Scam alerts: we’ve seen an increase in scam texts and emails claiming to be from us, asking for payments.
Check our example scams or report a scam to us

NZTA App: our mobile app provides a simple and secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information.
Learn more and download the NZTA app

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).
Vehicle Make
VIN/Chassis Make Model Damaged* Date
MNTCB2D23A0011389 NISSAN NAVARA S 13 June 2025
LSFAM11A4JA078081 LDV T60 S 13 June 2025
MPAUCS40GPT020613 IZUZU MU-X S 13 June 2025
MR0BA3CD900155413 TOYOTA HILUX S 13 June 2025
MPBUMFF50HX108689 FORD RANGER S 13 June 2025
LSKG5GL13KA096971 LDV V80 S 13 June 2025
WDF4702522G026308 MERCEDES-BENZ X CLASS S 13 June 2025
KNAPU81DMR7311743 KIA SPORTAGE WS 13 June 2025
WVWZZZCDZNW119088 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF S 13 June 2025
MP2TFS40JNT017141 MAZDA BT50 S 13 June 2025
MPBUMFF60LX268122 FORD RANGER S 13 June 2025
JM0KF4WLA00806614 MAZDA CX5 S 13 June 2025
JTFRA3AP308041720 TOYOTA HIACE WS 13 June 2025
5HD1YMJ68MB043137 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORT GLIDE S 13 June 2025
MP2TFS40JNT032376 MAZDA BT-50 S 13 June 2025
MPBUMFF50HX147479 FORD RANGER S 13 June 2025
MPATFS40JPG010621 IZUZU D-MAX S 13 June 2025
MPBCM2F60PX553060 FORD RANGER WS 13 June 2025
LSFAM11C8NA154232 LDV T60 S 13 June 2025
MPBUMFF50KX250618 FORD RANGER S 13 June 2025