On June 1 several changes to agricultural vehicle rules came into force, making it easier to operate an agricultural motor vehicle on the road.
The new rules will reduce compliance costs for farmers, saving the agricultural industry $52 million over 25 years.
Federated Farmers has put a lot of effortinto getting better rules for agricultural vehicles and these changes are a vast improvement on the current regime.
From June 1 farmers with agricultural motor vehicles licensed to go 30km/h will be able to travel up to 40km/h. These vehicles will be exempt from Road User Chargers (RUC) and will not be subject to the work time rule.
People with a restricted licence will be able to operate a tractor up to 18 tonnes or 25 tonnes in combination up to 40km/h. People with a United Kingdom tractor licence will be able to drive a tractor up to 18 tonnes or 25 tonnes in combination up to 40km/h.
From November 11 vehicles licenced to go under 40km/h will not be required to get a Warrant of Fitness (WoF).
Agricultural vehicles operating over 40km/h will need to be registered B or K and will require a simplified annual WoF.
RUC will be incorporated in an annual licensing fee. An annual licensing fee will incorporate the RUC and no CoF will be required. Other motor vehicles will still require a CoF.
