The Government has refunded $578,000 to motorists after overcharging them for their vehicle licences. The vehicle licensing system is supposed to ensure that people who drive the safest cars pay the least in annual fees while those who drive the least safe pay the most. But the car risk data ACC uses is under fire for not being roadworthy itself.
ACC has now returned $578,000 it overcharged drivers due to what it described as errors with its new rego system.
ACC Minister Nikki Kaye said it was a new system, experiencing some teething issues."We've been really clear there were some data issues and they have been working through to resolve those.
"And I think what's important is that people know the reasons that we're doing this . Number one, is to ensure that we have safer cars on the road and save taxpayers money in the long run by reducing serious injuries.
Ms Kaye said ACC was doing its best and she did not believe too many more examples of wrongly risk-rated cars would come to light.
The editor of car review guide Dog and Lemon, Clive Matthew-Wilson, said the number of incorrectly rated cars was sure to grow.
He said ACC was using "hopeless" Monash University data, and gave the example of a 1989 Land Rover Discovery getting the best ACC safety rating, while an identical vehicle - the Honda Crossroad - got the worst.
ACC says motorists with concerns about the risk rating of their car should contact them on 0800 222 776 or email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Source: radio nz
