Paying levies if you own or drive a vehicle

How you pay the Motor Vehicle levy

You pay the Motor Vehicle levy in two different ways:

• at the petrol pump – currently at 6 cents per litre
• as part of your vehicle licence (rego) fee.

For non-petrol vehicles, e.g. diesel, or electric, you pay your whole levy through your vehicle licence (rego).

Levies for different types of vehicles

Petrol vehicles

If your vehicle runs on petrol, you’ll pay part of your Motor Vehicle levy when you fill up at the pump and part through your vehicle licence (rego). The current petrol levy rate is 6 cents per litre.

Why you pay levies on petrol

Paying part of your Motor Vehicle levy at the pump is one way to make it fairer for everyone on the road:

• the more you drive, the more at risk you are of an accident, and so the more you pay
• if you own many vehicles, you only pay part of the levy based on how much you use each one
• ensures vehicles without a vehicle licence (rego) are still paying towards the cost of injuries.

Diesel vehicles

You will pay your entire Motor Vehicle levy when you licence your diesel vehicle. You won’t pay any other levies when you buy diesel.

Levies on diesel vehicles are structured this way because diesel powers more than just road vehicles, eg boats and farm vehicles. So it isn’t appropriate to add a levy at the diesel pump.

Hybrid vehicles

Hybrid vehicles, including petrol-powered plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), still need some petrol to run. These are classed as ‘petrol’ vehicles. This means you’ll pay your Motor Vehicle levy both at the pump and in your vehicle licence (rego).

Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) and diesel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are classed as non-petrol vehicles. As you don't purchase petrol, you will pay your entire levy when you renew your licence for your vehicle.

Paying levies as part of your vehicle licence (rego)

The levy on your vehicle licence (rego) depends on how much risk you're exposed to by travelling in your vehicle.

Cars and light passenger vehicles

The classification of vehicles is broken down into petrol and non-petrol.

Current vehicle licence (rego) levy rates for light passenger vehicle classes (excluding GST)

Vehicle type	Current levy rate
Petrol	$56.75
Non-petrol only	$115.34

Mopeds, scooters and motorcycles

Current levy rates for mopeds, scooters and motorcycles (excluding GST)

Vehicle class	Petrol	Non-petrol
Mopeds and scooters	$111.93	$125.36
Small motorcycles (250cc or less)	$336.70	$350.13
Medium motorcycles (251-750cc)	$467.18	$480.61
Large motorcycles (over 750cc)	$649.93	$663.36

$25 from these rates goes toward funding motorcycle safety initiatives.

How we set moped, scooter and motorcycle rego levies

We base our moped, scooter and motorcycle levies on crash data from the Ministry of Transport. The data shows that:

• motorcycling is riskier than travelling in other types of vehicles
• the cost of treating injuries from motorcycle accidents is higher than other injuries
• there’s a strong link between engine size and the cost of an injury.

Current levies collected from motorcycles make up 33% of the cost of motorcycle injuries. Other Motor Vehicle owners cover the rest.

We use motorcycle crash data from the Ministry of Transport.

Latest motorcycle crash data on the Ministry of Transport website.

Goods service vehicles (GSVs)

A goods service vehicle is a vehicle thats main use is to carry goods. A vehicle is determined to be a GSV when it’s first registered in New Zealand. The current vehicle licence (rego) fee levy rates (excluding GST) for GSVs are:

Vehicle class	Petrol	Non-petrol
Light (weighing 3,500kg or less)	$94.30	$147.41
Heavy (not in ACC Fleet Saver)	$246.27	$263.59

How we set GSV rego levies

There is no TSSI crash data for GSVs, so we base their vehicle licence (rego) levies on weight.

Vintage vehicles

A vehicle (including motorcycles) is vintage if it’s 40 years or over. The current vehicle licence (rego) levy rates for vintage vehicles are:

Vehicle class	Petrol	Non-petrol
Class 3 and 7	$30.40	$61.80

Levy discount for motorcyclists with advanced rider training

Motorcyclists who complete a Ride Forever Gold course may be eligible for a 25% discount on their ACC motor vehicle levy, for each vehicle they own and licence.  This discount is called ACC Rider Reward.

ACC Rider Reward acknowledges and rewards riders who take proactive steps to develop their skills and enhance their on-road decision making, with the 25% levy discount reflecting the significantly lower injury risk observed among riders who complete advanced training.

The discount is automatically applied when you purchase your licence with NZTA.

Current vehicle licence (rego) levy rates for ACC Rider Reward classes (excluding GST):

Vehicle class	Petrol	Non-petrol
Small motorcycles (250cc or less) with advanced rider training	$255.42	$268.85
Medium motorcycles (251-750cc) with advanced rider training	$353.27	$366.70
Large motorcycles (over 750cc) with advanced rider training	$490.34	$503.77

$25 from these rates goes toward funding motorcycle safety initiatives.

Learn more about the levy discount and Ride Forever courses here.

Contact us

If you have a question about your Motor Vehicle levy, contact our business team.

Phone 0800 222 776 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
Email business@acc.co.nz

If you have a question about your vehicle classification, contact the NZTA.

Phone 0800 108 809
Email info@nzta.govt.nz