Some of the questions we’ve been asked about the Clean Car Standard are listed below. If you have a question that is not included, please email us at CCSImporter@nzta.govt.nz.
From 1 June 2023, any credits in your account will be available for you to use to offset charges before you have to make a payment.
CloseYou can find details on the Credits, charges and payments webpage.
CloseYes, the rate is set in legislation and is next due to increase in 2025. More information is on the Data, values and formulas page.
CloseGST does not apply to charges in the CCS system. However, if you are providing an end-to-end service to your clients, GST should be applied to any CCS charges paid as part of the service when invoicing your clients. Financial transactions between importers for credit trading purposes would be subject to GST.
Inland Revenue - tax and the Clean Car Standard(external link)
CloseYes, when credits are used for offsetting charges the oldest credits will always be used first.
CloseYes, this function is available now. If you are the account owner, you can find the option in the Settings tab.
CloseAnybody with a 25 percent controlling interest in the business, or anyone transferring assets on your behalf, needs to be verified. Companies and trusts may need to provide further information.
CloseThe value of CO2 credits is in grams/km. They do not have a monetary value within the CCS system. However, they can be used to offset charges (one CO2 g/km credit to one CO2 g/km charge). Credits can also be transferred (traded) with other importers. Any payment price for credits traded and the terms of the trade must be agreed and managed between the two trading parties – Waka Kotahi has no visibility of, or responsibility for, the financial agreement or monetary transactions.
CloseNo. Payment of charges is managed through the CCS system.
CloseYou can use our CCS Account Register which is a list of importers who are willing to buy and/or sell credits, and their contact details.
You can find details about the register and how to be included on it on our Credits, charges and payments webpage.
Close
Yes. Importers wishing to transfer or receive credits must undergo Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks first. This is a requirement under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 to help tackle money laundering in New Zealand. Details on how to apply for verification can be found on our Credits, charges and payments webpage.
CloseFrom 1 December 2022, every imported vehicle that is subject to the Clean Car Standard needs to be allocated to a CO2 account in order to complete entry certification and registration.
Any person or business can open a CO2 account for this purpose, but the vehicle they are importing doesn't have to be allocated to a CO2 account owned by them. Some importing agents and vehicles logistics companies may offer the use of their own CO2 accounts to customers.
It is important to note that the owner of the CO2 account is responsible for any fees incurred against the account and will own any CO2 credits earned. They will also need to access the CCS System to accept the vehicle on their CO2 account, as part of the vehicle entry and certification process.
CloseThe process to create a CO2 account is straightforward. You will need a RealMe log on and a smart device connected to the internet. If you are a business you will need your NZBN number.
If you would like to apply for a Fleet average scheme additional documents are required.
You can find resources to help you in our Training Hub.
Training Hub – Clean Car Standard
Set up a CO2 account in the CCS system(external link)
CloseWhen an account is first opened no documents are needed. You will need to have a RealMe log on ready to set up your CO2 account. If you are a business, you will need your New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
If you would like to apply to for a Fleet Average scheme additional documents are required. More information is available in our guide.
Apply for Fleet Average guide – Clean Car Standard (CCS) system [PDF, 561 KB]
CloseRealMe is a single username and password you can use to securely access services online. Waka Kotahi uses RealMe for all our online services including the Clean Car Standard system.
If you have an existing RealMe, you can use it to create a CO2 account and then use it each time you log in to the Clean Car Standard system.
If you do not have a RealMe account yet, you can create one. You can find more information in our guide.
Logging in and navigating guide – Clean Car Standard (CCS) system [PDF, 614 KB]
CloseIf you do not have a New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) you can still create a CO2 account as an individual. You can find out more about NZBN numbers on the NZBN website.
New Zealand Business Number website(external link)
CloseYes, it can. The Clean Car Standard system only allows an NZBN number to be associated with one CO2 account for used vehicles, and one CO2 account for new vehicles. You can find more information about setting up CO2 accounts in our Training Hub.
Training Hub – Clean Car Standard
CloseYes, you do. Once you have opened your new vehicle CO2 account you would need to repeat the steps to create a used vehicle CO2 account. You can find more details on how to do this in our Training Hub.
Training Hub – Clean Car Standard
CloseYou must have a CO2 account to import light vehicles into New Zealand from 1 December 2022. Without a CO2 account number, you will not be able to have a vehicle entry certified.
For most used vehicle imports, the CO2 account number will be entered in the Fuelsaver system, along with other vehicle details. This may be done by the importer before entry compliance or by the entry certifier during entry compliance.
CloseYes. If the details are correct the vehicle can be approved for registration (used vehicles and parallel imports) or have its WoF or CoF issued (new vehicles).
Where there is a list of vehicles awaiting acceptance, these can be selected and accepted individually or in bulk. There is an auto accept feature that you can turn on for vehicles at or below target. The system will automatically accept the vehicles without you having to login to manually accept these.
CloseIf you find a vehicle in your CO2 account that is not yours, you should reject it.
Rejected vehicles are managed in the Clean Car Standard system as orphaned vehicles and Waka Kotahi will allocate orphaned vehicles to the correct account.
If your car is missing, contact Clean Car Standard team CCSimporter@nzta.govt.nz.
They can search for your vehicle and allocate it to your CO2 account. Then you will be able to accept it and complete the process to register.
CloseThe distributor will load their account number against new vehicle model codes in MIAMI. When VINs are assigned to the model codes and pushed to the MVR, the MVR will then push the vehicle records to your CO2 account the CCS system.
You can assign a used vehicle to your account using Fuelsaver. The Entry Certifier will require you to provide your CCS CO2 account number along with vehicle documentation. This can be printed from an option in Fuelsaver. Once the MVR knows about the vehicle a CCS number loaded in Fuelsaver (either by the importer or entry certifier) will be pushed to the CCS system creating the vehicle in your account.
You can see vehicles appearing in your account by logging on to your CO2 account and performing account enquiries.
CloseYou can find vehicles that are not yet visible in the CCS system by using the Rightcar Bulk search function. All you need to do is enter the chassis numbers of the vehicles you are interested in. The vehicle details will match what’s in Fuelsaver and will include the CO2 account assigned to the vehicle.
Rightcar Bulk search function(external link)
You may be unable to find a vehicle in the CCS system if a vehicle is not yet in New Zealand and the chassis number has not been assigned to a CO2 account.
CloseThe CCS system deals with each vehicle individually so only the vehicle that you dispute will be affected. The only delay is that it cannot be registered.
If you do have an issue with a vehicle, you should correct it before you accept it.
The sooner you raise a potential issue with us, then the sooner we can resolve it. You can contact Clean Car Standard team, even before the vehicle arrives in the country CCSimporter@nzta.govt.nz.
CloseThe word ‘importer’ is used throughout legislation and import is defined as ‘at the point the vehicle is certified for entry’. It is at the point of entry certification that a vehicle is considered imported for use on New Zealand roads and entered into the New Zealand vehicle fleet. Even if a vehicle has been in New Zealand before the start of the Clean Car Standard, if it has not been complied, it will be subject to relevant charges at compliance.
CloseIf it is the best CO2 value at the time the vehicle was accepted and paid for, then that value will stand, and will not be retrospectively changed.
If you think that a mistake was made, and the CO2 value was calculated incorrectly (in error) then let us know and we will investigate a correction. We consider these situations on a case-by-case basis and aim to resolve these types of enquiries within 3-5 working days.
CloseThe calculation uses the vehicle 3pWLTP CO2 Emission Value, the Tare Weight, and Vehicle Type (passenger or commercial). This calculation also uses reference information from the vehicle fleet as well as legislation to determine an adjusted Target value. The difference between the vehicles emission value and the weight adjusted target is the value for the vehicle transaction in the CO2 account.
Close