Details of Clean Car Discount cancellation

National’s promise to cancel the Clean Car Discount by December 31 seems set to come to fruition.

The amendment to the Land Transport Management Act was accepted by parliament to be considered under urgency this week and is likely to be passed in coming days.

Meanwhile, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has confirmed details of how the scheme will be ended – and it’s drawing a firm line.

As promised by now transport minister Simeon Brown, December 31 will be the last day for vehicles to be registered to receive a rebate. Not only will the vehicle require registration that day, but the application will need to be ‘successfully’ submitted by 11.59pm.

It says from the closing time, the online service for applications will be blocked.

A month will be allowed for rebates to be paid out, with a similarly hard line of January 31 being the last date money can be paid out.

“The Government has determined that the last day that rebates can be paid is 31 January 2024,” says the NZTA.

“If an application is incomplete and/or requires follow up, then it’s at risk of missing the payment deadline of 31 January 2023.

“NZTA can’t pay rebates after 31 January 2024, regardless of cause.

“Only registered parties can apply,” the agency adds.

“Dealer applications must be using the vehicle for business purposes and will need to supply the required documentation, such as the signed statutory declaration, in order for their applications to be processed.”

Eligible vehicles registered up to and on December 31, 2023 will be required to pay the CCD fee at registration.

Corrections after the deadline will be allowed but won’t be automatic.

“Incorrect registrations completed in December 2023, seeking correction in 2024, will be assessed on a case-by-case basis,” says the NZTA. “Refunding of CCD fees won’t be automatic.”

No vehicles will be subject to a CCD fee from January 1, 2024, unless considered a 2023 registration correction.

The details make it clear no exceptions for the likes of shipping or compliance delays will be allowed.

“There are no exceptions to the eligibility criteria and timeframes,” says the NZTA.

“Shipping or certification delays are not accepted reasons for late applications.”

Vehicle labels to be updated

The agency has added a reminder that Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Labels will need to be updated on vehicles for sale on yard or online from January 1 to no longer reflect the CCD information.

“From 1 January 2024, vehicles offered for sale on-yard are required to display the new Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Label (VEEEL) that no longer shows CCD information. Vehicle online sales listings are also required to be updated by removing CCD information. VEEEL labelling and online data feeds will be updated on 1 January so that the requirements can be met.

“For organisations receiving electronic feeds via API, there will be no changes needed to system interfaces as the CCD fields will still exist but will be empty from 1 January.”