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  1. Unpaid fines and what happens next

Fines

Unpaid fines and what happens next

Overview

It’s important to pay your fine or reparation on time. Or contact us before it’s due, to make a payment plan. If you don't pay your fine or contact us, there can be serious consequences as listed below. 

Text reminders: New Zealanders are warned of scam text messages currently circulating that claim to be from the Ministry of Justice about overdue traffic fines. The Ministry does not include any links in our texts. Read more About texts

Ways to pay

Pay online now Use Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard or Prezzy Card.
Include your PPN – from your Notice of Fine, letter or text from us. Call us if you can't find it. More ways to pay Choose from several options to pay fines or reparation. You can pay over the phone, in person or from overseas. Or call us to make a plan.

The court can take enforcement action

If you are having trouble making payments or know you are going to miss a payment, call us. If you miss a payment, or payments stop early, the court can take enforcement action against you. If this happens, an enforcement fee of $133 can be added to what you owe.   

We can seize and sell your possessions (and other people’s)

The court can issue a warrant to seize and sell your vehicle and other possessions.  

If a warrant is issued, a court bailiff will visit your address to take possessions to sell.  

The bailiff will leave a notice of seizure at your address. It explains you have seven days to pay in full or to contact the court to make a payment arrangement.  

Bailiffs and Police can also seize or clamp your vehicle. This can happen following a visit to your address, or while your vehicle is in use or parked away from your address. 

Your possessions or vehicle will normally be sold if you don’t arrange payment within seven days. Money from the sale will be allocated in this order: 

  • first, to pay costs from the seizure and sale, such as transport, storage and auction costs
  • second, to pay the unpaid fine
  • third, to you, if any money is left over after the costs and fines or reparations are paid. 

If you have committed traffic offences in someone else's vehicle and the fines are not paid, their car could also be seized and sold.  

If your vehicle has been seized by the court to pay for someone else’s fine, find out about Disputing fines or court enforcement

Money can be taken directly from your bank account or income

The court can take the amount you owe directly from your bank account (using a Deduction Notice), wages or benefit payment (using an Attachment Order).  

To do this, the court can issue an order directly to your bank, employer or Work and Income. It can be done without your permission.  

The law requires banks, employers and Work and Income to make the deductions. Only the court can stop or change the deductions.  

If you are an employer, you can find out more about making deductions in the Employers making payments section of the Make a payment page.

You may be stopped from driving

Your driver licence may be suspended if you have overdue fines or reparation (compensation to victims) for traffic offences. If this happens you won't be able to legally drive in New Zealand or overseas. 

Before this happens you will be sent a warning letter. 

If you do not respond to this warning letter within 14 days, and pay your overdue fines or reparation, the court will order that your licence be suspended. This order may be served on you by an officer of the court, or by a police officer if you are stopped on the roadside. 

Once the order is served it will be in force. You will no longer be allowed to drive and you will be required to surrender your licence. 

If you drive while your licence is suspended you risk: 

  • having the vehicle you are driving impounded for 28 days
  • prosecution, potentially resulting in prison, fines and disqualification. 

You may be stopped from travelling overseas

The Police can stop you at the airport as you try to leave or come into New Zealand. They will give you a chance to pay your fines or make a payment plan.  

If you don’t pay or make a plan, the Police can: 

  • arrest you
  • prevent you from travelling
  • confiscate your passport
  • summons you to appear in court at a later date. 

If you have a payment plan and your payments don’t continue while you are away, you may be stopped when you come back to New Zealand. 

For other information about preparing to travel overseas, see Before you travel(external link)(external link) on the New Zealand Government website.   

You may be stopped from buying on credit

Your credit report will include any unpaid and overdue fines. This can stop you from being approved for credit, loans, hire purchase agreements, and buy now pay later services. 

You may be arrested

The court may issue a warrant for your arrest if it is unable to resolve the matter through the methods mentioned above. If this happens, you may be arrested by the Police, and you will be summonsed to appear in court. 

The court can give alternative sentences 

You may be able to ask for an alternative sentence. Usually, the court only considers an alternative sentence when all other options have not worked. 

The court will also look at your finances and property to find out if you can pay. An alternative sentence may include: 

  • community work
  • home or community detention
  • prison. 

If you would like to ask about an alternative sentence, call us or go to your local district court with your financial information. This might include a budget from a budget advisor or a bank statement that shows why you cannot pay your fines. 

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Find out if you have a fine, check your balance or pay

We're here to help. Contact us by phone or email, including from overseas. All fines need to be paid within 28 days.

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