Anyone using New Zealand’s roads contributes towards their upkeep. Most road users pay levies in the prices of their fuel. This article covers all about Nzta RUC. Others, such as drivers of light diesel vehicles and diesel-powered heavy vehicles like trucks, pay through road user charges (RUC).
The revenue collected from road user charges is dedicated to the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF). The NLTF funds road improvements and maintenance, public transport, road safety, and walking and cycling.
Read the current RUC handbook for an overview of the RUC system [PDF, 1.5 MB]
Who pays road user charges?
You must pay road user charges if your vehicle:
- is over 3.5 tonnes manufacturer’s gross laden weight
- uses diesel or other fuel not taxed at source.
Fuels taxed at source are:
- petrol
- compressed natural gas (CNG)
- liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
How you pay the charges
To pay the road user charges you purchase a RUC licence based on the vehicle’s RUC weight and RUC vehicle type.
- For most diesel cars, utes and vans, you need a distance licence, which you purchase in 1000km units (or multiples of 1000). You must buy a new licence before you’ve driven all the distance covered by the previous licence.
- If you have a permit allowing you to carry loads heavier than your permanent RUC weight you can:
- apply for an additional licence, or
- change your towing vehicle to an H vehicle type.
RUC licences
All vehicles that are required to pay road user (RUC) charges must display distance licences.
If your vehicle will be carrying loads over its permanent RUC weight, you will also need an additional licence or H distance licence.
All licences issued must match the vehicle concerned, ie RUC vehicle type, number plate, distance recorder serial number and distance recorder readings.
Distance licences
Distance licences are purchased in units of 1000km (621 miles). How much a unit will cost you depends on your RUC vehicle type and RUC weight.
Vehicles must always have a current distance licence. When the finish distance is reached a new licence is required.
Temporary licences
If you purchase a RUC licence for a vehicle in another location, an identical copy of the RUC licence may be used as a ‘temporary licence’ for up to seven days. As it can sometimes take a few days for the RUC licence to reach its destination, a temporary RUC licence may be used as evidence of purchase of the actual RUC licence.
The identical copy may be presented in a number of ways, including (but not limited to):
- printed format, such as a photocopy or facsimile copy of the original licence
- digital format, for example a scanned version or photo of the original licence on a smart phone, tablet or laptop. The licence must be presented as a complete image on a single screen.
The identical copy must be sufficiently clear to ensure the smallest print on the original licence is clearly visible. The image may be enlarged to ensure all details are clearly visible.
RUC vehicle type
Your RUC vehicle type is determined by:
- whether the vehicle is powered or unpowered
- the number of axles on the vehicle
- the spacing between each axle
- the number of tyres per axle: either single tyred or twin tyred.
Note: Single large-tyred axles are classified as single tyred axles for the purposes of the Road User Charges Act 2012.
RUC weight
All vehicles are assigned a permanent RUC weight.
The RUC weight will be the lesser of the:
- gross vehicle mass (GVM) for the RUC vehicle, or
- maximum allowable mass for the RUC weight under section 4, Part 1 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2021(VDAM Rule 2026).
For light vehicles and smaller trucks, this will usually be the GVM rating, while for larger vehicles it is likely to be the maximum allowable mass under the VDAM Rule 2026.
RUC rates and transaction fees
Road user charges (RUC) rates are changing for most powered and unpowered vehicles from 1 July 2026. RUC exemptions
Some light diesel vehicles that are used almost exclusively off-road may be eligible for a RUC exemption.RUC distance recorders
All RUC vehicles must be fitted with a distance recorder.RUC assessments
The Transport Agency can issue assessments (an invoice) for any unpaid RUC.
Transport service licence holders, other than a rental service licence holder, must keep and retain records relating to RUC vehicles.RUC contacts
Contact details for RUC counter agents, the RUC Contact Centre and the RUC phone and fax service.RUC applications
- Buy a RUC licence online
- Application for review of RUC assessment
- Application to change RUC vehicle type (RUCCV)
- Application to change to H RUC vehicle type (RUCCV-H)
- Application for RUC exemption under Section 40 of the RUC Act 2012 (RUCEX)
- Application to change details of RUC exemption (RUCEC)
- Application for RUC rate for a specialist permitted heavy vehicle
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has clarified the way Road User Charges (RUC) for mobile cranes are calculated and purchased.