Apply to register as a motor vehicle trader

If your motor vehicle trading business is a registered company on the New Zealand Companies Register, then you must register as a company.

If you're an overseas company trading motor vehicles in New Zealand (or planning to), you can't register as a motor vehicle trader, but you do have other options.

Overseas companies trading motor vehicles in New Zealand

Who completes the application

If you are registering as a company, your application for registration must be completed by someone who is involved with the management of the company, such as a director or the CEO. Applications must not be completed by non-management staff.

Information we need from you

We'll ask you for:

• your registered company’s trading name and New Zealand Business Number (NZBN)
• an address for service (a physical address – not PO Box or rural delivery)
• other contact information such as a postal address, a physical address, an email address, and phone numbers.

Because your application form will retrieve and use data from the NZBN Register, you must make sure that your company’s information on the NZBN Register is correct. If not, you will need to update your information via the Companies Register before starting your application.

Companies Register(external link)

We'll also ask for the following information for everyone involved in the management of the business. This includes all directors listed on the NZBN register, along with the Chief Executive or equivalent:

• their full legal name as shown on their birth certificate or passport – including any middle names
• their date of birth
• their current occupation
• their residential address (where the person lives)
• their driver licence and passport numbers.

We’ll also provide you with statutory declaration forms for all listed people to complete. These must be downloaded and signed by the appropriate people before an authorised witness. You can save your application and return to it later to upload the completed forms. The information in your application must be accurate. It is an offence to provide a false certificate or statutory declaration with an application.

The Registrar reserves the right to refuse any applications that are not completed by the appropriate person, or which contain inaccurate or false information. Your application fee will not be refunded if we refuse your application. If you do not have a current registration, you must stop trading.

Complete and submit your application online

Apply to register your company as a motor vehicle trader at the link below. If you are not logged in, this will prompt you to log in with your RealMe® username and password.

Register as a Motor Vehicle Trader (Company)(external link)

Filing your application

1. In the Entity Details page, enter your NZBN and get your details from the NZBN Register, then add your company’s trading name(s). You can also add your company’s NZTA customer number(s). When you have finished, click the Continue button.
2. In the Addresses page, confirm if your company’s address for service is correct, then enter your company’s contact details. When you have finished, click the Continue button.
   1. The address from your NZBN entry will display as your company’s default address for service. You can enter a different service address in its place.
   2. You can enter a postal address and a physical address of operations. 
   3. The registered address on this page is based on your company’s information in the NZBN Register and cannot be changed. If this address is incorrect, you will need to change it in the Companies Register first.
3. In the Role Holder(s) Details page, enter the details for each of your company’s directors and CEOs. When you have finished, click the Continue button.
   1. The directors listed on this page are based on your company’s information in the NZBN Register. Click the Edit Role Holder option to add additional information for these directors.
   2. You cannot change your company directors’ names or residential addresses. If these are incorrect, you will need to change these in the Companies Register first.
   3. You can confirm the identity of each of your directors and CEOs by providing their New Zealand Passport or New Zealand Drivers’ Licence details.
4. In the Statutory Declaration Form(s) page, download and complete a statutory declaration form for each of your company’s role holders. Once you have uploaded all completed and signed forms, click the Continue button.
   1. We recommend that you download copies of all statutory declaration forms, then save and exit your application. You can resume your application when you have completed and signed your copies.
   2. For each role holder, you can download a copy of the statutory declaration form by clicking the Edit option in that role holder’s entry, then clicking the Download Statutory Declaration Form button.
   3. You can upload completed statutory declarations by clicking the Edit option in that role holder’s entry, then using the Upload signed declaration area.
5. In the Review and Submit page, confirm that the details you have entered are correct, and tick the declaration and confirmation boxes. When you have finished, click the Submit button.
   1. If you need to change any details, click the Edit button next to the information you need to change.
6. In the payment screen, review your application fees and click the Process Payment button to enter and submit your credit card payment details.
   1. In the Tax Invoice Details section, you can click the Change Details button to change the name and address listed on your tax invoice, as well as the email where the invoice will be sent.
   2. Once your payment has completed successfully, your credit card will be charged and an invoice will be sent to the given email address. Click the Complete Transaction button to exit the payment screen.
7. Once your payment has gone through, you will see a message saying that your application has been successfully filed.

Completing the statutory declaration form(s)

As part of your application, you will need to download statutory declaration forms for your company’s role holders to complete. These forms are where your role holders declare that they're not disqualified from registration as a motor vehicle trader under sections 24 and 25 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.

Sections 24 and 25 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003(external link) – New Zealand Legislation

Each statutory declaration form will include the full legal name of the role holder, and must be signed in front of an authorised witness (a solicitor, Justice of the Peace or other person authorised to take a statutory declaration under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957).

Section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957(external link) – New Zealand Legislation

Other options may be possible for role holders who are making declarations from outside New Zealand.

Making declarations outside New Zealand

Privacy notice

The information you provide on this form is required, or requested, under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003. All personal information submitted with this application form will be kept and maintained by the Registrar of the Motor Vehicle Traders in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.

The personal information provided will be used:

• to determine whether your application for registration may be approved and in connection with auditing complaints and disciplinary processes;
• to determine whether legislative requirements disqualify you from registration as a motor vehicle trader;
• for the maintenance and administration of the public register of motor vehicle traders;
• for the maintenance and administration of the motor vehicle trader’s registration regime;
• to communicate information to you relating to the public register of motor vehicle traders, the motor vehicle trader’s registration regime and motor vehicle trading;
• to enforce the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 or of any consumer protection legislation;
• other allowable purposes to administer the register.

Personal information may be disclosed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders in certain circumstances as authorised by the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003, another Act or as permitted by the Privacy Act 2020.

You have the right to access, and request correction to, any personal information about you that is held by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders.

You must register as an individual if you are doing either of the following as an individual or sole trader:

• are in the business of motor vehicle trading, or
• hold out (state, advertise, notify, or represent) that you are a motor vehicle trader.

Note that this applies to individuals and sole traders only. If your business is registered on the Companies Register, you should apply to register as a company.

Who completes the application

If you are registering as an individual or sole trader, you must complete the application for registration yourself.

Information we need from you

We'll ask you for:

• your full legal name as shown on your birth certificate or passport — including any middle names and aliases (other names you are known by)
• your date of birth
• your residential address (where you live)
• an address for service (a physical address – not PO Box or rural delivery)
• all the trading names your business uses
• other contact information such as an email address and phone numbers
• your driver licence and passport numbers.

We’ll also provide you with a statutory declaration form for you to complete. You must download this form and sign it before an authorised witness. You can save your application and return to it later to upload the completed form.

The information you provide must be accurate. It is an offence to provide a false certificate or statutory declaration with an application.

The Registrar reserves the right to refuse any applications that are not completed by the appropriate person, or which contain inaccurate or false information. Your application fee will not be refunded if we refuse your application. If you do not have a current registration, you must stop trading.

Complete and submit your application online

Apply to register as an individual motor vehicle trader at the link below. If you are not logged in, this will prompt you to log in with your RealMe® username and password.

Register as a Motor Vehicle Trader (Individual)(external link)

Filing your application

1. In the Preliminary Questions page, answer the questions on screen. When you have finished, click the Continue button.
2. In the Individual Details page, enter your details. You can also enter your New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) or NZTA customer number(s), if applicable. When you have finished, click the Continue button.
   1. If you enter an NZBN, the address from your NZBN entry will display as your default address for service. You can enter a different service address in its place.
   2. If the address in the NZBN Register is incorrect, you will need to change this in the NZBN Register before submitting your application.
   3. You can confirm your identity by providing either your New Zealand Passport or New Zealand Drivers’ Licence details.
3. In the Addresses page, enter your address information and contact details. When you have finished, click the Continue button.
   1. For each address, you can either select one of the addresses you have entered so far, or search for a new address.
4. In the Statutory Declaration Form page, download and complete a statutory declaration form for yourself. Once you have uploaded your completed and signed form, click the Continue button.
   1. We recommend that you download a copy of your statutory declaration form, then save and exit your application. You can resume your application when you have completed and signed your copy.
   2. You can upload your completed statutory declaration under the Upload signed declaration area.
5. In the Review and Submit page, confirm that the details you have entered are correct, and tick the declaration and confirmation boxes. When you have finished, click the Submit button.
   1. If you need to change any details, click the Edit button next to the information you need to change.
6. In the payment screen, review your application fees and click the Process Payment button to enter and submit your credit card payment details.
   1. In the Tax Invoice Details section, you can click the Change Details button to change the name and address listed on your tax invoice, as well as the email where the invoice will be sent.
   2. Once your payment has completed successfully, your credit card will be charged and an invoice will be sent to the given email address. Click the Complete Transaction button to exit the payment screen.
7. Once your payment has gone through, you will see a message saying that your application has been successfully filed.

Completing the statutory declaration form(s)

As part of your application, you will need to download a statutory declaration form to complete. This form is where you declare that you're not disqualified from registration as a motor vehicle trader under sections 24 and 25 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003.

Sections 24 and 25 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003(external link) – New Zealand Legislation

The statutory declaration form will include your full legal name, and must be signed in front of an authorised witness (a solicitor, Justice of the Peace or other person authorised to take a statutory declaration under the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957).

Section 9 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957(external link) – New Zealand Legislation

Other options may be possible if you are making declarations from outside New Zealand.

Making declarations outside New Zealand

Privacy notice

The information you provide on this form is required, or requested, pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003. All personal information submitted with this application form will be kept and maintained by the Registrar of the Motor Vehicle Traders in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.

The personal information provided will be used:

• to determine whether your application for registration may be approved and in connection with auditing complaints and disciplinary processes;
• to determine whether legislative requirements disqualify you from registration as a motor vehicle trader;
• for the maintenance and administration of the public register of motor vehicle traders;
• for the maintenance and administration of the motor vehicle trader’s registration regime;
• to communicate information to you relating to the public register of motor vehicle traders, the motor vehicle trader’s registration regime and motor vehicle trading;
• to enforce the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 or of any consumer protection legislation;
• other allowable purposes to administer the register.

Personal information may be disclosed by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders in certain circumstances as authorised by the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003, another Act or as permitted by the Privacy Act 2020.

You have the right to access, and request correction to, any personal information about you that is held by the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Traders.