Why diesel and electric vehicles pay RUC
Most of the cost of building and maintaining New Zealand roads is recovered through fuel excise duty, which is included in the price of petrol. Diesel is sold without that excise because diesel is also used off-road (farms, generators, machinery), so diesel vehicles pay their share through RUC instead.
Electric vehicles use no petrol and so paid no road-cost contribution until the EV RUC exemption ended on 1 April 2024. Since then, EV and plug-in hybrid owners buy RUC like diesel drivers, which is why an EV "fuel" budget now includes a per-kilometre RUC cost.
What RUC costs at common distances
At the $76.00 per 1,000 km light-vehicle rate:
| Distance | RUC cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 km | $76.00 |
| 5,000 km | $380.00 |
| 10,000 km | $760.00 |
| 15,000 km (typical NZ year) | $1,140.00 |
| 30,000 km | $2,280.00 |
Buying and displaying RUC
RUC is purchased ahead of the distance you drive. Your vehicle must display a current RUC licence, and the odometer is checked at your Warrant of Fitness and when you buy more. Driving beyond your purchased distance means you owe the balance — NZTA can issue an assessment for unpaid RUC.