The Government reduced RUC rates again by 36% from 1 March 2023 to 30 June 2023.
From 1 July 2023 standard RUC rates apply.
Waka Kotahi will be auditing and invoicing RUC users for excessive RUC purchases made during the discount period.
If you bought too much RUC and your current RUC licence will last you past 31 July 2023, you'll need to buy a new RUC licence in July. Make sure you enter your current distance reading when you buy the new licence, and the system will credit you back any unused RUC.
You must buy a new RUC licence by 31 July 2023.
Make sure you enter your current distance reading when you buy the new licence, and the system will credit you back any unused RUC.
You can buy a new licence online or at a RUC agent.
When you enter your current hubodometer or odometer reading, the system will credit you back any unused distance. You must use all of that credit in the same transaction, and your new licence must go past the end distance on your current licence.
How to overlap your new licence with your old licence
Waka Kotahi will be checking for any unusual or excessive purchases of discounted RUC.
If you bought too much RUC at the discounted rate and haven't bought a new RUC licence by 31 July 2023, Waka Kotahi can send you an invoice to charge you the standard rate for all of the excessive RUC.
If you have a heavy vehicle, or you have a RUC licence you bought at the discounted rate that will last you past 31 July 2023, you'll need to buy a new RUC licence by 31 July 2023.
When you buy a new RUC licence, you'll need to enter the current reading from your hubodometer or odometer. This will be your start distance.
When you enter this distance, our system will calculate the distance you've already used (or travelled) and how much is still unused.
Any unused distance will then automatically be credited towards the new licence you're buying at the discounted rate.
This is called an overlap licence.
You'll need to make sure that the end distance of your new licence is past the end distance of your old licence. You'll also need to use all of your credit on the new licence.
Because RUC comes in units of 1000km (or 621 miles) you may need to round your licence up to the next unit.
You have a RUC licence from 4000km to 5000km.
Your current hubodometer reading is 4250km.
When you apply for a new RUC licence, with a start reading of 4250km, we'll credit you back the 750km you haven't used yet, at the RUC rate you originally paid.
You must use all of your credit on your new licence.
Our system will give you an error message if you don’t use all the credit or don’t have the right end distance.
When you buy a RUC licence online, you need to change the New start distance field to your current hubodometer or odometer reading and hit the Refresh button.
If you don't change the start distance, your new licence will start at the end of your current licence, and you won't get a credit for any unused distance.
Instructional video on how to buy an overlap licence
Buy a RUC licence online(external link)
If you're buying a RUC licence at one of our agents, you'll need to make sure you enter your current hubodometer or odometer reading into the second table on the Road user charges application for distance licence form (RUCLA).
If you don't fill in the second table, your new licence will just start at the end of your current licence, and you won't get a credit for any unused distance.
You must always buy your RUC before you travel.
If you don't buy your RUC in advance, Waka Kotahi could issue you with an assessment for your unpaid RUC, in the form of an invoice.
Any invoices will be charged at the standard RUC rate, not the discounted RUC rate.
If you can't find the information you need about the RUC reduction on this page, and you want to ask us a specific question about your circumstances, please contact us.
