Road user charges calculator
- Diesel, per 1,000 km
- $76
- Electric
- $76
- Plug-in hybrid
- $38
Light vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes), New Zealand dollars including GST.
How much for your trip
Road user charges
$76.00
$76 per 1,000 km · 7.6c a km
Who pays
In New Zealand, vehicles that don't pay tax at the pump pay road user charges instead: diesel vehicles, and since 1 April 2024 electric cars too. Plug-in hybrids pay a lower rate because they also buy petrol, which is already taxed.
How to buy
You buy RUC ahead, in blocks of 1,000 km, from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi or an agent, and show the licence on your windscreen. Driving past the distance on your licence can mean a fine.
More
A guide to road user charges for electric vehicles, and the toll roads you might pay for on the way.
What RUC costs over a year
At today's rates. New Zealand's average light vehicle covers about 11,000 km a year.
| Distance | Diesel | Electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 km | $76 | $76 | $38 |
| 5,000 km | $380 | $380 | $190 |
| 11,000 km | $836 | $836 | $418 |
| 15,000 km | $1,140 | $1,140 | $570 |
| 20,000 km | $1,520 | $1,520 | $760 |
Questions
How much are road user charges in NZ?
$76 per 1,000 km for a light diesel vehicle, $76 for an electric car and $38 for a plug-in hybrid, including GST.
Do electric cars pay RUC?
Yes. Since 1 April 2024 light electric vehicles pay road user charges: $76 per 1,000 km, about $836 for a typical year of 11,000 km.
Why do plug-in hybrids pay less?
They also run on petrol, which already includes fuel excise duty at the pump, so their RUC rate is lower: $38 per 1,000 km.
How do I buy RUC?
In blocks of 1,000 km, online from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi or from an agent such as the AA, before you drive the distance. The licence goes on your windscreen.
How much RUC does a year of driving cost?
At about 11,000 km a year: $836 for a diesel, $836 for an EV and $418 for a plug-in hybrid.
RUC and fuel, in one trip cost
Roadtrip adds road user charges to the fuel or charging for any drive in New Zealand, for your exact car, and splits it between everyone in the car.
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