Overview
Injuries from motor vehicle accidents on New Zealand roads are covered by ACC's Motor Vehicle Account. This account is funded by levies paid by vehicle owners through registration fees and petrol tax. It covers anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident on a public road — drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
What is Covered?
ACC covers personal injury suffered in a motor vehicle accident on a public road in New Zealand. This includes:
- Drivers: The driver of any motor vehicle on a public road
- Passengers: Any passenger in a vehicle involved in an accident
- Cyclists: Injured in a collision with a motor vehicle
- Pedestrians: Struck or involved with a motor vehicle
- Motorcyclists: Same cover as other road users
Private car parks, driveways, and farm roads are generally not covered under the Motor Vehicle Account unless they are "places to which the public have access".
Motor Vehicle Levies
The Motor Vehicle Account is funded through:
- Vehicle licensing (registration) levy: Paid annually when you renew your vehicle's registration. The average motor vehicle levy is $122.84 per vehicle for 2025/26, rising to $131.94 for 2026/27.
- Petrol tax component: Included in the price of petrol (approximately 10–12 cents per litre goes to ACC).
- Diesel and electric vehicle owners pay the levy directly through road user charges (RUC) instead of petrol tax.
Treatment for Motor Vehicle Injuries
If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, the same ACC entitlements apply:
- GP visits are free
- Physiotherapy and chiropractic sessions are covered
- Emergency department and hospital treatment are covered
- Surgery (if needed) is covered
- Weekly compensation (if unable to work) is paid from the Motor Vehicle Account
- Rehabilitation services are available
- Lump sum for permanent impairment may be payable
What is NOT Covered?
ACC does not cover:
- Vehicle damage: ACC covers personal injury only — vehicle repair or replacement is not included (you need comprehensive car insurance for that)
- Property damage: Damage to fences, buildings, or other property from an accident is not covered
- Injuries on private property: Unless the public has general access (e.g., a shopping centre car park)
- Off-road vehicle accidents: Unless on a road or public access area
Claims Process
Making a claim for a motor vehicle accident is the same as for any other accident:
- Seek medical treatment — the health professional can lodge the claim
- Provide details about the accident (location, how it happened)
- ACC processes the claim under the Motor Vehicle Account
- You receive the same entitlements as any other ACC claimant
Motor Vehicle Levy Rates for 2025/26 and 2026/27
The Motor Vehicle Account is funded by the motor vehicle levy, collected through vehicle licensing fees and fuel excise. The average levy is set each year as part of ACC's three-year levy cycle: $122.84 per vehicle for 2025/26, rising to $131.94 for 2026/27 (petrol vehicles pay through the fuel excise component included in the price of petrol; diesel and electric vehicles pay through road user charges instead). The levy funds cover for anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident on a public road — drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians — regardless of fault. Note the scope: the account covers personal injury only. Vehicle damage, property damage, and injuries on private land (unless the public has general access) are not covered — that is what comprehensive motor insurance is for.
Claims and Entitlements for Road Injuries
If you are injured in a road accident, the claims process is the same as any ACC claim: seek treatment, and the health provider lodges the claim (or you use MyACC). Entitlements are identical to other claims — free GP care, physio, surgery, weekly compensation (80% of pre-injury earnings after the stand-down), rehabilitation, and lump sums for permanent impairment. One difference to know: because cover comes from the Motor Vehicle Account, there is no separate earner or employer levy involved — the funding comes from your vehicle licensing and fuel purchases. If you are at fault, ACC still covers you (no-fault scheme), and you cannot be sued by the other party for personal injury. Cyclists and pedestrians injured by vehicles have exactly the same cover as drivers — the account does not distinguish.
Why the Levy Keeps Rising
The motor vehicle levy has climbed steadily over recent levy cycles — from $113.94 in 2024/25 to $122.84 in 2025/26 and $131.94 in 2026/27 — reflecting the rising cost of treatment and weekly compensation for road injuries, as well as ACC's three-yearly rebalancing of the Motor Vehicle Account. The increase is smoothed deliberately: ACC sets rates three years ahead so motorists face predictable, moderate rises rather than sudden spikes. For the average driver the levy adds a modest amount to the annual cost of registration plus a few cents per litre of petrol, and in exchange the scheme covers the full cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation, and income replacement for anyone injured on New Zealand roads. It is worth checking your vehicle registration renewal notice each year to see the levy component — and remembering that comprehensive motor insurance covers your vehicle, while ACC covers your body; the two are separate systems.
The 2026/27 Motor Vehicle Levy: What Changed
The average motor vehicle levy for 2026/27 is $131.94 per vehicle, up from $122.84 in 2025/26 and forecast at $141.69 for 2027/28. It is collected two ways — through your annual vehicle registration and through the fuel you buy — and it funds every injury caused by a motor vehicle, not just the driver's.
Two classification changes took effect on 1 July 2026 and they move real money:
- Motorcycles are split into three risk groups — 0–250cc, 251–750cc and 751cc+ — rather than one flat rate. Larger, faster bikes now carry a higher levy than small commuter machines.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are now classified as petrol-powered for levy purposes, while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remain non-petrol powered. In practice this shifts PHEVs onto the petrol levy track they previously avoided.
Who Is Covered by the Motor Vehicle Account
The account is deliberately broad, which surprises people who assume it only covers the person at fault or the person driving:
- Drivers and riders of any vehicle involved in a crash.
- Passengers in cars, buses, taxis, and rideshare vehicles.
- Pedestrians and cyclists struck by a vehicle.
- People injured while working on or around vehicles in some circumstances.
Because the scheme is no-fault, it does not matter who caused the crash for your entitlement to treatment and weekly compensation. Fault only becomes relevant if you later pursue a civil claim for exemplary damages, which is limited to rare, flagrant conduct.
What Happens After a Crash
A claim does not have to be lodged by you. Police, ambulance staff, hospital teams, and your insurer can all lodge it, and for hospital-treated injuries the claim is often opened before you are discharged. Ask which claim number was created and note it down. If nobody has lodged anything, the attending clinician can lodge it at a follow-up appointment, or you can ring ACC on 0800 101 996.