How to meet the requirements for traders

If you are an importer, wholesaler, car auctioneer or car consultant, you are required to display Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Labels in vehicles, and information for online listings. Find out if this applies to you, and what your obligations are. 

  • Know your obligations

    Get familiar with how the regulations apply to you.  

    Jump to regulations

  • Steps to compliance

    Follow the steps to comply as a motor vehicle trader in New Zealand. 

    Jump to steps

  • Check exemptions

    Find out if you're exempt from any of the requirements. 

    Jump to exemptions

  • Online selling

    How the regulations apply to online listings.

    Jump to online information

Your obligations as a motor vehicle trader

A motor vehicle trader is anyone who is identified as a Motor Vehicle Trader in accordance with sections 7 & 8 of the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 and carrying out a business in motor vehicle trading. This includes: 

  • Importers 
  • Wholesalers 
  • Car auctioneers 
  • Car consultants 

Understand the regulations

You’ll also be treated as a motor vehicle trader if you sell more than six vehicles in a 12 month period or import more than three vehicles in 12 months unless you can prove you’re not doing so for financial gain. 

Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 (external link)

As a motor vehicle trader, you’re required to display a Consumer Information Notice (CIN) on all used motor vehicles you sell to the public. 

Find out more about CIN cards (external link)

Steps to compliance for motor vehicle traders

It is your responsibility to check that you are meeting the requirements for labelling your vehicles and providing information for online listings.  

steps

  • Step 1 – Check if the vehicle information is available

    Use our Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Label Generator to find the vehicle’s details. Enter the VIN, registration plate, chassis number, model code or Japanese export certificate model code and variant. 

    Vehicle emissions and Energy Economy Label Generator 

  • Step 2 – Print your labels

    If your vehicle’s information is available, you can print the labels in colour or greyscale.  

    If it isn’t available for the vehicle you’re selling, you’ve met your legal obligations. You can print and display the 'Not Available' label from the Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Label Generator for that vehicle. This shows buyers and EECA’s compliance team you’ve made a genuine effort to obtain a label, but information was not available. 

  • Step 3 – Display your labels

    If the information is available you must display the label on the vehicle for sale so it’s clear and prominent, and obviously relates to the vehicle for sale. It must be easy to read from a reasonable distance, and either firmly attached to the vehicle and clearly visible from the outside, or displayed on an information stand next to the vehicle. Once the vehicle is sold, the label can be removed.  

    A sold sign prevents any confusion for a recently sold vehicle displayed without a label. 

  • Step 4 – Show your information online

    You must display the specified information including vehicle make and model, emissions, and energy economy as written text alongside the vehicle listing if the information is available at the first time of listing. 

  • Check if you are exempt

    You don’t have to provide Emissions and Energy Economy Label information if you’re selling a vehicle to another motor vehicle trader, or advertising it in a magazine or newspaper. 

  • Penalties

    Failure to comply with the Regulations can result in a penalty of up to $5,000 per offence (vehicle). 

Information to be displayed online 

  • Vehicle make and model
  • Vehicle type — petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid. 
  • Energy economy star rating — up to 6 stars for the most fuel efficient vehicles. 
  • Carbon dioxide emissions star rating — up to 6 stars for the lowest emission vehicles. 
  • Carbon dioxide emissions in grams per kilometre — tailpipe emissions. 
  • Fuel economy in litres per 100 km — for petrol and diesel vehicles. 
  • Electricity economy in kWh per 100 km — for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 
  • Estimated yearly running costs — based on stated energy price and driving 14,000 km. Includes Road user charges for diesel, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 

Next step

Label generator

Use this tool to generate the mandatory Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Label, the optional Safety Rating Label to display with your vehicle, or information for online listings. 

  • Need some help?  

    Contact us with any questions about compliance with energy using product regulations.  

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