The New Zealand Government has now introduced the Clean Car Discount scheme with the aim to reduce transport emissions to help meet the country’s 2050 carbon-neutral target. This will consist of rebates and fees for new and used eligible vehicles the first time they are registered in New Zealand, based on CO2 emissions.

You may be eligible for a rebate if you choose to purchase a zero or low-emission vehicle. The lower the emissions the greater the rebate. Fees will also be imposed on vehicles with higher emissions in recognition of the increased environmental and economic costs they are imposing. Vehicles with moderate emissions will not incur a fee and may even be eligible for a rebate.

A full overview of this scheme can be found in the NZTA website.

Overview on NZTA website
Apply for a clean car rebate
Govt clean car discount

Clean Car Discount

Changes from 1 July 2023:

All new battery electric vehicles (EV/BEV) rebates will be lowered from $8,625 to $7,015 and used vehicles will be increased from $3,450 to $3,507. 

All plug-in electric vehicles (PHEV) rebates will be lowered from $5,750 to $4,025. The rebate band range will be 0 – 100g Co2.

Hybrid vehicles will no longer qualify for a rebate, but no fees will be applied either, hybrid vehicles will be cost-neutral. The neutral/zero band range will be 101 – 149g Co2 (down from 147 – 191g).

All vehicles registered before the 1st of July 2023 and are eligible for a rebate, when you apply for the rebate it will be processed at the current rebate rate. If registered on or after 1st July, the new rebate value will be applied.

The rebate is payable only to the first person registered to the vehicle (regardless of ownership), unless the first person registered is a:

a. Registered motor vehicle trader
b. Lessee of the vehicle

For full and up-to-date information on eligibility, please refer to Waka Kotahi guidelines:

Waka Kotahi guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria is set out in further detail in the Land Transport Act 1998 and any regulations made under that Act. In short, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

  • The vehicle must have a safety rating of 3 stars or more on the Rightcar website at the time of registration: www.rightcar.govt.nz
  • The vehicle must have been purchased for less than $80,000 (New Zealand dollars), including GST and on-road costs (the purchase price).
View eligibility criteria

How to apply

If you wish to apply for a rebate, you must complete the online application form, including reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions, which can be found below. In completing the application, you will be required to provide the following supporting documentation:

  • A copy of the vehicle offer and sale agreement (or such alternative documentation as Waka Kotahi deems necessary in the circumstances)
  • Proof of the registered person’s bank account
  • GST number if the vehicle is being used for business purposes.

View terms and conditions:

Terms and Conditions

Vehicles that are Exempt from the Clean Car Programme

  1. Special interest vehicles
  2. Vehicles 40 years or older when they enter New Zealand
  3. Motor sport vehicles
  4. Low-volume vehicles (incl. disability vehicles)

For full and up to date information on eligibility, please refer to Waka Kotahi guidelines:

Waka Kotahi guidelines

New vehicle rebates

Used vehicle rebates

Got a question?

If you have any questions about how the clean car programme works, you can find all the necessary information in the NZTA website. Click below to find out more.

NZTA Questions & Answers

Please note:

  1. The above figures for rebates and fees are indicative only.
  2. Where we have indicated the dollar value of a rebate or fee for a vehicle elsewhere on our website or in our marketing materials, that figure is indicative only.
  3. If rebate funds are exhausted at any given time, no rebate will be paid. Once the scheme restarts, only vehicles registered from the restart date that meet the eligibility requirements will qualify for a rebate.
  4. While we do our best to make sure that information available on this page is accurate and free from errors, we do not guarantee its accuracy.
  5. The Clean Car Discount scheme is not administered by any Ebbett dealerships. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage which may result either directly or indirectly from reliance by you upon the accuracy or currency of information contained on this page or any information published by any third party (such as Waka Kotahi) about the Clean Car Discount scheme.
  6. This page contain links to other websites (“Linked Websites”). As the content and maintenance of Linked Websites is out of our control, please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those websites. Links on this page to Linked Sites do not necessarily endorse those Linked Sites.
  7. New Zealand Government Clean Car rebates / fees values stated should be taken as guidance only and may be subject to change without notice. Demonstrator vehicle pricing may be affected by rebates and fees, please contact our dealership for further information.