New Zealand Legislation: Acts

27 Cancellation of registration on destruction or permanent removal of motor vehicle

• (1) If any registered motor vehicle is destroyed, or is written-off by an insurer or the owner, or becomes permanently useless as a motor vehicle, or is removed permanently beyond New Zealand, the owner of the motor vehicle shall forthwith give to the Registrar notice of its destruction, condition, or removal, as the case may be, and shall deliver to the Registrar the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle, and, unless the Registrar considers it is impracticable to do so, the registration plates issued for the motor vehicle and the current licence (if any) issued for the motor vehicle. The Registrar shall cancel the registration of the motor vehicle.

  (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, where an insurer writes-off a motor vehicle, the insurer shall be deemed to be the owner of the vehicle.

  (2) If the Registrar is satisfied that any motor vehicle has been destroyed or become wholly unfit for further use as such, or that any motor vehicle has been permanently removed from New Zealand, the Registrar may, without further appropriation than this section, refund or cause to be refunded out of the Crown Bank Account an amount equal to the amount of licence fees paid in respect of any period for which registration is cancelled.

  (3) Every person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 who gives any notice under subsection (1) of this section which that person knows or ought to know is false in any material particular.

  Compare: 1962 No 135 ss 18(11), 18; 1985 No 50 s 5(1); 1985 No 76 s 7

  Section 27(1): amended on 2 September 1993, by section 17(1) of the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 110).

  Section 27(1A): inserted on 2 September 1993, by section 17(2) of the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 110).

  Section 27(2): The reference to the “Consolidated Account”: inserted on 1 April 1987, by section 32(1) of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986 (1986 No 124) (replacing a reference to the now defunct Post Office). The reference to the “Crown Bank Account” replaced an earlier reference to the “Consolidated Account” pursuant to section 83(7) Public Finance Act 1989 (1989 No 44), although no formal amendment has been made to this subsection.

  Section 27(2): the words “Any adjustment as between the Post Office Account and the Consolidated Account that may be necessary by reason of any refund made pursuant to this subsection may be made without further authority than this subsection” in subsection (2): omitted on 1 April 1987, by section 32(1) of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986 (1986 No 124).

  Section 27(3): amended on 2 September 1993, by section 17(3) of the Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration and Licensing) Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 110).