Road User Charges (RUC)
Road User Charges (RUC) are a per-distance levy paid by certain vehicles to fund New Zealand roads. Diesel vehicles and vehicles over 3,500 kg gross laden weight pay RUC (heavy electric vehicles are exempt until 30 June 2027). Since 1 April 2024, electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in New Zealand are also required to pay RUC. EVs had been exempt since 2009 to encourage people to buy them; that exemption ended on 31 March 2024.
When buying a used vehicle that requires RUC, check that the RUC licence covers the vehicle’s current odometer reading. If it does not, the unpaid RUC fees become your liability once you take ownership.
Which vehicles pay RUC?
- Diesel vehicles of any weight, plus all vehicles over 3,500 kg gross laden weight (heavy electric vehicles are exempt until 30 June 2027)
- Electric vehicles (EVs): battery-electric vehicles with a gross vehicle mass over 1,000 kg, required to hold a RUC licence since 1 April 2024
- Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs): pay a reduced RUC rate to account for the petrol excise duty already paid on the petrol component
- Petrol-only vehicles and standard (non-plug-in) hybrids pay fuel excise duty at the pump and do not need a separate RUC licence
How to buy or renew a RUC licence
RUC licences can be purchased by distance (in units of 1,000 km) or by date. Buy online through NZTA or at any NZTA agent such as VTNZ or NZ Post. To find out where to buy a RUC licence, contact the Road User Charges helpdesk on 0800 655 644.
RUC alerts explained
Here is what each Road User Charges alert on a MotorWeb Vehicle Information Report means, and what to do before you buy.
Check current odometer/hubometer reading does not exceed RUC
This vehicle requires a valid Road User Charges (RUC) licence to legally be on the road. A RUC licence is paid for in advance and expires after a certain mileage is reached.
Because we do not know the vehicle’s current odometer reading, you need to check that the odometer reading does not exceed the end distance of the RUC licence. If it does, there are unpaid RUC fees that you will be liable to pay if you buy the vehicle.
Sometimes the RUC distance is recorded from the vehicle’s hubometer (on the axle), whereas the odometer readings are taken from the dashboard odometer. This can result in the RUC distance appearing to be exceeded when it has not.
Our recommendation
Check whether the odometer or hubometer exceeds the RUC end distance. If it does, factor the unpaid RUC fees into the sale price negotiation.
A new RUC can be purchased from NZTA online or from any NZTA agent (for example VTNZ or NZ Post). To find out where to buy a RUC licence, contact the Road User Charges helpdesk on 0800 655 644.
Road User Charges (RUC) has not been issued
This vehicle requires a RUC to legally be on the road; however there is no record of a RUC ever having been issued for this vehicle.
The vehicle is either brand new, a recent import, or is not used on a public road (for example a farm vehicle). For an electric vehicle, any distance driven on the road since 1 April 2024 without a RUC licence is unpaid RUC, which becomes your liability if you buy it.
If you want to buy the vehicle and drive it legally on the road you must have a RUC issued. It is recommended that the current owner (the seller) supply a current RUC before the sale.
To find out where to buy a RUC licence, contact the Road User Charges helpdesk on 0800 655 644.
Road User Charges (RUC) expired on...
This is an advisory message telling you that this vehicle has a time-based RUC which has expired.
This vehicle requires a valid RUC to legally be on the road.
To find out where to buy a RUC licence, contact the Road User Charges helpdesk on 0800 655 644.
Road User Charges (RUC) will expire on...
This vehicle requires a valid RUC to legally be on the road. RUC licences can be purchased by distance (in units of 1,000 km) or by date.
The cost of a RUC varies depending upon the type of vehicle, weight, and fuel type (diesel, electric, or plug-in hybrid).
Our recommendation
Ask the seller to renew the RUC before settlement, or contact any NZTA agent (for example VTNZ or NZ Post) to determine the outstanding amount.
To buy a RUC licence, contact the Road User Charges helpdesk on 0800 655 644.