Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles need to have a road user charges licence

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been exempted from road user charges (RUC) to encourage their uptake. Now they’ve reached 2% of New Zealand’s fleet (around 100,000 vehicles) the exemption is ending.

This means that any electric vehicle sold on or after 1 April 2024 must have a valid RUC licence at the point of sale. The RUC rate for light EVs will be $76 per 1000km and for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) it will be $53 per 1000km (as they also pay fuel excise duty) plus an admin fee.

You can buy RUC online, in person through a New Zealand Transport Agency agent or, if you’re an industry agent or independent agent, through your usual processes.

For more information, including a definition of which vehicles must pay RUC, see the New Zealand Transport Agency website:

RUC for electric vehicles - New Zealand Transport Agency(external link)

About RUC - New Zealand Transport Agency(external link)

If you have any questions email RUC EV NZTA.