RUCs to apply to all vehicles (incl EVs), replacing road user tax on petrol

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#3401147 8-Aug-2025 17:43

jarledb:

gregmcc:

for the overtaxed, over regulated NZ population.

Regarding overtaxed: NZ is one of the lower tax countries in the OECD.

great fact if you only include income tax, lots of other taxes like fuel exercise tax, GST but to mention 2.......

tdgeek

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#3401155 8-Aug-2025 19:01

It does need to be fairer. But if it was super fair when compacts pay less, medium cars pay a little more, as do larger cars who pay a little more again, and utes pay more, the end game is that this change (and it could be any change) will gather more revenue, as the Govt has stated. So, irregardless of whatever the change is, its an increase of road user charges nationally. No matter how they are collected. It will be absorbed by the drivers who in most respects wont analyse the levy per litre against RUC per mile. The "change" which will increase costs, will be melded into the ether

Ideally they or any Govt would say we are changing this, it will cost you more, as it needs to, end of story

mattwnz

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#3401156 8-Aug-2025 19:09

The thing is that the current problem isn’t new in that smaller cars always paid less tax to use roads, due to using less fuel. The change means that there is less incentive to have a smaller more efficient vehicle. I highly doubt anyone is going to be paying less tax as a result of this and some will be paying a lot more. In the meantime our vehicle fleet will likely get older with less people buying EVs. I understand there has already been a big drop off in people buying them in New Zealand. Where elsewhere in the world they are being more popular

NzBeagle

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#3401157 8-Aug-2025 19:12

arnet:

You'd be glad you don't own a Prius based on your numbers

I mean, I'd still be pleased to be paying less for fuel than just about every other road user

mattwnz

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#3401166 8-Aug-2025 20:14

NzBeagle:

arnet:

You'd be glad you don't own a Prius based on your numbers

I mean, I'd still be pleased to be paying less for fuel than just about every other road user

Many Toyotas and Lexus models now full hybrids so no need to get a Prius now.

gzt

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#3401171 8-Aug-2025 21:11

NuttyBroffesor: Negative driving behaviour should be locked onto the system too. If you have negative behaviour speeding, slow drivers(tied against maps traffic data perhaps) etc should lead to penalties for the vehicle owner.

You want Big Brother not a road user charging system then.

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#3401391 10-Aug-2025 11:10

I'm happy that all vehicles will be charged the same rate to use the roads, instead of the current system which is all over the show depending what fuel is used.

The biggest benefit is those who use petrol for off-road use (lawn mowers, boats, dirt bikes etc) will now have cheaper fuel for those applications.

With all road-going vehicles being subject to RUC, it'll make EVs (once again) the cheapest form of transport to operate.

Sidestep

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#3401452 10-Aug-2025 12:40

robertsona:

In the government press releases, there are references to "Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic RUC devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles".

Does anyone know of cars with this capability or is the statement really just referring to heavy goods vehicles?

I'm interested to know exactly which vehicles supposedly already have the built in capability to administer RUCs and how that actually works for the owner.

Any Car 1995 on with an OBD2 port potentially.

I have 2 heavy vehicles in NZ right now, one - a Motorhome - has a Hubodometer fitted, another - a Dodge Ram - has a Hubodometer Exemption, so I can use the vehicle's odometer to record my mileage.
Theoretically I could defeat that recording - but it's not worth the trouble.

In Canada I pay my (expensive) accident and third party liability insurance by the Km. There's a 'device' plugged into the OBD ports on each of my vehicles that records my km driven.

Payment is painless, works like this:
3.4
Purchase of Kilometres The Program is designed to automatically reload 1,000 kilometre increments within the 12-month policy term once the previous increment has been exhausted.
Your payment method on file, such as credit card or pre-authorized debit will be automatically billed for the next 1,000 kilometre increment.

During each 1,000 kilometre increment purchased, you will be notified via alerts from CAA.
Alerts can be provided to you in one or more of the following forms: • Via SMS/Text message; • An e-mail; • An invoice; and • A message on the portal.
You can monitor your usage at any time by logging onto your “My Account” on www.caamypace.com (“Online Portal”) and/or using the CAA MyPace mobile application. You will be notified four (4) times during each 1,000 kilometre increment usage: • At 750 kilometres – an Email/SMS notification will let you know that you have reached 75% of your 1,000 kilometre increment; • At 900 kilometres – an Email/SMS notification will advise you that you have reached 90% of your purchased kilometres.

In this notification, you will be given the option to suspend the billing if you only want to drive up to the 1,000 kilometre purchased without being charged for a new 1,000 kilometre increment. If CAA determines that the vehicle has been driven beyond the 1,000 kilometre increment purchased, CAA will automatically charge your chosen payment option for the next 1,000 kilometre increment; • At 950 kilometres – an Email/SMS notification and an Invoice notification will let you know that you are 95% through the use of the 1,000 kilometre purchased. You will be automatically billed for the next 1,000 kilometre increment. Please see Section 4 below which details how premium is charged under the Program; and • Upon successful or unsuccessful 1,000 kilometre increment payment – an Email notification will let you know that your payment was received successfully or if your payment was declined.

It's a painless way to remotely record every Km driven.

Of course, with it's access to the vehicle's computer, built-in accelerometers, GPS and SIM card network connection, it records much more than Km driven:
5.1
Data Captured by the Device The Device is a piece of electronic equipment, including connections and related wiring, which records and transmits vehicle usage Data such as, distance travelled, driving behaviour, vehicle diagnostic information and information relating to geographic positioning, as set forth below, to the Telematics Centre. By participating in the Program, you are consenting to the collection, use, disclosure and retention of the Data and the other terms and conditions as set out herein.

It's very accurate. If I reverse my vehicle off the street into my driveway I see that 5m journey appear in my account.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3401453 10-Aug-2025 12:52

@Sidestep, Thanks for the detailed info on how a GPS monitored system works.

Is there any differentiation of charging like for example between public road and off road use, or for congestion or toll charging? Probably not so relevant for insurance purposes but I'm interested in whether such a system is able to calculate and charge (or deduct charges) in such situations though different insurance rates may be in place between localities, or provinces in Canada.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

gzt

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#3401454 10-Aug-2025 12:52

OBD2 one time read is ok. OBD2 plugged in all the time is not a great idea imo. Vehicle OBD and CAN bus is not designed for peripherals use imo in spite of the fact there are various drivetime accessory uses available. I'd be very reluctant to add an OBD drivetime device.

Sidestep

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#3401456 10-Aug-2025 12:58

HarmLessSolutions:

@Sidestep, Thanks for the detailed info on how a GPS monitored system works.

Is there any differentiation of charging like for example between public road and off road use, or for congestion or toll charging? Probably not so relevant for insurance purposes but I'm interested in whether such a system is able to calculate and charge (or deduct charges) in such situations though different insurance rates may be in place between localities, or provinces in Canada.

Yes, It's accurate enough to tell whether my vehicle's in my residential driveway, on the street, crossing a provincial border - or leaving the country.
I get a discount for not travelling into the USA.

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tweake

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#3401460 10-Aug-2025 13:18

Sidestep:

..........

In this notification, you will be given the option to suspend the billing if you only want to drive up to the 1,000 kilometre purchased without being charged for a new 1,000 kilometre increment. If CAA determines that the vehicle has been driven beyond the 1,000 kilometre increment purchased, CAA will automatically charge your chosen payment option for the next 1,000 kilometre increment; • At 950 kilometres – an Email/SMS notification and an Invoice notification will let you know that you are 95% through the use of the 1,000 kilometre purchased. You will be automatically billed for the next 1,000 kilometre increment. Please see Section 4 below which details how premium is charged under the Program; and • Upon successful or unsuccessful 1,000 kilometre increment payment – an Email notification will let you know that your payment was received successfully or if your payment was declined.

It's a painless way to remotely record every Km driven.

what is the cost of the service?

work looked at eroad i think it was because we do lots of offroad driving on farms. but the savings didn't cover the cost of the install and service. with normal motoring, ie no offroad claims, you would pay full price for the install and service.

Sidestep

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#3401462 10-Aug-2025 13:22

gzt: OBD2 one time read is ok. OBD2 plugged in all the time is not a great idea imo. Vehicle OBD and CAN bus is not designed for peripherals use imo in spite of the fact there are various drivetime accessory uses available. I'd be very reluctant to add an OBD drivetime device.

One did "fall apart" while I was looking at it.
After the tamper-proof seals are defeated, internally it appears to be a modified Bouncie DL972 - not as hi-tec as I'd imagined.
(as used on Rental Cars like Turo and others)

Sidestep

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#3401467 10-Aug-2025 13:38

tweake:

what is the cost of the service?

work looked at eroad i think it was because we do lots of offroad driving on farms. but the savings didn't cover the cost of the install and service. with normal motoring, ie no offroad claims, you would pay full price for the install and service.

I'm using this overseas, in Canada. I just mentioned it as one way to remotely track road usage.
These tracking devices, in bulk, are quite inexpensive - I was told less than C$10ea.

I save around C$5K per year by having them installed.

I believe major eroad users have 'gateways' - fixed & portable - that record when they go offroad.

tweake

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#3401471 10-Aug-2025 14:17

Sidestep:

I'm using this overseas, in Canada. I just mentioned it as one way to remotely track road usage.
These tracking devices, in bulk, are quite inexpensive - I was told less than C$10ea.

I save around C$5K per year by having them installed.

so that probably means that system is subsidized by the Canada govt. something that won't happen here, we would wear the entire cost.

i suspect the whole privatizing of ruc collection is political based because they don't want to be seen to increase a govt department while they are pandering to the money grabber voters who want decreases in govt departments.

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