re-registering a vehicle

[Alfashark]

Thanks guys, I'll pass that on in case he doesn't check back here.

[Browny]

Thanks guys, will keep working on the obvious things like brakes and lights etc, then it looks like I will need to trailer her in to a compliance place.

[Crispy]

Hi, 

A few weeks back I submitted a request for and OIA around if there is any police interest in my lapsed rego Car I'm trying to get back on the road (eventually). I know they don't always ask for a police check, but I wanted to prepared and not hold up the process should it arise. 

Anywho. I got a reply today which states the following. 

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Unfortunately, your request has been declined in accordance with the following reasons:  S18(e) - That the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found. Unable to locate the registration number given in the request.

 

 

Had a quick chat to my boss about it as he had a bit of experience with OIA's previously in his Air Force days. Basically the way we both take it is if they can't find anything, no news is good news. 

Will that info suffice? Do I need to go to the cop shop and get a letter from them too? Or are they basically looking for a letterhead with NZ Police on top? 

Anyone with actual experience able to chime in? 

Thanks!

[Lord Gruntfuttock]

Isn't there like a page on the NZ police website where you can check if it comes up as reported stolen?
Pretty sure I used that once trying to re-register a bike, just saved a screenshot of the 'this vehicle has not been reported as stolen'...?

[Goat]

https://www.police.govt.nz/can-you-help-us/stolen-vehicles

[SiRge]

I wouldn't bother going through Police, pretty sure there's a check box on the Motor Vehicle Register at NZTA. 

Could easily request all the information about a vehicle with information on ownership redacted. It's a 10 second query if was still there 

[Crispy]

Currently playing the waiting game with the CA03 form (sent a heap of stuff attached with it to try and overkill my case). 

Is there anyone I can contact or anything I can do to speed up the process. Been over the "20 working days" 

Can't say I'm surprised tbh.... 

[a.craw4d]

How do you provide proof of ownership on a deregistered vehicle?  Car in question still has plates but the rego has lapsed. Can you change ownership with the plate details even though they’ve expired?

Cheers guys.

[Nominal]

If it's dereg then the plate means nothing. Registered owner doesn't equal legal ownership anyway.

All you should need is a receipt from the current owner I think, then work through the entry cert process

 

[tortron]

you dont really even need that. i got a JP to sign a thing i wrote saying i bought it from so and so on this date for this much (without any evidence tbh), i handed it over with my paperwork at the inspection but they never even  looked at it

[Early jap nuter]

If the seller isn’t the last registered owner can be an issue, but if it’s not reported stolen get the seller to put something on paper then you can go to a justice of peace and get them to sign a declaration of ownership and your sweet. Had to do afew times  in the last year,they seem to be getting picky on it

[Shakotom]

Hi, probably been asked before but here we go

 

Have a very very old car I’m looking to get back on the road - was maybe last on the road in 1967 in Auckland area

have a couple of sets of plates off it - the last set from the 60s - which corresponds with Plates used in Auckland from 64-65 and the previous non permanent ones which correspond with it being regoed in Auckland in/from 1961

ive got old photos of the car with both the plates fitted to it but no papers or reg/wof stickers

64 plates of course don’t exist in car jam, ID plate is very poor condition, painted black with nothing visible except for the car brand 

Owners passed, His son can vouch for the car being the car it is

Car doesn’t run and has some grandfathered mods done to it - have parts to return to OE spec from build year

Where do I start? 

[Bearded Baldy]

By telling us all what it is!

[cletus]

id suggest going to see Brad at pukekohe VTNZ

he is very good at helping with old cars

does not take short cuts  but knows the system and doesnt get scared of old or different stuff like a lot of entry inspectors do

i think hes quite busy at the moment this side of xmas though

[xsspeed]

Does this call for the alternative docs pathway @Goat championed

[Crispy]

On 19/11/2025 at 15:42, Shakotom said:

Hi, probably been asked before but here we go

 

Have a very very old car I’m looking to get back on the road - was maybe last on the road in 1967 in Auckland area

have a couple of sets of plates off it - the last set from the 60s - which corresponds with Plates used in Auckland from 64-65 and the previous non permanent ones which correspond with it being regoed in Auckland in/from 1961

ive got old photos of the car with both the plates fitted to it but no papers or reg/wof stickers

64 plates of course don’t exist in car jam, ID plate is very poor condition, painted black with nothing visible except for the car brand 

Owners passed, His son can vouch for the car being the car it is

Car doesn’t run and has some grandfathered mods done to it - have parts to return to OE spec from build year

Where do I start? 

Just been through some of this..... 

If it has black plates and you want to keep them with the car come re registration time email: reuseofplates@nzta.govt.nz

All I did was supply a picture of the car with the plates on front and back and they were happy. 

Get some sort of signed document from the previous owner (or their son) that you legally own the car. Chat GPT Could probably draft you up one. 

Screenshot off the NZ Police stolen vehicles website to show its not stolen or whatever. 

Stat declaration from Justice of da peace to say you legally own the car. 

Fill out a CA03 Alternative Docs form

If you want to front foot it (If I was to do another I probably would) is go see the gc Brad at VTNZ Pukekohe and get him to fill out a form that basically verifies any tags, oem labels or otherwise already on the car (Mine had a build plate). I think its called a ca12 form? Doesn't matter if its painted over or whatever. 

Then send all of this (screenshots, scanned copies, and your old photos etc) to exemptions@nzta.govt.nz and wait about a month. 

They came back and said I had to get an inspection from the VCC. A DOMAS report I think is what it was called. So organised for one of the local VCC Barry's to come round and verify it hasn't been plate and tag swapped or put together out of two cars or anything like that. It was about $100 from memory. He put together a big report to say its all legit, sent to VCC offices in CHC and then got that approval mailed back to me. 

I also had to get the tags verified by a testing station official. 

NZTA came back and were sweet and said I could now get a 17 digit VIN Number. So another trip to see Brad and he whacked one on. 

It was at that stage I got the repair certifier out to check out the rust and did an initial report (obviously skip this step if its not rusty). 

We are halfway through rust repair, so I can't tell you how the rest goes. But AFIAK. It's another repair cert report to say he's happy with rust repair and then another visit to Brad for compliance inspection, LVV Cert for mods (if any) wof/reg and then skids. 

Only thing I'd say is if you have the stuff to return the car back to factory and its in ok condition, then do it before anyone lays eyes on it. Will make your life easier in the long run. 

 

[igor]

That last paragraph sounds like very good advice.

[Crispy]

Yep. I want to put disc brakes from a later generation mini onto the Moke. Along with other things that will require cert. The VCC guy said don’t tell me that. It’s not going to help your case. He was hesitant about the mags I had the car sitting on. But it was because the stock steelies had been widened and were farked. 

I could be wrong (as I said I’m only halfway through this journey). But once a car has a 17 digit NZTA number, you can start the cert process, even if it’s out of the system as far as reg/wof goes. And once it gets the ok from compliance (save for mods needing a cert). Then it’s just a case of making the cert live on the car? 
Cletus might be able to confirm?

[westy]

Anyone have any recommendations for a repair certifier about north Auckland?

[cletus]

4 hours ago, Crispy said:

Yep. I want to put disc brakes from a later generation mini onto the Moke. Along with other things that will require cert. The VCC guy said don’t tell me that. It’s not going to help your case. He was hesitant about the mags I had the car sitting on. But it was because the stock steelies had been widened and were farked. 

I could be wrong (as I said I’m only halfway through this journey). But once a car has a 17 digit NZTA number, you can start the cert process, even if it’s out of the system as far as reg/wof goes. And once it gets the ok from compliance (save for mods needing a cert). Then it’s just a case of making the cert live on the car? 
Cletus might be able to confirm?

Yes once it has a vin number and it passes all the lvv cert requirements, the cert can be activated ,it doesn't even need to have had the compliance inspection done