None of this is complicated, but all of it is worth checking before money changes hands. These are the New Zealand specifics that catch buyers out.
Warrant of fitness
A caravan is a trailer, and a trailer needs a current Warrant of Fitness to be legally towed on the road. It is not optional and it is not covered by the tow vehicle's warrant.
- A caravan WOF is issued for 12 months.
- It checks the things that keep the van attached to your car and stopping safely: coupling, safety chains, brakes, suspension, wheels and tyres, lights and reflectors, and the general condition of the chassis and body.
- Registration (the licence label) also has to be current.
When you are buying, ask to see the current WOF and check its expiry date. A van that has sat for years with an expired warrant is not necessarily a problem, but it does mean nobody has inspected the brakes or the coupling recently, and that is exactly where money hides. Every caravan we sell is sold with a current warrant so you can tow it away.
Self-contained certification
Being certified self-contained means a caravan can carry, use and store its own fresh water and waste for a set period, which is what lets you freedom camp in many areas. The rules were overhauled by the Self-Contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Act 2023 and the changeover is now complete.
A fixed toilet is now required
To be certified, a caravan must have a permanently fixed toilet: a cassette or black-tank toilet with a minimum of about 3 litres capacity per person, or a composting toilet. Portable toilets on their own no longer qualify. This is the biggest change from the old rules.
The green card replaced the old blue sticker
The government green self-containment card (valid 4 years) is what is now required for freedom camping. The old blue warrant cards were only valid until they expired or 7 June 2026, whichever came first, so they can no longer be relied on.
The NZMCA also issues a yellow card, valid up to 10 years, accepted at NZMCA parks and participating sites.
The other standards
- Roughly 12 litres of fresh water per person.
- Adequate grey-water storage.
- A sealed rubbish bin.
- The toilet usable inside with the beds made up.
What this means for you as a buyer
If a van is advertised as self-contained, ask to see its current green card and its expiry. If a van is not certified, or only had an old blue sticker, factor in the cost of upgrading (usually the toilet setup) to get it certified.
We checked this information in August 2026. Rules do change, so please confirm the current requirements with the certifying authority before you rely on them for a trip.
Caravan club membership
The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) is the main club here, and for most owners the membership pays for itself in the first year.
- Cheaper Cook Strait ferry crossings. If you plan to take the van between the islands even once or twice, this alone can cover the annual fee.
- A large network of parks. Low-cost and members-only parks all over the country, which are usually quieter and much cheaper than commercial holiday parks.
- Discounts with a long list of suppliers, on everything from gas and insurance to parts and servicing.
- Technical advice, a members' magazine, and the yellow self-containment card mentioned above.
There are also local caravan clubs and rallies if you like travelling with company. They are a good way to learn the practical side quickly from people who have been doing it for years.
A short checklist before you buy
- Current WOF, and registration not on hold.
- Green self-containment card if the van is advertised as self-contained, with its expiry date checked.
- Gas bottles in date, and evidence the gas system has been checked.
- A current electrical warrant of fitness if the van has 240V mains wiring.
- No money owing on the van. A quick check on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) will tell you, and it costs a couple of dollars.
Ask us for any of these on a van you are looking at. We would far rather answer the awkward questions up front.