Glossary

Alternative Fuel Type

This refers to the secondary fuel used by a vehicle which normally operates on another fuel type such as petrol.

Assembly Type

Indicates whether a motor vehicle has been:

• Imported Built-Up, or
• NZ Assembled

Assembly type "UNKNOWN" indicates that this information was never recorded at the time of registration.

Axle Group Rating

The maximum design weight (in kilograms) for a group of axles on a heavy vehicle. The group of axles is not to be used for loads that exceed this value (including that share of the GVM of the vehicle that is borne by the axle group) The Axle Group Rating for a Vehicle consists of:

• Front Axle Group Rating: the combined weight rating of the group of axles at the front of the vehicle;
• Rear Axle Group Rating: the combined weight rating of the group of axles at the rear of the vehicle.

Axle Type

The axle configuration, or "AXLE TYPE", of a Vehicle, where known, is indicated by one of the codes as described below. This piece of information is crucial is determining the Road User Charge (RUC) classification of a Motor Vehicle subject to RUC fees:

• 22-AXLE
• 3D3-AXLE TANDEM DRIVE
• 3S3-AXLE TWIN-STEER + SINGLE DRIVE
• 3T3-AXLE TRAILING (TAG) AXLE
• 4S4-AXLE TWIN STEER + TANDEM
• 4T4-AXLE SINGLE + TANDEM + TRAILING
• 5T5-AXLE TWIN + TANDEM + TRAILING
• C33-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• C44-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• C55-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• C66-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• C77-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• C88-AXLE PERMANENT COMBINATION
• F11-AXLE FULL TRAILER
• F22-AXLE FULL TRAILER
• F33-AXLE FULL TRAILER
• F44-AXLE FULL TRAILER
• F55-AXLE FULL TRAILER
• FSSPECIAL FULL TRAILER
• P11-AXLE POLE TRAILER
• P22-AXLE POLE TRAILER
• P33-AXLE POLE TRAILER
• P44-AXLE POLE TRAILER
• S11-AXLE SEMI-TRAILER
• S22-AXLE SEMI-TRAILER
• S33-AXLE SEMI-TRAILER
• S44-AXLE SEMI-TRAILER

Body Style

Design style of the Vehicle such as hatchback, convertible, etc.

Cancellation Reason

• A - Vehicle destroyed or become permanently useless
• B - Vehicle permanently removed from New Zealand
• C - Trade Plate returned
• D - Vehicle written off by insurer
• E - Vehicle taken permanently off the road

Cause of Registration

A vehicle can be registered as follows:

• New — new vehicle never registered before
• Used — used vehicle previously registered in another country
• Re-registered — vehicle previously registered in New Zealand.
• Scratch Built — a motor vehicle which is either:
  • Assembled from previously unrelated components and construction materials which have not been predominantly sourced donors of a single make or model and which, in its completed form, never previously existed as a mass-produced vehicle, although the external appearance may resemble or replicate an existing vehicle; or
  • a modified production vehicle which contains less than the following componentry from a mass-produced vehicle of a single make and model:
    • 40% of the chassis rails and 50% of the crossmembers, or alternatively 40% of a spaceframe, or 40% of the floorpan of a unitary constructed body, which ever is appropriate: or
    • for light vehicles, 40% of the bodywork (based on surface area of body panels but does not include the floorpan, internal bracing, sub panels, bulkheads or firewall)

CC Rating

Total displacement in cubic centimetres of all cylinders of the engine of a motor vehicle. Some older vehicles may show incorrect values depending on whether or not the original displacement measurements had been converted from cubic inches or other measurement units before introduction of the metric system.

Certificate of Particulars

Certificates of Particulars are certified documents which provide vehicle ownership information. Anyone can apply for a Certificate of Particulars by supplying a plate number on the appropriate application form and paying the relevant fee. The Certificate of Particulars come in 2 kinds:

1. Current Owner Certificate: this shows details of the current owner (with the first joint owner) along with vehicle details
2. Owner History Certificate: this shows details of the current owner (with the first joint owner) and all previous owners along with vehicle details.

The vehicle details shown on the Certificates of Particulars are

• Plate Number
• Year
• Make
• Model
• First Registration Date
• VIN/Chassis No.
• Engine No.
• Licence Expiry Date
• Latest Odometer Reading
• Colour

Certificate of Fitness (COF) Inspection

Certificate of Fitness inspection is normally applicable to heavy vehicles such as Trucks, Articulated Trailers etc. COF Inspections are required for vehicle safety purposes. A vehicle that requires a COF cannot legally be used on the road unless it has a current COF.

Change of Ownership

Prior to 30 October 1995, the seller of a vehicle was entirely liable for the lodgement and payment of the "Notice of Change of Ownership". As from 30 October 1995, the responsibility is shared between the seller and the buyer. This new "Change of Ownership" process occurs in 2 steps:

1. Lodgement of the seller's notice of disposal (normally by the seller).
2. Lodgement of the buyer's notice of acquisition (normally by the buyer).

The seller does not pay any fee for the "Change of Ownership" when lodging the seller's notice of disposal (on form MR13A). A fee is payable by the buyer on lodgement of the Buyer's notice of acquisition (on form MR13B).

A new owner is:

• Unconfirmed — when a form MR13A has been lodged by the seller, but the MR13B has yet to be lodged by the buyer;
• Incomplete — when the buyer has lodged the MR13B, but failed to produce a valid ID at the time of lodgement of the form;
• Complete — when a form MR13B has been lodged and a valid ID has been produced, either together with the MR13B, or with a form MR34 if is presented at a different time after lodgement of the MR13B.

Chassis No.

Prior to 1990, only chassis numbers were recorded. These cannot be used to uniquely identify a vehicle. With the introduction of the VIN system in 1990 a unique number is now being recorded.

Most vehicles registered before 1990 will have only the chassis number recorded unless the vehicle has had a VIN applied by a VIN agent.

Vehicles that were registered after 1990 may have both a VIN and a chassis number in cases where the manufacturer has not applied a VIN. However, most manufacturers now use VIN's in place of chassis numbers. It is now compulsory for every vehicle that is registered in NZ for the first time to have a VIN. This includes used imported vehicles. It is in the interests of vehicle owners to have a VIN on their vehicle as a protection against vehicle fraud since it gives a unique reference to a vehicle.

Colour

A maximum of 2 colours can be recorded for a Vehicle: the primary (main) colour and the secondary colour.

Continuous Vehicle Licensing

As from 1 September 1997, the law requires the majority of vehicles to be licensed continuously. The Continuous Vehicle Licensing (CVL) requirement means all vehicle owners pay the required amount and people who pay late pay the same as everyone else.

Most Vehicles are subject to CVL. Some Vehicles that are used only seasonally (such as Caravans) are not subject to CVL. The Continuous Licence flag will show either YES or NO to indicate whether a Vehicle Type is subject to CVL or not. CVL means that if a person fails to renew their licence by the expiry date, they will be required to pay for the licence back to the expiry date until the vehicle is given an exemption or ceases to be registered.

Country of Origin

Country where the vehicle is built or manufactured (not merely assembled). Vehicles assembled in New Zealand are put together from CKD packs ("Completely-Knocked- Down"). They are not made in New Zealand — their Country of Origin will be the country from which the CKD packs are imported.

Crown Plates

Crown Plates are Plates reserved for Motor Vehicles registered for use by Government officials. Crown Plates are issued from the range: CR1 – CR9999. Crown Plates can be returned and re-issued to different vehicles.

Damaged Import flag

The imported damaged flag will display as 'Yes' only in the case of "obvious structural damage or deterioration" of a vehicle recorded at the Bordercheck inspection. Damage that is merely cosmetic will not be recorded. The information is held against the vehicle record once the vehicle is registered on the Motor Vehicle Register. Where a vehicle has not been identified as imported damaged or a flag is subsequently removed due to further inspection, this field will not be displayed.

Date and Time of Issue of Latest Licence

The date and the time when a Licence application is processed by an Authorised Agent of Land Transport New Zealand.

Date of first Regisration in New Zealand

The date the vehicle was registered in New Zealand for the first time.

Date first Registered Overseas

The date the vehicle was first registered overseas. If this information is unavailable and has not been recorded for a vehicle on the Motor Vehicle Register the message no info will be displayed. All available data will be displayed, this can be the day, month and year the vehicle was first registered overseas, only the month and year or just the year.

Date of latest COF Inspection

Date of the last recorded COF inspection for the vehicle. All COF inspections (both passed and failed) have been recorded in the vehicle register since February 1997. Before February 1997, only passed COF inspections were recorded when a vehicle was licensed.

Date of latest WOF Inspection

Date of the last recorded WOF inspection for the vehicle. Successful WOF inspections have been recorded in the vehicle register since November 1995, at the time a vehicle is relicensed. Only the most recent WOF prior to the relicensing is normally recorded.

Since licensing is often done on an annual basis and WOF's are often required bi-annually, this item of information does not necessarily show if the vehicle has a current WOF. It is intended to begin recording all WOF inspections, both passed and failed, in the near future.

Date of Odometer Reading

Date when the odometer reading was recorded. Since November 1995, odometer readings have been obtained from WOF inspections. These are recorded at the time a vehicle is licensed but the odometer reading date is the date of the WOF inspection.

Engine Number

The serial number of the engine of a self-propelled vehicle. This information is normally supplied by the vehicle manufacturer.

Fleet Vehicle

A Fleet Vehicle forms part of a number of vehicles registered to one person or organisation. Fleet vehicles are re-licensed by way of "Re-license Schedule" with payment made by direct debit. There is no mandatory requirement for fleet owners to register vehicles as "fleet vehicles". They do this because they wish to use the time saving bulk re-license facilities that the Transport Registry Centre provides.

Fuel Type

The type of fuel used in the engine of a motor vehicle. This refers to the primary fuel type if the vehicle also runs on an Alternative Fuel Type such as LPG or CNG.

Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM)

The manufacturer's gross laden weight of a vehicle in kilograms. Some older vehicles may show incorrect values as GVM, depending on whether or not the original weight measurements had been converted from non-metric values.

Highest Plate Number Issued

The latest plate in the "General Purpose" standard series, issued to a currently licensed vehicle as at the end of the previous day. This information relates to the last plate in the alphanumeric listing of all current GP standard series plates recorded in the system. Plate stocks held by various plate issuing agents around the country are made up of plates from more than one alpha-numeric range. Fluctuating demand means that some agents use their stocks more slowly than others. For this reason, a plate from an earlier range can be issued much later than the so-called "latest" plate number.

Hubodometer Serial Number

This displays the serial make and serial number of the hubodometer affixed to the RUC vehicles.

Incomplete Ownership Status

The buyer or seller have not notified NZTA of the change of ownership.

Joint Owner

The joint owner is the person who jointly owns a vehicle with another person. The Motor Vehicle Register can record a maximum of 3 joint owners in addition to the primary owner.

Latest Odometer

The odometer reading for the last recorded Certificate of Fitness or Warrant of Fitness inspection. This reading may be in miles or kilometres depending on the age of the vehicle.

Lease Vehicle

A lease vehicle indicates that the vehicle under query is leased from a vehicle lease/rental firm by the person or organisation recorded as the vehicle's registered owner.

Licence Type

There are 4 types of licences:

• Licence for normal road use (L);
• Exemption licence (X) when the vehicle has been exempted from normal road use licence: the expiry of an exemption licence is the date after which the vehicle must be relicensed for normal road use;
• Restoration licence (R) when vehicle is under repair or restoration and has been exempted from normal road use licence: the expiry of a restoration licence is the date after which the vehicle must be relicensed for normal road use;
• Licence for trade plate (T): this licence permits the licencee to use a vehicle without registering the vehicle. A trade plate is associated with a person/organisation, it cannot be associated with a vehicle and so any query on a trade plate will not return any vehicle details but provide owner details which are the details of the owner of the trade plate.

Licensing

The process of issuing a licence which allows the vehicle to be used on the road for a 6 or 12 month period. Vehicles are licensed after they are registered. The vehicle owner pays a licensing fee, and a licence label is attached is attached to the vehicle.

List of other plates attached

List in chronological order of all Plates issued to a Vehicle.

Make

The brand name of the Manufacturer of a Vehicle. Examples: ALFA ROMEO, FORD, TOYOTA, etc.

Maximum Rated Towed Mass

The maximum gross weight of a towed vehicle that the registered vehicle is permitted to tow.

Model

The description of a vehicle produced by the Manufacturer. Examples: COROLLA, ESCORT, MX5, etc.

Motor Vehicle

Vehicle drawn or propelled by mechanical power. For the purposes of Motor Vehicle Registration, this definition includes Trailers, but does not include contrivances such as a vehicle running on rails or a disabled person's motorised wheelchair.

Ownership Date

The date of ownership of a Vehicle varies depending on the "Ownership Status" of the owner.

• For unconfirmed owner: the date of sale from the MR13A advice.
• For incomplete owner: the date of processing of the MR13B advice.
• For complete owner: the date of processing of the MR13B advice.

Ownership Status

Indicates the status of the change of ownership process and is one of the following:

• Complete - Both buyer and seller have completed the change of ownership forms (ie, MR13A/B)
• Complete (In Dealer Net) - A Register Motor Vehicle Trader has purchased the vehicle.
• Incomplete - The buyer or seller has not notified NZTA of the change of ownership.
• Unconfirmed - Either the buyer and/or seller have not provided sufficient identification to complete the change of ownership.

Past Plates

A vehicle may have been previously registered under a personalised registration plate. Some vehicles can have multiple past plates. BEWARE: Lemoncheck Ltd does check for securities on all past plates but most of our competitors do not. With a Lemoncheck Vehicle History Report you are protected against unforeseen claimants for money owing on the vehicle you purchase but using most of our competitors does not give you the same protection.

Personalised Plates

Personalised Plates are Plates with unique character combinations chosen by the Owners of the plates and purchased from Personalised Plates Limited. Personalised Plates come in 3 main categories:

• STANDARD (black characters on white background)
• INVESTMENT (blue characters on white background)
• SPECIAL ISSUE (as issued by Personalised Plates Limited)

A Personalised Plate can be used on different Vehicles. Appropriate Change of Plate transactions must be lodged to transfer a Personalised Plate from vehicle to vehicle.

Plate Number

The unique combination of characters, alphabetical and/or numeric, assigned to a motor vehicle registered in accordance with Transport Legislation. The maximum number of characters of a plate number is six. All motor vehicles registered in New Zealand must display the plate number on a metallic plate or plates affixed to the vehicles.

Plate Style

Different vehicle types requires different plate styles:

• General Purpose (GP) plates are issued in sets of 2 for use on vehicles which require GP Plates (cars, trucks, etc.)
• Motorcycle (MC) plates are issued in sets of 1 for use on vehicles which requires MC Plates (motorcycles, mopeds, tractors, etc.)
• Trailer (TL) plates are issued in sets of 1 for vehicles which require TL Plates (trailers, towed caravans, etc.)

Any plate type, except trade plates, can be in GP, MC or TL style.

Plate Type

The following Plate Types are in use in New Zealand:

• ST: STANDARD
• CR: CROWN
• DC: DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR
• TD: TRADE
• PP: PERSONALISED STANDARD
• IN: PERSONALISED INVESTMENT
• SI: PERSONALISED SPECIAL ISSUE

Power

Power output of the engine of a motor vehicle as rated by the Manufacturer (in kilowatts). Some vehicles may be showing brake horsepower (bhp) for this figure.

Previous Country of Registration

Country where a vehicle has been previously registered before arrival in New Zealand.

Re-licensing

Renewal of a vehicle licence.

Registered Owner

The registered owner of a motor vehicle is the natural person or legal entity (such as a limited liability company) lawfully entitled to possession of the motor vehicle. The registered owner of a motor vehicle is not necessarily the legal owner of that vehicle, as in the case of a lease vehicle or a vehicle on hire-purchase.

Registration

The process of adding a vehicle to the Motor Vehicle Register, the list of all vehicles currently used on the road in New Zealand. Vehicles, whether new or used, are registered when first brought into New Zealand, and have registration plates (number plates) attached at this time. Until a vehicle is registered, it cannot be driven on the road and must be towed or carried for transport.

Registration Status

The registration status will show as:

• Active — if the registration is current (but not necessarily licensed);
• Cancelled – if the registration has been cancelled due to the vehicle having been destroyed, written off, or permanently exported out of New Zealand;
• Lapsed – if the registration has been cancelled due to the vehicle having remained unlicensed beyond the period allowed by legislation.

Reliable Odometer

This indicator will show "Yes" if the odometer is reliable, or "No" if the odometer is unreliable. The information is entered at the time the vehicle is last inspected.

Replacement Plate

The new registration plate issued to a vehicle to replace a previous plate which has been damaged, lost, or stolen, or to change to or from transferable plates such as personalised plates, diplomatic plates, etc.

Reported Stolen

This will indicate if the vehicle has been reported stolen to the police. This information is obtained from the "Enforcement Computer System", not from the Motor Vehicle Register.

Result of Latest COF Inspection

• Passed — vehicle has passed examination.
• Failed — vehicle has failed examination.
• Temporary Permit — vehicle has been issued with a temporary permit.

Result of Latest WOF Inspection

• Passed — vehicle has passed examination.
• Failed — vehicle has failed examination.

RUC Licence Finish Kms or Date

End distance reading of the latest distance licence. If time licence, this field will show the end date of the latest licence.

RUC Licence Start Kms or Date

Start distance reading of the latest distance licence. If time licence, this field will show the start date of the latest licence.

RUC Licence Type

All diesel powered vehicles and other vehicles powered by a fuel not taxed at source, regardless of weight, must pay Road User Charges (RUC). Vehicles with a manufacturer's gross laden weight of more than 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) must also pay RUC.

RUC Licence Weight

The nominated gross laden weight in tonnes for which the latest RUC licence was purchased.

RUC Vehicle Type

RUC fees are determined by the design of a vehicle. Specific attributes such as gross laden weight, number of axles, axle type, etc., are combined to provide set criteria known as RUC Vehicle Type descriptions. RUC Vehicle Type information consists of a numeric code for each type.

Standard Plates

Standard plates are sequentially numbered plates issued by government for use on motor vehicles registered in New Zealand. Standard plates can only be used on the vehicles to which they are originally assigned.

Stolen Vehicles

Tare Weight

The unladen weight of a vehicle (usually indicated in kilograms).

Trade Plates

Trade plates come in 2 Styles:

• T1 for use on motorcycles, trailers, towed caravans
• T2 for use on cars, trucks, tractors.

Trade plates are issued to motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers and assemblers for use on unregistered vehicles.

Trade plates are registered to the user, not the vehicle. For this reason, it is not possible to obtain vehicle details by querying a trade plate because no vehicle details are recorded against a trade plate.

Trading as

Name of the business, or trade name, of a vehicle owner, when the vehicle owner has requested that this information be shown on motor vehicle registration forms and other documents generated from the Motor Vehicle Register. Trading names are generally not regarded as "legal" names, and therefore cannot be used in the event of a traffic inquiry.

Unconfirmed Owner

A new Owner is UNCONFIRMED, when a form MR13A has been lodged by the Seller, but the MR13B has yet to be lodged by the Buyer. See Change of Ownership.

Unreliable Odometer

See Reliable Odometer

Usage

The registered purpose for which the vehicle is used. Different regulations and licence requirements apply to different types of usage.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

A unique 17 character series assigned to the vehicle for the purpose of identification. Most vehicles registered in New Zealand for the first time are required to have a VIN. Trailers and caravans are exempted.

Vehicle Type

Vehicles are registered according to Types: Passenger Car, Motorcycle, Trailer, Goods Van/Truck/Utility, etc.

Warrant of Fitness (WOF) Inspection

Warrant of Fitness inspection normally applies to passenger cars and light vehicles. WOF Inspections are required for vehicle safety purposes. A vehicle that requires a WOF cannot legally be used on the road unless it has a current Warrant of Fitness certificate.

Wheelbase

The longitudinal distance between the first and last axle of a motor vehicle. The wheelbase is normally indicated in millimetres.

WOF inspection

Warrant of Fitness inspection: normally applies to Passenger Cars and light vehicles. WOF Inspections are required for vehicle safety purposes. A Vehicle that requires a WOF cannot legally be used on the road unless it has a current WOF certificate.