Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Land Transport Act 1998

Motor vehicle registration and licensing - General provisions relating to registration and licensing

266: Registrar may prohibit or decline to issue plates

You could also call this:

“Registrar can say no to certain vehicle plates”

The Registrar has the power to make certain decisions about vehicle plates. These decisions are based on rules set by the government. Here’s what the Registrar can do:

You might want to use certain numbers or letters on your personalised plates. However, the Registrar can stop you from using some combinations if they think it’s necessary.

If you ask for extra plates (called supplementary plates), the Registrar can say no to giving them to you.

The Registrar can also refuse to give out trade plates. These are special plates used by some businesses.

Remember, the Registrar can only make these decisions if the government rules allow it. They can’t just do whatever they want.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3705516.

Previous

265: Surrender and seizure of registration plates and facsimile plates, or

"Giving back or losing your car's number plates"

Next

267: Appeal to District Court, or

"You can ask a court to look at decisions about your car's registration or plates if you think they're wrong"

Part 17 Motor vehicle registration and licensing
General provisions relating to registration and licensing

266Registrar may prohibit or decline to issue plates

  1. The Registrar may, in accordance with regulations made under this Part,—

  2. prohibit the use of certain numbers, letters, or combinations of numbers or letters on personalised plates:
    1. decline to issue supplementary plates:
      1. decline to issue trade plates.

        Notes
        • Section 266: inserted, on , by section 32(13) of the Land Transport Amendment Act 2009 (2009 No 17).