Information for new traders of motor vehicles

Selling a vehicle

Registered motor vehicle traders are authorised to sight a New Zealand driver licence as identification, and thereby enable the buyer to avoid visiting an NZTA agent.

Steps involved:

Confirm the buyer's identity.

Business or organisation: If the business has an NZTA card, you can quote the NZTA customer number on the Application for registration of a motor vehicle (form MR2A) or the Notice of change of ownership of motor vehicle (form MR13B). You don't need to sight the NZTA card.

Individuals: The only identification you can sight for an individual is a New Zealand driver licence. If the buyer doesn't have a New Zealand driver licence, they will need to go with you to an NZTA agent and take either a passport or a combination of documents that shows their name, date of birth and signature.
The MR2A or MR13B form must be completed with the following details:
- your NZTA customer number (must be recorded in the NZTA trader customer number panel of the form)
- the vehicle details (plate number, make, model and VIN/chassis number)
- the customer's ID details (NZ driver licence for an individual or NZTA customer number for a company), and
- the new owner's name and address details (full name, as shown on ID).
Note: You are able to sign an MR2A on behalf of the new owner, but the new owner must sign an MR13B.
Lodge the MR2A or MR13B form at an NZTA agent with the required fee.

If the vehicle has been sold within a week of purchasing, please make sure it is not listed on your weekly MR13C form, as the MR13B transaction will update the MVR with your trader details as the previous owner. A Certificate of registration (MR3) will be sent to the new owner.

Note: You'll be charged $2.25 to process this portion of the change of ownership transaction (MR13B and MR13C). This will be included in your monthly tax invoice/direct debit notification. The NZTA agent who processes the MR13B will still charge $9.20 to process the MR13B transaction into your customer's name.

If the trader on the MR13C is the selling trader on the MR13B, the system recognises the NZTA customer number and does not charge the $2.25 fee.

Direct debit payments

When completing MVR transactions that will result in a monthly tax invoice/direct debit notification being generated (eg, MR13B and MR13C), the only applicable method of payment for the tax invoice for all traders using NZTA customer numbers is by direct debit. (Until direct debit details are supplied to NZTA , you'll be unable to use your NZTA customer number for MVR transactions.)

To have 'trader' status with the NZTA, you'll be required to:

complete and sign a direct debit authority form
return a preprinted bank deposit slip
complete a Trader customer details form

If you don't supply the above documentation, your NZTA customer number will be declined for MVR transactions.

The TRC will provide a tax invoice/direct debit notification detailing:

the charges due for MR13C and MR13B transactions
the date the amount will be direct debited from your account.

The tax invoice/direct debit notification will be provided at the beginning of the month, for the previous month's transactions. The tax invoice will say when the direct debit will be processed.

Direct debit authority form

A direct debit authority form will be posted to you when the TRC receives notification from the Ministry of Economic Development that your trader status has been approved. Alternatively, you can get a copy from the TRC's Agent Reconciliation Officer (phone 06 953 6200, extn 8480 or 8485).

The forms mentioned above must be completed, signed and returned to:

The NZTA Card Business Support Officer,
Transport Registry Centre,
Private Bag,
Palmerston North.

Where you can find out more

Phone our Motor Registration Contact Centre on (freephone) 0800 108 809.

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Page updated: 7 April 2009