Apply to register as a motor vehicle trader

You can apply to become a registered motor vehicle trader here. We’ll help you work out whether to register as an individual or a company.

Eligibility checks

When we access applications for registration or renewal, we do some checks to make sure an applicant is not disqualified from registration.

Who can’t register

We check the Companies Office’s register of people prohibited from managing companies. A person who is prohibited from managing a company under specified Acts is disqualified from registering as a motor vehicle trader. A person who was prohibited from managing a company under specified Acts within the previous five years may be a banned person.

Information about banned directors(external link) – New Zealand Companies Office

Public search – Companies Register(external link) - New Zealand Companies Office

We also check the Insolvency Register to see if an applicant is or has been bankrupt. You are disqualified from registration if you are currently bankrupt. If you’re a trader who has been bankrupt twice in 10 years you may be a banned person.

Public search – Insolvency Register(external link) - New Zealand Insolvency and Trustee Service

Once registered, all people associated with a registration are checked for relevant convictions. We do this by sending an applicant’s name and date of birth (and passport and driver licence number if applicable) to the Ministry of Justice. If you have been convicted of a dishonesty offence (including theft, receiving stolen property, fraud, or money laundering) in the last five years, you are disqualified from registration, and may also be a banned person. Convictions under certain sections of the Fair Trading Act 1986 also disqualify you from registration and may mean you are a banned person.

Tip Icon Violet2 Note

We only receive information going back five years about offences listed in the Motor Vehicle Sales Act as disqualifying and/or banning an applicant.

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 – Sections 24 & 25, Persons disqualified from registration - New Zealand Legislation

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 – Section 68, Persons banned from participating in business of motor vehicle trading - New Zealand Legislation

Apply to register now

Apply to register as a company or individual by choosing the applicable option below.

Register as a company

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

It is important to ensure that any applications submitted for registration or renewal are completed by the appropriate person.  

If you have a company registration, any applications for registration/renewal must be completed in full by a person concerned in the management of the company (Director, CEO). Details in the application form must be accurate and include details of all persons involved in management of the company. The application form also includes a statutory declaration, confirming details submitted are accurate. It is an offence to provide a false certificate or statutory declaration with an application. Applications must not be completed by administration staff.  

If you hold an individual registration, you must complete any registration or renewal application in full.  

Any applications submitted that are not completed by the appropriate person may be refused by the Registrar. This could mean that your current registration expires, or there is a delay in registration being granted. If you do not have a current registration, or your registration expires, you must cease trading.

What information we'll need from you

We'll ask you for:

  • the registered company's name and number
  • your registered office's address
  • an address for service (a physical address – not PO Box or rural delivery)
  • other contact information such as an email address and phone numbers.

We'll also ask for the following information for all persons involved in the management of the business. That is, all directors listed on the company register, along with the person(s) in the position of Chief Executive or equivalent:

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

Make sure the information on the Companies Register matches the information on your application exactly. If they don't match, we won't be able to process your application.

Complete and submit your application online

  1. Select the Motor Vehicle Traders Register link below. This takes you to the Register.
  2. From the Online services menu, select Apply to register as a company. The 'Application as a company' screen displays.
  3. Fill out the fields and select Continue. The 'Application created' screen displays.
  4. Read the information on the page, and if it's all correct, select OK. The next page lists all the screens you'll need to fill out before you can submit your application.
  5. Go through each screen and enter all the required information.
  6. For each director or CEO, you must show their full legal names, including all middle names, as shown on their passport or birth certificate, and their current residential address, along with any other names they are known by (Aliases).
  7. Once you've completed all the screens, select Submit. The 'Pay now' screen displays.
  8. Enter your details, including your email address in the appropriate field to receive a Tax Invoice/Receipt, then select Continue. The 'Payment Checkout' screen displays.
  9. Enter your credit card information, then select Submit. It will show a green tick if your payment has been approved.
  10. Select Next then Continue. The 'Submission confirmation' screen displays.
  11. Read the information on the page. If it's all correct, select OK to confirm you want to submit your application for registration.
  12. We'll send you a confirmation email containing your motor vehicle trader number (MVT File Number) and motor vehicle trader key (MVT Key). Keep these confidential and safe – you'll need them to log in to the Register.

Motor Vehicle Traders Register(external link)

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;
  • 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.

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.

Complete the statutory declaration form(s)

Once we've received your completed application and payment, we'll email statutory declarations for all listed persons to complete. This form is where you declare that you're not disqualified from registration as a motor vehicle trader.

The statutory declaration form must show your full legal name. You must:

  • sign it 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)
  • scan and email it to us at registrar@mvtr.govt.nz as a PDF attachment

Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 – Section 9 Declarations made in New Zealand(external link)

Making declarations outside New Zealand

When we receive your signed and witnessed statutory declaration(s), we'll check that the information you've provided is correct and complete. If it is, we'll approve your application and email you a certificate of registration.

Important note: On this form you are declaring that you are eligible to register as a motor vehicle trader and are not disqualified from registering. Sections 24 and 25 of the MVSA determine whether an individual or company are disqualified.

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 – Sections 24 and 25(external link)

Register as an individual

This is the option to choose if - as an individual or sole trader – you:

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

Note: 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

It is important to ensure that any applications submitted for registration or renewal are completed by the appropriate person.  

If you apply to register as an Individual/Sole trader, you must complete any registration or renewal application in full yourself and use an email address that is exclusive to you.

Any applications submitted that are not completed by the appropriate person may be refused by the Registrar. This could mean that your current registration expires, or there is a delay in registration being granted. If you do not have a current registration, or your registration expires, you must cease trading.

What information we'll 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 any aliases (any 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
  • driver licence and passport numbers (if held).

Complete and submit your application online

  1. Select the Motor Vehicle Traders Register link below. This takes you to the Register.
  2. From the Online services menu, select Apply to register as an individual. The 'Application as an individual' screen displays.
  3. Fill out the fields and select Continue. The 'Application created' screen displays.
  4. Read the information on the page, and if it's all correct, select OK. The next page lists all the screens you'll need to fill out before you can submit your application.
  5. Go through each screen and enter all the required information, including Aliases.
  6. Once you've completed all the screens, including your email address in the appropriate field to receive a Tax Invoice/Receipt select Submit. The 'Pay now' screen displays.
  7. Enter your credit card information, then select Submit. It will show a green tick if your payment has been approved.
  8. Select Next then Continue. The 'Submission confirmation' screen displays.
  9. Read the information on the page. If it's all correct, select OK to confirm you want to submit your application for registration.
  10. We'll send you a confirmation email containing your motor vehicle trader number (MVT File Number) and motor vehicle trader key (MVT Key). Keep these confidential and safe – you'll need them to log in to the Register.

Motor Vehicle Traders Register(external link)

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;
  • 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.

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.

Complete the statutory declaration form

Once we've received your completed application and payment, we'll email you a statutory declaration to complete. This form is where you declare that you're not disqualified from registration as a motor vehicle trader.

The statutory declaration form must show your full legal name. You must:

  • sign it 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)
  • scan and email it to us at registrar@mvtr.govt.nz as a PDF attachment

Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 — Section 9 Declarations made in New Zealand(external link)

Once we receive your signed and witnessed statutory declaration, we'll check that the information you've provided is correct and complete. If it is, we'll approve your application and email you a certificate of registration.

Important note: On this form you are declaring that you are eligible to register as a motor vehicle trader and are not disqualified from registering. Sections 24 and 25 of the MVSA determine whether an individual or company are disqualified.

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 – Sections 24 and 25(external link)

Complete the statutory declaration form(s)

Once you've received your statutory declarations for all listed persons to complete, each declaration needs to be witnessed in person by an authorised witness. This form is where you declare that you're not disqualified from registration as a motor vehicle trader.

The statutory declaration form must show your full legal name. You must:

  • sign it 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)
  • scan and email it to us at registrar@mvtr.govt.nz as a PDF attachment

You can find more information on who is an authorised witness here: 

Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 – Section 9 Declarations made in New Zealand(external link)

Making declarations outside New Zealand

When we receive your signed and witnessed statutory declaration(s), we'll check that the information you've provided is correct and complete. If it is, we'll approve your application and email you a certificate of registration.

Important note: On this form you are declaring that you are eligible to register as a motor vehicle trader and are not disqualified from registering. Sections 24 and 25 of the MVSA determine whether an individual or company are disqualified.  It is an offence to provide a false declaration.

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 – Sections 24 and 25(external link)

Application fee

The application fee to register as a motor vehicle trader is $738.30 for an individual trader, and $1,233.95 for a company. These fees include GST and the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal levy. Make sure you have your credit card on hand, as you'll need to pay the application fee during this process. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Diners or American Express cards.

The application fee, including the levy, is not refundable and can't be transferred.

How to register if you're in a partnership

The Motor Vehicle Sales Act states: "If two or more persons carry on the business of motor vehicle trading in partnership, or otherwise in conjunction with one another, each of those persons must be registered."

If you are trading in a partnership, we recommend you seek independent legal advice before starting the registration process.

Timeframes

You have 15 working days following submitting your application to send us your signed and witnessed statutory declaration(s). This allows us time to process your application within the overall 20 working days timeframe.

If you don't provide your completed forms to us in time, your registration will automatically abandon in our system. 

If you wish to continue in the business of motor vehicle trading, you must submit your application within 5 working days of the date your current application abandonment

Only applications received within this time frame will be considered. The application must be fully completed and include any documents or corrections that may be required.

To submit an application, you will need to request your previous application be reinstated. You can do this by emailing the Registrar at registrar@mvtr.govt.nz. Once you receive notice that your application is reinstated, you must complete and submit the application promptly.

Online applications — Once we've received all your correctly completed statutory declarations and provided there are no problems with your forms or online application, we'll aim to process your registration within 5 working days.

Paper-based applications — Once we've received all your correctly completed forms, including statutory declarations, and provided there are no problems with your forms, we'll aim to process your registration within 10 working days.

If you believe you've submitted all the documents necessary to register as a motor vehicle trader, but you haven't received a Certificate of Registration within the timeframes above, get in touch.

Contact us

Common problems with applications - and how to avoid them

Problem Solution
The applicant hasn't entered their name correctly.

Make sure you enter your full legal name (including any middle names) as it is shown on your birth certificate or passport – and with the names in the same order.

If you need help with this, call our service centre.

Contact us

You've provided a rural delivery address as the 'address for service'.

Section 32 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act doesn't allow us to accept a rural delivery address as an applicant's address for service.

Provide an 'address for service' that isn't a rural delivery address. You can check this on the NZ Post website.

New Zealand Post Address & Postcode Finder(external link)

You've applied to register as an individual, but the trading name you've given is a registered company. You'll need to re-apply to register as a company and pay another application fee.
You've applied to register as an individual, but your trading name includes the word 'Limited' or the abbreviation 'Ltd.'.

You can't use 'Limited' or 'Ltd.' in a trading name unless you're a registered limited liability company on the NZ Companies Register.

If you are an individual, and not a registered company, you'll need to remove this word/abbreviation from your application.

The company director details you've given don't match those on the New Zealand Companies Register. The names you give us as company directors must exactly match the names on the New Zealand Companies Register.
  • If there are two or more directors on the Companies Register, you must provide details of all directors listed.
  • Their full legal names must be entered in exactly the same way as they appear on the Companies Register. This must also match the person's passport or birth certificate.
The SUBMIT application button hasn't been selected (for online applications). Make sure you select the SUBMIT button once you've finished filling out your online application.
The information in the statutory declaration you receive from us is incorrect.

Login to the Register and update your application to the correct information. Once you've done this you should receive an new statutory declaration. If this doesn't happen, please contact us.

Contact us

Statutory declarations haven't been witnessed by an authorised person.

Make sure you sign your statutory declaration in front of an authorised person. There's a list of suitable people in the Oaths and Declarations Act.

Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 — Section 9 Declarations made in New Zealand(external link)

A statutory declaration form has been changed after it was signed and witnessed. You can only change a statutory declaration form at the time that it is being signed and witnessed. Both parties must initial all changes.
Some or all statutory declarations or certificates have not been returned to the Registrar to complete application. If several people in your company need to complete a statutory declaration, you may need to follow up to make sure we receive them all within the required time limit.

If we find a problem with your application, we'll email you about it and let you know what you need to do to complete the registration process. This doesn't stop the clock on your application - you still need to complete it within the timeframes outlined above.

Continue unfinished online application

You can start an online application for registration, save it, then complete it later. For example, if you've started your application but don't have all the information you need to hand.

If you paused your online application, and now wish to continue:

  1. Select the Motor Vehicle Traders Register link below. This takes you to the Register.
  2. From the Online services menu, select Continue application.
  3. Enter your MVT File Number and MVT Key.
  4. Once these have been validated, you'll be able to continue with your application, including making changes if you need to.

Motor Vehicle Traders Register(external link)