Kiwi car dealers encouraged to register stock now to avoid Clean Car fees

As the government’s Clean Car Standard looms, the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has issued a notice to the nation’s used car sellers to register their stock now in order to minimise the financial impact to come. 

The Clean Car Standard is set to impose fees on ‘high-emission’ cars new and used that are bought into the country. The VIA states that vehicles weighing less than 3,500kg and producing more than 190g/km of CO2 will soon be slapped with a fee at the point of registration from April 1, 2022.

“We suggest that you check all your stock on the Rightcar website to identify vehicles you have on the yard that will attract a fee and register them between now and 31 March, otherwise you will not be competitive in the market place,” reads the VIA alert.

“VIA is aware the Rightcar data is not as comprehensive as it could be. We are working with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to ensure that better data is available and to develop processes to challenge the ‘official’ data.”

The VIA states that these fees start at $50 per gram over the 190g/km CO2 emissions threshold, with vehicles producing more than 240g/km set to inherit a significant flat fee of $2,500. These figures are set to ramp up as the Clean Car Standard’s emissions targets become more ambitious.

Conversely, cars producing less than 140g/km will be entitled to a rebate, designed to encourage consumers to choose more efficient vehicles. Although this only applies to vehicles with a three-star rating or better. 

To put that into context, New Zealand’s most popular import of the moment, the Toyota Aqua hybrid, produces 92g/km of CO2, meaning it will be entitled to a rebate.

While a 2010-’16 Suzuki Swift’s 125g/km means it ticks the box on the emissions front, because Rightcar uses the controversial Used Car Safety Rating (UCSR) system, where the Swift only has a two-star rating, it isn’t entitled for a rebate. 

On the flipside, a second-generation Nissan Elgrand people mover will have to front the full $2,500 fee, since its CO2 emissions are rated at 300g/km. Other cars that exceed the 240g/km threshold range from the first-gen Mazda CX-9 (294g/km) to the outgoing Hyundai iLoad petrol (270g/km).