If a vehicle is reported as structurally damaged, a damage flag or safety flag will be added to the Motor Vehicle Register. 

While the flag is recorded against the vehicle, you won't be able to get a warrant of fitness (WoF) or certificate of fitness (CoF). The flag can only be removed once the vehicle is properly repaired and inspected again, verifying that the vehicle is within safe tolerance of the manufacturer’s specifications. 

Damaged used imports

Your imported used vehicle may have been flagged as structurally damaged or deteriorated when it was inspected at the border. A damage flag will be recorded on the Motor Vehicle Register, and a windscreen sticker will have been attached to the vehicle by the border inspector.

If your vehicle was flagged as damaged at the border, take it to be inspected by an entry certifier before carrying out any repairs. The entry certifier will determine if the damage flag should be removed or the repairs require certification by a specialist repair certifier or a heavy vehicle specialist certifier. If a repair certificate is required, the damage flag will not be removed from the Motor Vehicle Register.

Find an entry certifier

Repair certification process

Vehicles imported from Australia

Importers of Australian used vehicles must provide a copy of the Australian Personal Properties Security Register (PPSR) report to the inspecting organisation at the border. If the PPSR shows the vehicle has been written off, then the vehicle is added to our damaged vehicles list.

Australian Personal Property Securities Register(external link)

Vehicles damaged in New Zealand

If a vehicle is damaged in New Zealand, its registration should be cancelled. If it was cancelled by an insurer, and was cancelled because of fire, structural or water damage, we'll add a safety flag to the vehicle. 

Even if the registration wasn't cancelled, we may add a safety flag to the vehicle.

Before you repair it, you should take it to be inspected by an entry certifier. The entry certifier will determine if any repairs require certification by a specialist repair certifier or a heavy vehicle specialist certifier.

Find an entry certifier

Repair certification process

The damaged vehicles list

Damage that hasn't been correctly repaired can compromise the safety of vehicle features such as safety belt pre-tensioners, airbags and certain electrical systems.

This list contains vehicles that have been reported with fire damage, structural damage, or water damage, or have been written off in the country of previous registration. 

You can check your vehicle against this list of damaged vehicles. You’ll need to know the factory issued vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number. 

What is a vehicle identification number (VIN)

This list may not contain all damaged vehicles. If you think a vehicle should be on this list please email us.

Email NZTA to report a damaged vehicle

Repaired vehicles are not removed from the damaged vehicle list. Even if your vehicle has since been repaired and certified, it will still be on the list. 

Damage codes*

New Zealand damaged vehicles

  • AT - Alpha Takata airbag recall
  • F or FD - fire damage
  • RC - recall
  • OT - other reason
  • SD - structural damage
  • W or WD - water damage.

Overseas damaged vehicles

  • S – written off vehicles (both statutory write off and economic repairable write-off vehicles)
  • WS – written off due to flood/water damage (both statutory write off and economic repairable write-off vehicles)
  • FS – written off due to fire damage (both statutory and economic repairable write-off vehicles).
VIN/Chassis Make Model Damaged* Date
MM0DK2W7A0W723797 MAZDA CX3 S 4 November 2024
MNARXXMAWRNP38822 FORD Everest S 4 November 2024
MPBCMFF70PX484805 FORD Ranger S 4 November 2024
KMHR381ASPU524893 HYUNDAI Palisade S 4 November 2024
JTELV71J907402083 TOYOTA Land Crusier S 4 November 2024
MPBCMFE10PX554001 FORD Ranger Rapto S 4 November 2024
JF1ZN6K81JG045320 TOYOTA 86 S 4 November 2024
MNTCBND23A0030323 NISSAN Navara D23 S 4 November 2024
JF2BT9KL3PG045832 SUBARU Outback Touring S 4 November 2024
5HD1MFP69PB861107 HARLEY DAVIDSON Roadglide 3 S 4 November 2024
MR0KA3CBX01134093 TOYOTA Hilux Cab S 4 November 2024
JNBPKC8EL00N00242 UD Trucks PKC280 SD 2 November 2024
ZVW30-5672531 TOYOTA PRIUS SD 1 November 2024
ZVW30-5647029 TOYOTA PRIUS SD 1 November 2024
ZVW30-5150471 TOYOTA PRIUS SD 1 November 2024
ZVW30-1866888 TOYOTA PRIUS SD 1 November 2024
ZRE152-1044307 TOYOTA AURIS SD 1 November 2024
ZNE10-0214588 TOYOTA WISH SD 1 November 2024
ZE2-1115869 HONDA INSIGHT SD 1 November 2024
ZC72S-103138 SUZUKI SWIFT SD 1 November 2024