Exemption from clean car standard

Imported disability vehicles are now exempt from the clean car standard (CCS) after the publication of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Regulations 2024.

It comes as part of changes being introduced by the government, following a review of the CCS this year, that will also align vehicle importers’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction targets with Australia.

While the realigning of targets is being progressively introduced from the start of 2025, the exemption for disability vehicles came into effect on September 5. 

However, the NZTA notes any disability vehicles accepted before that date will not be excluded from the CCS.

It also adds the definition of disability vehicles in regulation three of the clean vehicle standard rules has changed.

It now reads: disability vehicle means a light vehicle that is used for the transportation of a person with a disability and

(a) is modified to enable a person seated in a wheelchair to safely enter and exit the vehicle; and

(b) is modified to enable the person and the wheelchair to be safely restrained while the vehicle is moving; and

(c) has been inspected and approved as a disability vehicle by a person appointed under clause 2.2(1)(d) and (e) of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.