Paying for registration on a car you’re not driving is money down the drain. Whether you’re travelling overseas, waiting on repairs, or holding onto a project vehicle, New Zealand law allows you to hold your registration (rego) for three months to one year. It’s a simple process that many Kiwi drivers don’t know about, and it could save you hundreds of dollars. In this guide, we will learn the steps to put rego on hold and when is the best time to scrap a vehicle instead of keeping it.
Rego on hold: What does it mean?
Registration on hold, in simple terms, means putting the licence on hold temporarily with NZTA. And in this period, the vehicle can’t be driven on the roads. This helps the vehicle owners to avoid paying ongoing registration fees for a car, van, motorcycle, truck, or ute that is off the road for an extended period.
Many people place their rego on hold when their vehicle is damaged, waiting for repairs, stored long-term, or no longer worth driving. While the registration is on hold, the vehicle cannot legally be driven on public roads until the registration is reactivated.
It’s also important to understand that “rego” refers to the vehicle licensing, which is different from a WOF (Warrant of Fitness). Putting rego on hold does not cancel ownership of the vehicle; it simply pauses the licensing costs while the vehicle remains unused.
How long can you put your Rego on hold?
According to the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) guidelines, you can place your licence (rego) on hold for a minimum of three months to a maximum of twelve months. There are no admin fees to put rego on hold; you or someone else can do that on your behalf.
Step-by-step process to put your Rego on hold
You can do that online or in person by filling out the MR24 form at one of the NZTA agents, such as the Automobile Association (AA), Postshops, Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ), Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ).
Online is the easiest and fastest way to put your vehicle’s licence on hold. You can do that within 2-3 minutes. Here are the steps for online processing:
Step 1
Go to the NZTA vehicle licence hold page. You will need your vehicle’s license plate number and a New Zealand driver’s license.
Step 2
Enter vehicle registration number, your driving licence number, last name and date of birth.
Step 3
Choose the time period by selecting dates for the exemption; it’s a minimum of three months and a maximum of twelve months.
Step 4
Submit and pay fees if you owe licensing fees. Make payment via Visa or Mastercard credit/debit card or your internet banking details. You will receive confirmation shortly.
Is it better to sell the vehicle for scrap rather than keep it?
If you have a damaged or unwanted vehicle and the cost of repairs is too high, or if you don’t want to put it back on the road or re-register it in the future, choosing salvage buyer services such as 0800 Salvage is the best option. This way, you can free up space and avoid future registration fees or other ongoing costs while receiving quick cash for your car.