AA open for new car regos

Friday, 24 April 2020

While the government has allowed a temporary suspension of the requirement to have a current vehicle licence during the coronavirus lockdown if the vehicle licence expired on or after 1 January 2020, the question as to how a new car might be registered under the upcoming Level 3 restrictions was an unanswered one.

Now, however, it has become a bit clearer with the AA announcing today that AA Motoring Services will be available to dealers in Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier and Christchurch for contactless Motor Vehicle Registration and supply of number plates for new vehicles.

The AA stressed that the service is only for trade customers on account basis and new vehicles requiring first registration only.

The AA will make a select nuber of locations available to register and supply number plates for new cars to dealers under Level 3.

According to the NZTA private car owners car renew their registration online only and while labels to display in your windscreen are still being printed and will be posted to you when possible, drivers can continue to operate their car with the old expired labels (with an expiry date of 1 January 2020 or later) for the time being.

* What Level 3 means for the automotive industry

* Covid-19: Government extends expired WoFs, regos, and licenses by six months

* Coronavirus: essential car questions**

However, it is not a rego-free holiday - as the NZTA reminds that when you do renew it, it will apply from the date the previous one expired.

While there have been rumblings around the idea of the NZTA applying some form of on-hold exemption for cars not being used under the current coronavirus restrictions, the NZTA is firm that vehicle licensing (rego) must run continuously 'therefore refunds for your vehicle's rego are not available.'

Likewise, the existing hold exemption only applies when your car's current rego runs out and the hold is for a minimum of three months, with a maximum of 12 months.

While car dealerships are making the first steps towards reopening for the business of selling and servicing cars, it will still be at a relatively low level, with Motor Industry Association Chief Executive David Crawford saying 'In a Covid-19 constrained world, operating at Level 3 will not be business as usual, it is a careful step towards restarting businesses that have put in place adequate steps to limit the transmission of Covid-19.

'This will require operating in a customer contactless manner, while providing a Covid-19 free safe working environment for employees.'

While a number of new car distributors have announced contactless servicing, a few have even launched streaming video viewing of new cars, with Renault taking it the furthest in New Zealand with a 'Virtual Showroom' where a potential buyer can book an appointment to view a particular model in a live virtual tour with the help of a Renault Specialist, who will conduct a detailed walkaround of their chosen vehicle and answer any questions.