1. Revocation of previous notice

The Gazette notice The Manner and Place of Attachment for Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) Allocated in New Zealand – New Zealand Gazette, 20 January 1994, Notice No. 1194-go540, page 122 – is revoked from midnight 31 May 2023.

2. New Standard

Under clause 11.7 of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002, I, Chris Rodley, National Manager Regulatory System Design, acting under delegated authority from the Director of Land Transport, give the following notice.

3. Title

This notice is the Standard for Attachment and Placement of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Assigned in New Zealand 2023.

4. Commencement

This notice comes into force 1 June 2023.

5. Application

This standard applies to vehicle identification numbers assigned in New Zealand.

6. Interpretation

In this notice:

1. references to the right-hand side refers to the side of the vehicle to the right of a person sitting in the driver’s seat
2. VIN means Vehicle Identification Number.

7. VIN location

Where vehicles are marked by the vehicles’ original manufacturer in accordance with ISO 3779, ISO 4030, FMVSS 115, or ADR 43, they are deemed to comply with this notice.

In all other cases the VIN must be located on a non-removable structural part of the vehicle in a position where it is orientated so that it can be easily read. The VIN must be located in the position specified for the type or class of vehicle as detailed below.

Where the VIN is stamped into the structure of a vehicle, or on to a plate attached to a vehicle, the stamping or attachment must not cover, obliterate, or change any existing characters put in place by the manufacturer.

1. Vehicle Class MA and MC (when not a forward controlled configuration) either:
1. in the engine compartment on the right-hand side of the firewall; or
2. in the engine compartment on the right-hand side adjacent to the mounting point of the front suspension; or
3. in a location inside the engine compartment approved by Waka Kotahi for a specific vehicle or vehicle model.
2. Vehicle Class MB and MC (when a forward controlled configuration) either:
1. in the passenger compartment, on the top of the right-hand side wheel arch, adjacent to the seat cushion; or
2. in the passenger compartment, on the inner panel of the right-hand “A” pillar, adjacent to where the floor meets the “A” pillar; or
3. in a location approved by Waka Kotahi for a specific vehicle or vehicle model.
3. Vehicle Class NA, NB, NC, TA, TB, TC, TD, MD, and ME, goods and passenger vehicles other than those listed under (a) and (b) above; either:
1. on vehicles with a separate chassis, the VIN must be on the outside of the chassis, adjacent to the right-hand front wheel arch; or
2. on vehicles without a separate chassis the VIN must be located as specified in 7(b) above.
4. Vehicle Class LA, LB, LC, LD, LE1 or LE2: on the frame under or adjacent to the rider’s seat.

8. VIN attachment

1. When the VIN is directly marked on to the frame or chassis for a vehicle in Classes L, N, T or ME that have a separate chassis, the requirements are as follows:
1. The VIN must be marked in sans serif capitals, using handheld stamps. The height of the characters must be:
1. For Class L vehicles, at least 4mm.
2. For all other classes of vehicle, at least 7mm.
2. After marking the VIN on the designated place on the vehicle, the stamped surface must be adequately protected against corrosion.
3. When the VIN is applied under clause 8(a) there must be a unique stamp before and after the VIN that clearly defines the characters and that identifies the agency which has applied it.
2. When a VIN is marked on a separate plate which in turn is permanently affixed to the vehicle (as for all Vehicle Classes without a separate chassis), the requirements are as follows:
1. The VIN plate must be aluminium, 0.3mm thick, 1150 grade, H14 temper, anodised, and adhesive backed.
   The adhesive backing must be resistant to under bonnet temperatures and any common automotive solvents or chemicals. The specified adhesive is 3M Scotch brand 468MP Laminating Adhesive.
   Plate stock must be printed with either the logo of the vehicle manufacturer, where the plate is being attached by the manufacturer, or in all other cases the logo of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the words VIN PLATE. The lettering of the words “VIN PLATE” must be 2.5mm high.
   The plate must have three “V” notches cut into it as per the figure below.
   

   

   
   The printing process must be as follows:
1. Anodise the aluminium (leaving anodic film open). Film depth must be no less than 12 microns.
2. Print the required image and dry (printing by silk screen using a 120T polyester mono filament mesh and air dry).
3. Steam seal the anodic film.
4. Plates must be supplied cut to size with the rivet holes pre-punched. The plate is required to have a minimum design life equivalent to the vehicles.
2. The VIN plate must be embossed using either CIM 1700/A or 85/85E embossing machines or equivalent approved equipment. The characters must be up stamped and be a height of 5mm.
3. The VIN plate must be placed on the vehicle using the adhesive backing and two aluminium rivets. The surface where the plate is being fixed must be suitably prepared (with solvent if required), to ensure a secure bond for the adhesive. The type of rivets used must be 4mm diameter aluminium Cherry Blind Rivets or equivalent. The length of rivet must be determined by the thickness of the material that the VIN plate is being riveted on to. The drill size required for these rivets is 4.1mm.
4. When positioning the VIN plate, the installer must ensure that drilling the rivet holes does not cause any damage to vehicle components.
   Note: A VIN plate may be trimmed to suit the requirements of a vehicle if the standard size plate is too large, but all identifiers must remain visible.

Dated at Wellington this 1st day of June 2023.

CHRIS RODLEY, National Manager Regulatory System Design (acting under delegated authority from the Director of Land Transport).