How is heavy vehicle RUC set in New Zealand?

Heavy vehicle RUC is set by the RUC vehicle type, which is a combination of the vehicle's gross weight and its axle configuration (the number and arrangement of axles). NZTA Waka Kotahi assigns each combination a numbered RUC type with its own rate per 1,000 km. Heavier vehicles and configurations that put more load on the road pay more. For example, a light vehicle (Type 1) pays $76.00 per 1,000 km, while a heavier two-axle truck (Type 6) pays $356.00 per 1,000 km. All rates include GST, and an admin fee applies to each licence transaction ($12.44 online or $13.71 at an agent).

Where do I find my truck's RUC type and rate?

Your RUC vehicle type number is printed on your current RUC licence (label), and you can also look it up in the full RUC rates table on the NZTA Waka Kotahi website. There are many more RUC types than the common presets in this calculator, so for an exact figure read the type and rate from your licence or the official NZTA table. If your type is not in the dropdown, choose the 'Other' option and enter your rate per 1,000 km manually to get an accurate annual cost.

Do heavy electric trucks pay RUC?

Heavy electric vehicles over 3,500 kg become liable for RUC from 1 July 2027. Until then, heavy EVs are not required to pay RUC. Heavy diesel trucks already pay RUC now based on their RUC vehicle type. From 1 July 2027, heavy EVs will pay RUC under the type that matches their weight and axle configuration, the same way diesel heavy vehicles do today.

Heavy Vehicle RUC Calculator (Trucks)

Work out road user charges (RUC) for your truck or heavy vehicle. For heavy vehicles, RUC depends on the RUC vehicle type, which combines the vehicle's weight and its axle configuration. Pick a verified NZTA RUC type below, or choose "Other" and enter the exact rate from your RUC licence. RUC is bought in 1,000 km blocks and all rates include GST.

This calculator shows your annual RUC cost including admin fees and your effective cost per kilometre, so you can budget across your expected commercial mileage.

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Updated June 2026 NZTA Waka Kotahi current RUC rates and transaction fees. Road User Charges Act 2012.

Read your exact type and rate. NZTA assigns many more RUC vehicle types than the common presets shown here, each with its own rate. For an accurate figure, read the RUC type and rate from your RUC licence or the full NZTA RUC rate table, then select "Other" and enter your rate.

1. Your Vehicle

RUC vehicle type (from your licence)

Your RUC rate (per 1,000 km, incl GST)

Estimated annual driving distance

Custom annual km

km/yr

2. Purchase Options

How you buy RUC

Block size per purchase

Your Annual RUC Costs

RUC Rate

Per 1,000 km (incl GST)

Annual RUC Cost
-
Including admin fees

Cost per km

RUC + admin (effective)

Admin Fees / Year

Total transaction fees

Annual Cost at Different Driving Distances

Annual km	RUC Charge	Admin Fees	Total RUC	Effective c/km

RUC Breakdown

RUC vehicle type-

RUC rate-

Annual distance-

RUC charge (distance only)-

Number of transactions-

Admin fee per transaction-

Total admin fees-

Total annual RUC-

Cost Per Kilometre

RUC rate per km-

Admin per km-

Effective cost per km-

Cost per 1,000 km block-

Bulk tip-

Summary: Select your RUC vehicle type above.

How Heavy Vehicle RUC Works in New Zealand

Road user charges (RUC) are how New Zealand collects road maintenance funding from vehicles that do not pay (or pay less) fuel excise duty, including all diesel vehicles. Petrol vehicles pay through fuel excise of about 70 cents per litre included in the pump price, so they do not buy RUC. For heavy vehicles, the amount you pay is not a single flat rate. Instead it is set by your RUC vehicle type, a number that combines your vehicle's gross weight and its axle configuration. Heavier vehicles and configurations that load the road more heavily are assigned a higher rate per 1,000 km.

Common Heavy RUC Vehicle Types

The presets in this calculator are a small selection of verified NZTA types to illustrate the range. There are many more types than these. Always confirm your own type and rate from your RUC licence or the official NZTA table.

RUC Type	Description	Rate (per 1,000 km, incl GST)
Type 1	Light vehicle (up to 3,500 kg)	$76.00
Type 2	6,001-9,000 kg	$126.00
Type 6	12,001-18,000 kg	$356.00
Type 14	Heavier configuration	$435.00
Type 19	Heavier configuration	$389.00
Other types	Many more by weight and axles	See NZTA table / your licence

If your type is not listed, choose "Other - enter my rate" in the calculator and type the exact rate from your RUC licence. This keeps your annual estimate accurate for any RUC vehicle type NZTA has assigned.

Where to Find Your RUC Type and Rate

Your RUC vehicle type number is printed on your current RUC licence (the label you display). You can also look it up in the full RUC rates table on the NZTA Waka Kotahi website, which lists every type with its weight band, axle arrangement, and current rate. If you operate a mixed fleet, each vehicle can sit in a different RUC type, so check each licence individually.

Admin Fees and Block Sizes

An administration fee applies every time you buy a RUC licence, no matter how many kilometres are on that purchase. The fee is $12.44 (including GST) online or via the NZTA app, and $13.71 at an agent counter. Because the fee is per transaction, larger blocks lower your effective cost per kilometre. On a high-rate heavy vehicle the distance charge dominates, so admin fees are a small part of the total, but spreading them across larger blocks still trims the cost. RUC is sold in 1,000 km blocks with no maximum.

Worked Example

Take a Type 6 truck (12,001-18,000 kg) at $356.00 per 1,000 km, driving 50,000 km a year, buying RUC online in 10,000 km blocks. The distance charge is 50 blocks x $356.00 = $17,800.00. At 10,000 km per purchase that is 5 transactions, so admin fees are 5 x $12.44 = $62.20. The total annual RUC is $17,862.20, which works out to about 35.72 cents per kilometre once admin is included. These are the calculator's default figures above.

Heavy Electric Vehicles

Heavy electric vehicles over 3,500 kg are not required to pay RUC yet. They become liable from 1 July 2027, after which they will pay under the RUC vehicle type that matches their weight and axle configuration, the same as heavy diesel trucks do today. Heavy diesel vehicles already pay RUC now.

Future Changes

The government has announced plans to move all vehicles to RUC and remove petrol excise duty over time, with the system also opening up to private collection under amendments to the Road User Charges Act 2012. The details, including pricing and timing, have not been finalised (announced around 2027). Until then, the current system of pre-purchasing distance in 1,000 km blocks by RUC vehicle type continues to apply.

Related Calculators

Sources: NZTA Waka Kotahi RUC rates and transaction fees (nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/road-user-charges/ruc-rates-and-transaction-fees). NZTA RUC for heavy vehicles and the full RUC rate table. Road User Charges Act 2012 (legislation.govt.nz).

This calculator provides indicative estimates only. Heavy vehicle RUC is set by your specific RUC vehicle type (weight plus axle configuration), and there are many more types than the presets shown here. Confirm the exact type and rate from your RUC licence or the official NZTA rate table, and use the custom rate option for any type not listed. Check nzta.govt.nz for current rates and to purchase RUC.