Clean Car Standard Fee Calculator
What is the Clean Car Standard?
The Clean Car Standard (CCS) is a New Zealand government scheme managed by NZTA Waka Kotahi. It charges a fee when vehicles imported into NZ have CO2 emissions above an annual target. Vehicles that come in under the target earn credits instead of incurring fees.
The scheme applies to anyone registering a light vehicle in NZ for the first time — including dealers, fleet importers, and individuals importing a used car from Japan or elsewhere.
This is separate from the Clean Car Discount, which ended on 31 December 2023.
How the fee is calculated
Step 1: Weight Adjusted Target = Annual Target + 0.0457 × (Vehicle Weight − 1,482 kg)
Step 2: CO2 Difference = Weight Adjusted Target − Vehicle CO2 (g/km)
Step 3: If CO2 Difference is negative → Fee = |CO2 Difference| × Rate per gram + $22.46 admin fee
Step 3: If CO2 Difference is zero or positive → No fee (vehicle is under target)
The weight adjustment means heavier vehicles get a slightly higher CO2 target. The mean NZ fleet weight is 1,482 kg — if your vehicle is heavier, the target shifts up; if lighter, it shifts down.
CCS rates by year
| Year | CO2 Target | PAYG New | PAYG Used | FA New | FA Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 112.6 g/km | $54.00/g | $27.00/g | $67.50/g | $33.75/g |
| 2026 | 108 g/km | $12.00/g | $6.00/g | $15.00/g | $7.50/g |
| 2027 | 103 g/km | $12.00/g | $6.00/g | $15.00/g | $7.50/g |
| 2028 | 76 g/km | $12.00/g | $6.00/g | $15.00/g | $7.50/g |
| 2029 | 65 g/km | $12.00/g | $6.00/g | $15.00/g | $7.50/g |
Rates for 2027-2029 are subject to government review and may change. Always check the NZTA website for the latest rates. A $22.46 (inc. GST) administration fee applies to all first-time registrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Clean Car Standard?
The Clean Car Standard (CCS) is a New Zealand government scheme that charges importers a fee when they bring in vehicles with CO2 emissions above a set target. The fee is based on how far above the target the vehicle's emissions are. The scheme aims to reduce NZ's transport emissions by encouraging the import of cleaner vehicles.
Who pays the Clean Car Standard fee?
The fee is paid by vehicle importers when registering a vehicle in New Zealand for the first time. For individual used imports, the person importing pays directly. For new cars bought from a dealer, the fee is typically included in the purchase price.
Is this the same as the Clean Car Discount?
No. The Clean Car Discount (which offered rebates for low-emission vehicles and charged fees for high-emission ones at first registration) ended on 31 December 2023. The Clean Car Standard is a separate scheme that applies to importers and is still active.
Where do I find my vehicle's CO2 rating?
You can find the CO2 emissions rating on the vehicle's Rightcar label, the NZTA vehicle information check, or by searching on fuelsaver.govt.nz. For used imports, the CO2 figure is based on the 3P-WLTP test cycle standard.
What is the weight adjustment?
The CCS adjusts the CO2 target based on vehicle weight. Heavier vehicles get a slightly higher target (more lenient), and lighter vehicles get a lower target (stricter). This recognises that heavier vehicles naturally produce more emissions. The formula uses a slope factor (L) multiplied by the difference between the vehicle's weight and the mean fleet weight.
What's the difference between PAYG and Fleet Average?
Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) means the importer pays fees on each individual vehicle as it's registered. Fleet Average means an importer settles charges annually across their entire fleet — lower-emission vehicles can offset higher-emission ones. Most individual importers use PAYG. Large dealers often use Fleet Average.
Data sourced from NZTA Waka Kotahi — Clean Car Standard data, values and formulas. Last verified April 2026.