The Government has launched a Request for Information to gather private sector ideas on how New Zealand drivers could pay Road User Charges electronically, part of a wider plan to move light petrol vehicles onto the RUC system. The Ministry of Transport will run the market engagement on the Government Electronic Tenders Service, with responses due by 13 February 2026.
What the RFI seeks and why it matters
The RFI is intended to test and gauge commercial interest in providing new, electronic ways to collect RUC. The Government says current arrangements remain heavily paper based and that modern payment experiences should be available for road users. Officials want solutions ranging from simple odometer tracking and reminder services, through to fully automated electronic purchase systems built into vehicles.
The move targets around 3.6 million light petrol vehicles that are not currently part of the RUC regime. By enabling electronic payments and enabling private firms to participate, the Government aims to make paying for road use easier and to introduce competition in the RUC market.
Who the Government wants to hear from
Transport officials welcome ideas from a broad range of businesses. The RFI identifies potential participants including tech firms offering telematics and software platforms, banks or insurers that could bundle RUC payments with other services, and retailers such as fuel outlets or supermarkets that could sell RUC over the counter.
Respondents are expected to explain how their systems would work, how they would protect user privacy, and how they would comply with existing legal limits on data access. The Government has signalled that any new arrangements must comply with the Road User Charges Act and its privacy safeguards.
Next steps and practical implications
Responses to the RFI will inform policy decisions and the Government's approach to opening the market. The Land Transport (Revenue) Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, is intended to create the legal framework needed to allow new technology and more competition in selling and managing RUC.
