There are a number of ways that you can request Vehicle Register information. This article will take you through all you need to know about Nzta Vehicle Information.
Personal information is protected
The personal information we hold on the register is protected by privacy laws. For that reason, if you need somebody’s personal information from us, you must have a very good reason for asking for it.
We have a duty to:
- protect personal information
- release personal information only where the public interest (the benefit for the common good or general welfare of all) outweighs the personal interest of the person requesting the information and the privacy rights of the individual.
If your application is approved, we also must release your name and the reason you applied for the personal details to the person concerned if they ask us.
Your application may be declined
The protection around personal information means the type of information we can give out depends on who’s asking for it and why they need it.
The law only permits the release of personal information for the following purposes:
- enforcement of the law
- maintenance of the security of New Zealand
- collection of charges imposed or authorised by an enactment
- the administration and development of transport law and policy, and
- where the public interest outweighs the privacy of the individual concerned.
We can’t tell you if your application would be declined before you submit it, because each request for information is different and considered on a case-by-case basis.
We can tell you that your application will most likely be declined unless you provide some exceptional evidence showing a good reason for needing the information and it fits the legislated criteria listed above.
For example:
- your application is likely to be declined if you see a vehicle you like and you want to approach the owner to make an offer to buy it. A person who wants to sell their vehicle will make that fact known without needing to be approached about it.
We may direct you to another organisation
In some cases we may advise you to approach another organisation for the information you need.
For example:
- we’re likely to direct you to another organisation if your vehicle is involved in an accident and you need to contact the owner of the other vehicle. Vehicle accidents are a matter for the police and they can access the same information. Your insurance company also has access to the same information to work on any insurance issues.
The application fee is non-refundable
Please note the application fee ($15) is non-refundable, regardless of whether your application is approved or declined. It goes towards the cost of processing your application.
Apply online for registered person name and address (MR31)
Request for motor vehicle details (MR32)
Requests for motor vehicle details including details of companies and organisations who are or have been registered can be made by downloading a request for motor vehicle details form. The form is posted to the Transport Agency who will then provide you with the following information:
- name and address of companies and organisations who are and have been previously registered
- make
- model
- VIN/chassis
- engine number
- New Zealand registration date
- licence (rego) expiry date
- colour
- odometer readings (current and historic)
- dates of change of registered person.
A fee of $15 is payable.
Request for motor vehicle details (MR32)
Registered person confirmation
You can confirm whether someone is the registered person online, you’ll need the vehicle’s number plate, the name and date of birth of the person or their driver licence number. There is no charge for this service and a result is returned immediately.
Request registered person confirmation
Stolen vehicle check
When a vehicle is reported as stolen to police, the Motor Vehicle Register is updated from the police system to show the vehicle has been reported stolen. You can submit an online request to check if the police have been advised a vehicle has been reported as stolen. There is no charge for this service and you get an immediate result.
Check if a vehicle has been reported stolen(external link)
Third parties
Some Motor Vehicle Register information can be sourced through third parties who include the information with their vehicle information reports. The process and cost of requesting these reports is determined by the relevant third party.
Who can access register information
Access to Motor Vehicle Register information is determined by the type of information being requested and the reason for requesting the information.
Vehicle information
Vehicle information is available to any person on request.
Registered person information
Companies and organisations
The names and addresses of companies or other corporate bodies that are or have been previously registered in respect of a vehicle are available to any person on request. Company name and address are considered to be in the public domain and so do not require the level of protection given to individuals.
Individuals
Anyone who wishes to obtain the names and addresses of registered persons who are individuals may apply to the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Waka Kotahi will consider such requests using the criteria contained in the Official Information Act. This requires Waka Kotahi to weigh up the public interest in releasing the information sought against the privacy rights of the individual concerned.
Apply for registered person name and address (MR31)
Authorised access to the Motor Vehicle Register
An authorised person can request the name and address of an individual without their request being considered against the criteria in the Official Information Act. An authorisation is likely to be sought by persons who access Motor Vehicle Register information in bulk, or on a frequent and ongoing basis.
See ‘Authorised access to the Motor Vehicle Register’ for further information about this process and how to apply.
Authorised access to the Motor Vehicle Register
Further protections
Individuals that do not want their name and address to be released to a person who has been granted an authorisation from Waka Kotahi without first having their privacy interest considered may ask for their details to be withheld. This is called ‘opting-out’.
Opting-out means that a person with an authorisation must specifically request the individual’s name and address from Waka Kotahi. Waka Kotahi will then weigh up the public interest in releasing the individual’s details against their privacy.
Before you opt-out, keep in mind that persons authorised are those that have a legitimate need for access to information held on the Motor Vehicle Register and include organisations such as insurers, finance companies and motor vehicle traders. Opting-out may mean that it costs more and takes longer for you to complete any transactions with these organisations as they will be required to specifically request your information from Waka Kotahi.
Opting out came into effect on 1 May 2011, but any person who has obtained an individual’s name and address prior to this date, may continue to use that information.
Where requested by an individual, Waka Kotahi will provide the name of any person to whom their details have been provided and the purpose for which their information was disclosed unless the disclosure was for one of the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Register.
Opt-out online
You can opt-out online. You will need to provide your driver licence number and the number plate of all the vehicles registered in your name.
Information matching programmes
Information matching generally involves the comparison of one set of records with another, to find records in both sets of data that belong to the same person. Information matching programmes are authorised by Parliament and monitored by the Privacy Commissioner. Parliament has approved two such programmes that use personal information from the Motor Vehicle Register. These are the:
- Unenrolled Voters Programme, and
- Motor Vehicle Traders Sellers Programme.
The Unenrolled Voters Programme compares information from the Motor Vehicle Register with information held on the electoral roll in order to:
- identify people who are qualified to vote but have not enrolled, so that they can be invited to enrol, and
- update the addresses of people whose names are already on the roll.
The Motor Vehicle Traders Sellers Programme enables the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to identify people who have sold more than six motor vehicles in a 12-month period and are not registered as motor vehicle traders.
For more information on both of these programmes, see the website of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner website
Here ends all about Nzta Vehicle Information.