Cars and passenger vehicles

There are three classes of passenger vehicles (up to 9 seats), depending on their body type:

Passenger cars (class MA)

The most important standards for these class MA vehicles are the frontal impact standard and the exhaust emissions standard.

In certain circumstances class MA vehicles must also be fitted with electronic stability control (a new motor vehicle of class MA that is first certified for entry into service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2015, or a used motor vehicle of class MA with engine capacity greater than 2 litres that is inspected at the border from 1 March 2018 must have ESC fitted).

To register your vehicle you must be able to prove it was manufactured to meet frontal impact and exhaust emissions standards and ESC requirements where appropriate unless:

it is over 20 years old
it is a special interest vehicle
you’re bringing it with you when emigrating or returning to live in New Zealand.

Note: all other used class MA vehicles inspected at the border from 1 March 2020 must have ESC fitted.

Find out more about these exceptions.

You can’t add frontal impact systems to a vehicle. If a vehicle wasn’t designed, manufactured and certified as meeting an approved frontal impact standard, you can’t change this.

See the more detailed requirements for frontal impact standards in the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001

Check that your vehicle meets the exhaust emissions requirements or whether it qualify for an exception?

Requirements for passenger cars (class MA)

Vehicle has to meet standard if made on or after...	What sort of standard?	Under what legislation?
1 January 2006	Rear fog lamps (if fitted)	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
27 February 2005	Installation standard for lighting on class MA vehicles OR fitting requirements in Lighting Rule*	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 October 2002	Seats and seat anchorages	Land Transport Rule: Seats and Seat Anchorages 2002
1 March 1999	Head restraints (if fitted)	Land Transport Rule: Head Restraints 2001
1 March 1998	External projections	Land Transport Rule: External Projections 2001
1 January 1996	Daytime running lamps (if fitted) Front fog lamps (if fitted) Reversing lamps (if fitted) Direction indicators Registration-plate illumination lamps	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 January 1996	Rear-view mirrors	Land Transport Rule: Glazing, Windscreen Wipe and Wash, and Mirrors 1999
1 January 1992	Front position lamps Headlamps Rear position lamps Stop lamps	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 January 1992	Interior impact systems	Land Transport Rule: Interior Impact 2001
1 January 1992	Light-vehicle brakes	Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes 2002
1 January 1992	Steering systems	Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems 2001
1 January 1992	Tyres and wheels**	Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 and Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2005
1 January 1991	Door retention systems	Land Transport Rule: Door Retention Systems 2001
1 January 1991	Glazing	Land Transport Rule: Glazing, Windscreen Wipe and Wash, and Mirrors 1999
1 January 1991	Rear reflectors High-mounted stop lamps	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
Varies	Seatbelts and seatbelt anchorages*	Land Transport Rule: Seatbelts and Seatbelt Anchorages 2002
* The number, position and performance of lighting equipment on vehicles manufactured after 27 February 2005 must meet either an installation standard or the relevant requirements in 3.3, 4.3, 6.3, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 8.3 and 9.3 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004. ** You may fit components that meet New Zealand standard to your vehicle after it arrives in the country.

Forward control (class MB) and off-road (class MC) passenger vehicles

The most important requirement for these vehicles is that all MC class vehicles entering New Zealand on or after 1 March 2016 must be fitted with an electronic stability control (ESC) system unless:

it is over 20 years old
it is a special interest vehicle
you’re bringing it with you when emigrating or returning to live in New Zealand.

Find out more about these exceptions.

See the more detailed requirements for electronic stability control the Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes 2002(external link)

See the more detailed requirements for frontal impact standards in the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001

Check that your vehicle meets the exhaust emissions requirements or whether it qualifies for an exception?

Requirements for forward control (class MB) and off-road (class MC) passenger vehicles

Vehicle has to meet standard if made on or after...	What sort of standard?	Under what legislation?
1 January 2006	High-mounted stop lamps (if fitted)	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 January 2006	Rear fog lamps (if fitted)	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
27 February 2005	Installation standard for lighting on this class of vehicles OR fitting requirements in Lighting Rule*	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 October 2003	Frontal impact systems	Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001
1 October 2002	Seats and seat anchorages	Land Transport Rule: Seats and Seat Anchorages 2002
1 March 1999	Head restraints (if fitted)	Land Transport Rule: Head Restraints 2001
1 March 1998	External projections	Land Transport Rule: External Projections 2001
1 March 1999 for class MB	Steering systems	Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems 2001
1 March 1998	Door retention systems	Land Transport Rule: Door Retention Systems 2001
1 March 1998	Interior impact systems	Land Transport Rule: Interior Impact 2001
1 January 1996	Daytime running lamps (if fitted) Front fog lamps (if fitted) Reversing lamps (if fitted) Direction indicators Registration-plate illumination lamps Front position lamps Headlamps Rear position lamps Stop lamps	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 January 1996	Rear-view mirrors	Land Transport Rule: Glazing, Windscreen Wipe and Wash, and Mirrors 1999
1 January 1996	Light-vehicle brakes	Land Transport Rule: Light-vehicle Brakes 2002
1 March 1999 for class MB 1 March 1998 for class MC	Steering systems	Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems 2001
1 January 1992	Tyres and wheels**	Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 and Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2005
1 January 1992	Rear reflectors	Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004
1 January 1991	Glazing	Land Transport Rule: Glazing, Windscreen Wipe and Wash, and Mirrors 1999
Varies	Seatbelts and seatbelt anchorages*	Land Transport Rule: Seatbelts and Seatbelt Anchorages 2002
* The number, position and performance of lighting equipment on vehicles manufactured after 27 February 2005 must meet either an installation standard or the relevant requirements in 3.3, 4.3, 6.3, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 8.3 and 9.3 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004. ** You may fit components that meet New Zealand requirements to your vehicle after it arrives in the country.

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Passenger cars (class MA)

Requirements for passenger cars (class MA)

Forward control (class MB) and off-road (class MC) passenger vehicles

Requirements for forward control (class MB) and off-road (class MC) passenger vehicles