Certification Authorities

Your core functions as a Certification Authority are: 

• appointing motor vehicle inspectors (Vehicle Inspectors) 
• issuing Certificates, and
• making entries in the Register 

1. Appointing and managing Vehicle Inspectors

As a Certification Authority, you will need to appoint and manage Vehicle Inspectors. Vehicle Inspectors will complete inspections to assess whether vehicles meet the requirements for self-containment contained in the Regulations and provide you with the information you need to make certification decisions. 

You need to manage your Vehicle Inspectors to ensure they are performing their role effectively and with integrity. This means that you must: 

• ensure that Vehicle Inspectors are aware of and comply with the requirements for self-contained vehicle inspections and certification 
• provide Vehicle Inspectors with technical advice and assistance to interpret the requirements for self-containment inspections and certification 
• monitor the performance of your inspectors to ensure that they are consistently making correct certification decisions and that their inspections are robust  
• assess the Vehicle Inspectors’ ongoing competencies, and
• manage conflicts of interest.

2. Issuing certificates of self-containment

As a Certification Authority, you are responsible for issuing Certificates and warrant cards for vehicles. This means you will need to: 

• arrange for one of your appointed Vehicle Inspectors to inspect the vehicle and assess whether it meets the requirements for self-containment
• ensure that the Vehicle Inspector carries out the inspection in accordance with the Regulations (for further information, read the Vehicle inspection guidance ), and
• consider the findings of the inspection. 

People who book an inspection for a Certificate or a renewal of the Certificate must pay you a levy of $104.35 excl GST ($120 incl GST). You must transfer the levy to the Board. You may charge a separate amount for your inspection and certification services.  

3. Using the Register

You will need to enter vehicle and owner details into the Register.

Once a vehicle has been inspected and you are satisfied it meets the requirements for self-containment you will create a Certificate and Warrant Card, print them, and issue them to the vehicle owner. 

We’ve created an infographic that shows a typical vehicle certification process. This shows the steps from when a Certification Authority receives a request to certify a vehicle, through to printing the Certificate and warrant card.

Typical Vehicle Certification Process Infographic V1.0

To be appointed as a Certification Authority, you need to: 

1. Compile all the information required (there is a checklist in the application form that details the policies and procedures we need you to supply) 
2. Submit your information and application form to applications@nzscv.co.nz
3. Pay the required fee of $375 (excl GST) to the Board by bank transfer (bank details are on the application form) 

If you’re appointed, we will: 

• confirm your appointment in writing
• add you to the Register as a Certification Authority  
• add you to the publicly searchable list of Certification Authorities at www.nzscv.co.nz (if you opt-in), and
• share further information about how to use the Register