Technical bulletins

41 Entry certification procedures for certain modified vehicles


Certain modifications to vehicles that have been certified overseas to a process accepted by Waka Kotahi do not need specialist inspection and certification, unless the modification is unsafe or illegal in New Zealand. Some examples of this are a three-point seat belt installed for a sideways facing seat, a seating position with dangerous head strike risk, or a motorhome without the minimum number of seating positions for the number of sleeping berths. In these situations, referral to a specialist certifier is required.

In the case of some motorhomes there may be options that do not require referral to a specialist certifier, the two cases are:

  1. Where there are not enough seats with seatbelts to match the number of berths – the additional berths can be removed or permanently disabled.
  2. If a dangerous seating position is in excess of the minimum number of seats required based on the number of berths, the seatbelt can be removed without specialist certification and the number of seating positions recorded reduced.

Important: Exhaust emissions compliance isn’t guaranteed and must be verified by one of the methods specified in Technical Bulletin 28.

Applicable legislation: Land Transport Rule Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 6.5(3).

Overseas modification certification that can be accepted without referral to a specialist certifier

The following European, Australian and United States certifications can be accepted if no subsequent modifications have been made. Check for subsequent modifications and check the details on the Certificate of Conformity, ADR SSM label/plate or FMVSS label/plate against the vehicle. If there are any differences, eg the number of seats or subsequent modifications, then the overseas certification cannot be accepted – refer to a specialist certifier.

For heavy vehicles, the final stage manufacturer is to be considered the de facto manufacturer. While some modifications are allowed, any items generally requiring heavy vehicle specialist certification (eg logging bolster attachments, towing connections, stockcrate anchorage points, load anchorage points, conversion of a vehicle to right-hand drive, conversion of a vehicle to dual steering, etc.) are not excepted from the requirement to be certified by a specialist certifier.

Ratings such as GVM given by the final stage manufacturer under the accepted certification are to be used.

European vehicles

Any vehicle, including a motorhome, that has been modified and type certified to the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) system. The vehicle must have an ECWVTA final stage (this may be second, third or fourth stage) Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and a corresponding label/plate on the vehicle.

Note 1

A motorhome may have final stage approval to 2001/116/EC provided it was approved to 2007/46/EC or 2018/858/EC at an earlier approval stage (ie there is a base or second stage approval label listing 2007/46/EC or 2018/858/EC in addition to the 2001/116/EC final stage label).

Note 2

If the vehicle doesn’t have a first (or second - only in the case of the final stage being the third stage) approval to 2007/46/EC or 2018/858/EC, it must be referred to a specialist certifier.

sample plate

Australian vehicles

Any vehicle, including a motorhome, that has been modified and type certified to the Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board Second Stage of Manufacture (also called ADR second stage of manufacture, ADR SSM). The vehicle must have a corresponding plate/label affixed.

The plate/label must be silver in colour. If the word ‘nonstandard’ or the phrase 'low volume’ appears on the plate/label the certification cannot be accepted, refer to a specialist certifier.

SSM plate

ADR approval label - alternative to second stage ADR plate/label

ADR approval label - alternative to second stage ADR plate/label

United States vehicles

Note: some United States vehicles covered by this bulletin (eg motorhomes and stretched limousines less than 20 years old) may require RHD conversion, and this will require low volume vehicle or heavy vehicle specialist certification. Purpose-built hearses are able to remain in LHD form.

Motorhomes

Any used imported motor home (previously registered in the USA) that has an FMVSS approval plate (fitted by the motor home manufacturer). If there is any doubt, refer to vehicles@nzta.govt.nz to get confirmation of acceptance of the certification, providing photos of the VIN, all FMVSS plates/labels (first and second stage) and photos of the vehicle layout and features (beds, seats, tables, cooking and washing facilities).

Any new motor home that has an FMVSS approval plate (fitted by the motor home manufacturer), provided there are original documents confirming the motor home was manufactured for the US market and would be permitted for use on public roads in the US.

Note: Conversion vans (aka day vans) are not motorhomes as they are not a dwelling place. If there is any doubt, refer to vehicles@nzta.govt.nz to get confirmation of the classification, providing photos of the VIN, all FMVSS plates/labels (first and second stage) and photos of the vehicle layout and features (beds, seats, tables, cooking and washing facilities).

Hearses or limousines

A vehicle modified or partially manufactured by a coachbuilder recognised and authorised by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) under either the Cadillac Master Coachbuilder or Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier programmes. The vehicle must have a corresponding plate/label affixed. Refer to Appendix 2 for details of qualifying vehicles.

FMVSS

IVCERT vehicle certification screen

The modification certification must be entered into the IVCERT screen as below.

Field name

Enter

Description

Type

ECTA

European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA)

ADR2

Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board Second Stage of Manufacture, also called ADR second stage of manufacture

USMH

A vehicle converted into a motorhome that has an FMVSS second stage of manufacture plate/label

USCB

A vehicle modified or partially manufactured by a coachbuilder recognised and authorised by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) under either the Cadillac Master Coachbuilder or Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier programmes

Number

For ECTA

The approval numbers unique 4 digit code and 2 digit suffix.

eg if the number on the plate/ label is “e11*2007/46*0851*01” enter 085101

For ADR2

The 5 digit approval number on the plate/label

For USMH and USCB

The date of manufacture of the completed vehicle from the FMVSS label.  In MMYYYY format

Issue ID

The entry certifiers ID

Issue Date

Date of entry certification

Comments

Description of the modifications observed and the modifications recorded on the CoC and labels/plates.

Include the coachbuilders or second stage manufacturers name if applicable.

Where appropriate use the abbreviations listed below.

IVCERT screen example

IVERT screen

Abbreviations

ADJ

Adjustable

BDYKT

Body kit

CHASS

Chassis

CLMN

Column

CONV

Conversion

CUST

Custom

CYL

Cylinder

DR

Door

ENG

Engine

EXTN

Extension

F

Front

F-GLASS

Fibreglass

GVM

GVM Increase

H-D/DUTY

Heavy duty

HNDLS

Handles

HYD

Hydraulic

L

Left

MAN

Manual

M-Home

Motorhome

OE

Original equipment

PWR

Power

POS

Position

RHD

Right hand drive conversion

R

Right

Rr

Rear

RMP

Ramp

RSTRNTS

Restraints

S-BELT

Seatbelt

STNWGN

Station wagon

SYS

System

TNK

Tank

WCH

Wheelchair

X-MEM

Crossmember

Appendix 1: EC Certificate of conformity

COC 1COC 2
Coc 2.2CoC 2.3

Appendix 2 : Information on American specialist-built vehicles

FMVSS acceptance for GM Cadillac and Ford Lincoln Conversion Chassis

Ford and GM partner with selected approved modifiers, providing them with specific part-built vehicles with incomplete FMVSS compliance, which are then converted to a hearse or stretched limousine.

Specific models that can be accepted without referral to a specialist certifier
General Motors

GM Cadillac XTS vehicles are specifically engineered, designed, and built for heavy-duty applications and supplied to GM approved modification partners for conversion. For acceptance at entry into NZ the conversions must have been completed by an approved partner to remain in LHD format.

GM Cadillac models covered by this program currently are:

  • W30 Extended Sedan
  • V4U Limousine
  • B9Q Hearse
Ford Motor Company

Ford and Lincoln conversion vehicles are specifically designed to meet rigorous industry requirements and are then supplied to a Ford Motor Company Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM). The QVM Program ensures a high-quality conversion process that meets FMVSS requirements. For acceptance at entry into NZ the conversions must have been completed by an approved Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) to remain in LHD format.

Ford Motor Company models covered by this program currently are:

  • Lincoln MKT Towncar Hearse
  • Lincoln MKT Towncar Limousine

The models listed above from these manufacturers that are modified or manufactured under their respective recognised programs can be accepted for entry without NZ specialist certification provided that:

a) compliance with FMVSS is confirmed by a valid FMVSS plate or label which incorporates the vehicle chassis number and the approved modifier's name, that is permanently attached to the vehicle (refer image above); and

b) the approved modifications made to the vehicle  under the FMVSS are recorded in Landata, in the manner prescribed above; and

c) the vehicle is issued with  a Category C4 LHD permit; and

d) the vehicle has not been further modified since the issue of FMVSS compliance. In the event that the vehicle has undergone conversion to RHD, this aspect of the vehicle will require specialist certification (Note 2).

Note 1

Such approval is an alternative to the low volume vehicle certification process, and any vehicle to which FMVSS applies must meet all other normal compliance requirements so as to enable the vehicle to be entry certified.

Note 2

Further modified, in relation to this technical bulletin, means modified beyond those modifications listed within the LVVTA LVV Modification Threshold Schedule.

Page amended 1 October 2023 (see amendment details)

Page updated 21 July 2023 (see details)

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