bar display in the instrument cluster. Specialist EV workshops can provide a detailed state-of-health report for most models.

Charging equipment and costs

Check what charging cable and adapters are included. Home charging from a standard wall socket is slow, adding roughly 10 to 15 km of range an hour: fine for overnight top-ups, slow for a full charge. A dedicated wallbox is several times faster. Installing one typically costs $1,500 to $3,000, more if your switchboard needs upgrading, and must be done by a registered electrician.

Japanese-imported EVs

Many used EVs in NZ were imported from Japan, including most Nissan Leafs, which came with several battery sizes, so confirm which one the car has. A MotorWeb VIR^® shows whether NZTA have flagged the vehicle as a damaged import. See Japanese import checks for more.

Software and warranty

Check whether any manufacturer warranty on the battery is transferable and still valid; terms vary by brand and age, so ask the NZ distributor. Some older imports have also lost connected services, such as app control, that relied on networks since shut down.

Steps for buying a used EV safely in NZ

1. Run a MotorWeb VIR^® using the plate number. Check money owing, RUC status, and registration.
2. Get a battery health report from a specialist EV workshop.
3. Confirm what charging equipment is included and whether home charging is practical for your situation.
4. Check the battery warranty status with the manufacturer or importer.
5. Change the registered person with NZTA on the day of sale. It is free online, or use the MR13B form at an NZTA agent.