New Zealand motor licence fees - WTF?
New Zealand motor licence fees - WTF?
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Discussion

Esceptico

Original Poster:

8,897 posts

140 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
We are moving to NZ soon. I was trying to find details of vehicle licence fees. A true WTF moment. Cars seem to be £25 a year (for any private car whatever weight or power) yet motorbikes of 600cc and above are £250. Any kiwis on here that can explain that?

klootzak

687 posts

247 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all

Vehicle registration fees in NZ include a levy to cover ACC fees. Almost all of the bike rego is the ACC levy.

ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) is a no-fault state insurance system that covers everyone for personal injury, however caused. Basically, if you are injured in any sort of accident or crime, ACC covers the cost of your treatment, rehabilitation, loss of earnings (up to a point), continuing care (if required) and limited compensation as well.

There's no compulsory third party insurance for vehicles in NZ (or any insurance for that matter).

Because bikes are deemed to be high risk the ACC levy is pretty astronomical. ACC levies for cars were reduced quite dramatically last year, alas not for bikes though.

k





Ho Lee Kau

2,278 posts

156 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
So, ACC is 250 quid and covers any injury treatment? How is 250 astronomical, seems to be peanuts!

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

168 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
I wish we had a similar system

Dog Star

17,634 posts

199 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
I wish we had a similar system
I used to think this, but not any more. It’d just mean scrotes who are otherwise unable to drive powerful stuff driving anything without heed to insurance consequences.

citizensm1th

8,371 posts

168 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
citizensm1th said:
I wish we had a similar system
I used to think this, but not any more. It’d just mean scrotes who are otherwise unable to drive powerful stuff driving anything without heed to insurance consequences.
at least they would not be driving uninsured

r1flyguy1

1,575 posts

207 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
I wish we had a similar system
Especially for those who ride motorcycles in shorts & tshirts wink

klootzak

687 posts

247 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
Ho Lee Kau said:
So, ACC is 250 quid and covers any injury treatment? How is 250 astronomical, seems to be peanuts!
Fair comment. Maybe "punitive" would be a better choice of word.

ACC can seem somewhat capricious in the way it sets its levy.

My car (Porsche) costs $110 per year to register, of which $46 is the ACC levy.
My bike (Ducati) costs $520 per year to register, of which $423 is the ACC component ($397 for the actual ACC levy plus an extra $25 "safety" fee).

As an employer I pay roughly $350 per year per employee to ACC, but as a self-employed person I used to pay $1750 per year for myself (an ad-man, so nothing actually dangerous).

In the end, it is a good system. But as a biker it feels pretty raw.

k


klootzak

687 posts

247 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
at least they would not be driving uninsured
ACC only covers people for their own personal injury, there's no cover for damage to property so it isn't really a replacement for normal insurance.

k

TwigtheWonderkid

49,211 posts

181 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
Didn't this NZ system go bankrupt a few years back? Or did I dream that up?

TwigtheWonderkid

49,211 posts

181 months

Sunday 30th June 2019
quotequote all
citizensm1th said:
I wish we had a similar system
What!! A govt run insurance system. With 40 million vehicles on the road. Yes, I'm sure that would be hugely efficient.