Glossary

A vehicle can be registered as follows:

• New — new vehicle never registered before
• Used — used vehicle previously registered in another country
• Re-registered — vehicle previously registered in New Zealand.
• Scratch Built — a motor vehicle which is either:
  • Assembled from previously unrelated components and construction materials which have not been predominantly sourced donors of a single make or model and which, in its completed form, never previously existed as a mass-produced vehicle, although the external appearance may resemble or replicate an existing vehicle; or
  • a modified production vehicle which contains less than the following componentry from a mass-produced vehicle of a single make and model:
    • 40% of the chassis rails and 50% of the crossmembers, or alternatively 40% of a spaceframe, or 40% of the floorpan of a unitary constructed body, which ever is appropriate: or
    • for light vehicles, 40% of the bodywork (based on surface area of body panels but does not include the floorpan, internal bracing, sub panels, bulkheads or firewall)

Total displacement in cubic centimetres of all cylinders of the engine of a motor vehicle.

Some older vehicles may show incorrect values depending on whether or not the original displacement measurements had been converted from cubic inches or other measurement units before introduction of the metric system.

Certificate of Fitness inspection is normally applicable to heavy vehicles such as Trucks, Articulated Trailers etc. COF Inspections are required for vehicle safety purposes.

A vehicle that requires a COF cannot legally be used on the road unless it has a current COF.

Prior to 30 October 1995, the seller of a vehicle was entirely liable for the lodgement and payment of the “Notice of Change of Ownership”.

As from 30 October 1995, the responsibility is shared between the seller and the buyer. This new “Change of Ownership” process occurs in 2 steps:

1. Lodgement of the seller’s notice of disposal (normally by the seller).
2. Lodgement of the buyer’s notice of acquisition (normally by the buyer).

The seller does not pay any fee for the “Change of Ownership” when lodging the seller’s notice of disposal (on form MR13A).

A fee is payable by the buyer on lodgement of the Buyer’s notice of acquisition (on form MR13B).

A new owner is:

• Unconfirmed — when a form MR13A has been lodged by the seller, but the MR13B has yet to be lodged by the buyer;
• Incomplete — when the buyer has lodged the MR13B, but failed to produce a valid ID at the time of lodgement of the form;
• Complete — when a form MR13B has been lodged and a valid ID has been produced, either together with the MR13B, or with a form MR34 if is presented at a different time after lodgement of the MR13B.

Prior to 1990, only chassis numbers were recorded. These cannot be used to uniquely identify a vehicle. With the introduction of the VIN system in 1990 a unique number is now being recorded.

Most vehicles registered before 1990 will have only the chassis number recorded unless the vehicle has had a VIN applied by a VIN agent.

Vehicles that were registered after 1990 may have both a VIN and a chassis number in cases where the manufacturer has not applied a VIN. However, most manufacturers now use VIN’s in place of chassis numbers. It is now compulsory for every vehicle that is registered in NZ for the first time to have a VIN. This includes used imported vehicles.

It is in the interests of vehicle owners to have a VIN on their vehicle as a protection against vehicle fraud since it gives a unique reference to a vehicle.

As from 1 September 1997, the law requires the majority of vehicles to be licensed continuously. The Continuous Vehicle Licensing (CVL) requirement means all vehicle owners pay the required amount and people who pay late pay the same as everyone else.

Most Vehicles are subject to CVL. Some Vehicles that are used only seasonally (such as Caravans) are not subject to CVL. The Continuous Licence flag will show either YES or NO to indicate whether a Vehicle Type is subject to CVL or not.

CVL means that if a person fails to renew their licence by the expiry date, they will be required to pay for the licence back to the expiry date until the vehicle is given an exemption or ceases to be registered.

Country where the vehicle is built or manufactured (not merely assembled). Vehicles assembled in New Zealand are put together from CKD packs (“Completely-Knocked-Down”). They are not made in New Zealand — their Country of Origin will be the country from which the CKD packs are imported.

Crown Plates are Plates reserved for Motor Vehicles registered for use by Government officials. Crown Plates are issued from the range: CR1 – CR9999. Crown Plates can be returned and re-issued to different vehicles.