The Great Feebate: How to get a new car for less

Fuel prices are going up fast. If you’re looking for a new car that will ease the pain at the pump, lower carbon emission or electric vehicles are a great option. Buy one of these and you could get a hefty payment from the government, save money on gas and save the environment all at once. 

The clean car discount also known as the Feebate has been created to incentivise people into lower emission vehicles and make these ‘cleaner’ cars a bit more affordable. From 1 April 2022 if you’re buying a vehicle that meets certain criteria you’ll be eligible for cash back on your purchase!  

What cars are eligible?

Like the sound of free money? To receive the rebate you must buy an eligible light vehicle that meets the following criteria:

• First registered in NZ from 1 April 2022
• Safety rating of 3-stars or better on Rightcar at time of registration
• Total purchase price must be less than $80,000 (inc GST and on-road costs)
• Must have either zero or low emissions, calculated in accordance with Land Transport Rules.

The hard part is choosing the car, the rest is easy. Niccars can help you with claiming your rebate. 

Show me the money

Don’t worry the rebate is available for both eligible new and used imported vehicles and you’re not going to have to buy the latest electric vehicle to benefit. However, if you were interested in the latest brand spanking new EV you’d get to take home the max rebate at $8,625 (inc. GST). There’s a sliding scale as emissions increase and a stepped down rate for used imported vehicles. Check out the rebate allowances here.

Awesome vehicles eligible for the rebate

There are a range of great new low emission vehicles eligible for the rebate, from compact efficient hatchbacks to spacious family wagons. Here are two of our favourites:

The Trusty Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leafs are the original electric car. They’ve been around a while now so Nissan have had time to refine this car so you can just enjoy the drive. They’re super quiet and won’t have you haemorrhaging money at the pumps. The new edition is roomier, has greater range and charges faster. Leaf’s are also one of the affordable electric options, together with the feebate you’ll be in the green. 

Mazda MX30 – All Electric or M Hybrid 

Mazda’s first electric vehicle, now there’s something to get excited about. The reliability of a Mazda coupled with zero fuel costs, this one’s sure to save you money long-term. However if you’re not ready to go full electric consider the M Hybrid, a more affordable compromise. These cars come complete with Mazda’s generous safety features as well as those nifty freestyle doors. Come take a closer look and get in touch with us if you want to take one of these for a spin. 

At Niccars we have a wide range of cars to suit all types of drivers. Many of our cars are low emission, suitable for the rebate and new electric vehicles are being announced every other day. The best way to choose your new zero or low emission vehicle is to have a chat with us, we can give you a line-up of all our eligible vehicles. So if you’re interested in going green(er), pop by for a chat and a test drive at your local Nicholson Auto branch.