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What this solves
Most NZ trip-planning guides quote fuel cost as if it were the only cost of driving. In practice, a diesel car in Aotearoa pays a Road User Charge (RUC) on top of fuel, a rental car pays a per-day insurance and bond recovery fee, and any car loses value the moment it leaves the lot.
This tool separates each line so you can see where the cost actually lives. A 7-day South Island loop in a small petrol car costs about half as much per km as a 7-day loop in a 2-berth diesel campervan once insurance and depreciation are included.
How to read the result
- Fuel: (km ÷ 100) × L/100 km × price/L.
- RUC (diesel only): NZTA 2026 rate is $0.076/km for light diesels, scaled up to $0.215/km for heavy trucks. We use $0.076 for diesel cars/SUVs under 3.5 t.
- Insurance / bond recovery: daily fee spread over total km.
- Depreciation (private vehicles only): rough 12 cents/km running wear and tear.
- The "per km" figure at the end includes everything; this is the only number you should compare between options.
Limitations
- Does not include tolls (NZ has no road tolls in 2026 — that line is shown as zero for clarity).
- Depreciation is a planning estimate; actual vehicle resale value depends on age and brand.
- RUC rates are reviewed by NZTA and change with diesel cost; verify before a long trip.
- EV charging is assumed at a mix of fast chargers ($0.40/kWh) and accommodation ($0.25/kWh).
FAQ
Q: Do petrol cars pay RUC?
A: No. Road User Charges apply to diesel vehicles and EVs (EVs pay a separate road user fee under the Clean Car Discount programme).
A: No. Road User Charges apply to diesel vehicles and EVs (EVs pay a separate road user fee under the Clean Car Discount programme).
Q: How do I buy RUC? pre-paid distance licences at nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/ruc or at service stations. Rental campervans include RUC in their daily rate.
Q: Should I hire a small or large EV?
A: Small EVs (Nissan Leaf, BYD Atto 3) average 16–18 kWh/100 km in NZ conditions; a long-range EV like the MG4 adds 10% to that.
A: Small EVs (Nissan Leaf, BYD Atto 3) average 16–18 kWh/100 km in NZ conditions; a long-range EV like the MG4 adds 10% to that.
Sources
- NZTA Road User Charges — current RUC rates per vehicle type
- MBIE weekly petrol price dashboard
- AA New Zealand EV charging costs
- AA NZ 2026 rental vehicle insurance surcharge benchmarks