How road user charges work
Petrol cars pay for the roads through fuel tax at the pump. Diesel vehicles, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids don't, so they pay road user charges (RUC) instead.
You pay RUC in advance. You buy a licence in blocks of 1,000 km, and it covers you until your odometer reaches the number on the licence. Then you buy the next one.
The price has two parts:
- The distance charge, set per 1,000 km by vehicle type. It includes GST.
- An admin fee on each licence you buy: $12.44 online or in the NZTA app, or $13.71 at an agent.
Light vehicle licences don't expire. So buying 10,000 km at once costs the same per kilometre as buying 1,000 km ten times, minus nine admin fees.
RUC rates for light vehicles
These are NZTA's rates for vehicles up to 3,500 kg, per 1,000 km, including GST.
| Vehicle | RUC type | Per 1,000 km | Per km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel car, ute or van, up to 3,500 kg | 1 | $76 | 7.6c |
| Electric vehicle, 1,001 to 3,500 kg | 1 | $76 | 7.6c |
| Plug-in diesel hybrid | 1 | $76 | 7.6c |
| Plug-in petrol hybrid, 1,001 to 3,500 kg | 12 | $38 | 3.8c |
Diesel vehicles between 3,501 kg and 6,000 kg pay $82 per 1,000 km. Heavier vehicles have their own rates, which this calculator doesn't cover.
Worked example: 14,000 km a year in a diesel ute
- One 5,000 km licence: 5 × $76 = $380, plus the $12.44 online fee = $392.44
- That's about 7.8c a km, or $7.85 per 100 km
- A year of driving: 14 × $76 = $1,064 for the distance
- You'd buy three 5,000 km licences in the year, so three fees: $37.32
- Total: about $1,101 a year
A plug-in petrol hybrid doing the same distance pays half the distance charge: $532, plus the same $37.32 in fees, so about $569 a year.
Running a vehicle for work? See what your pay looks like after tax.
Take-home pay calculator →RUC for electric vehicles
Light electric vehicles have paid RUC since 1 April 2024. They pay the same $76 per 1,000 km as a diesel of the same size. Electric vehicles of 1,000 kg or less, such as e-motorbikes and mopeds, don't pay RUC.
Plug-in petrol hybrids pay a lower rate of $38, because you also pay fuel tax on the petrol you buy. A hybrid that can't plug in doesn't need RUC at all if it runs on petrol.
Businesses and GST
RUC prices include GST. If you're GST-registered and the vehicle is used for your business, you can usually claim back the GST on the business share. The GST calculator will take it out of any amount.
Questions people ask
How much is RUC in NZ?
$76 per 1,000 km for diesel vehicles and electric vehicles up to 3,500 kg, including GST. Plug-in petrol hybrids pay $38 per 1,000 km. Each licence also has an admin fee of $12.44 online or $13.71 at an agent.
Do electric cars pay RUC in NZ?
Yes. Since 1 April 2024, light electric vehicles weighing 1,001 to 3,500 kg pay $76 per 1,000 km. Electric vehicles of 1,000 kg or less don't pay RUC.
Why do plug-in hybrids pay less RUC?
Plug-in petrol hybrids pay $38 per 1,000 km, half the usual rate, because they already pay fuel tax on the petrol they use.
Do RUC licences expire?
Not for light vehicles up to 3,500 kg. A licence lasts until you've driven the distance it covers, so buying a bigger licence just saves on admin fees.
How is the yearly cost worked out?
Your kilometres a year ÷ 1,000 × the rate, plus one admin fee for every licence you'd buy in that year. It assumes you buy the same size licence each time.
Is my information saved?
No. The sums run in your browser, and nothing you type leaves your device.