Laws for Carrying Bikes on Your Vehicle: What Every Cyclist Needs to Know
Before you hit the road with bikes loaded on your car, do you know the legal requirements in your state or region? Laws for carrying bikes vary widely, and ignorance is no excuse. This guide covers the key regulations, NZTA guidelines, and supplementary rules you must follow to stay road-legal.
The Legal Consequences of Getting It Wrong
Many Kiwi drivers don't realise the serious penalties for incorrectly carrying bikes on their vehicles. If your number plate or vehicle lights are obscured when carrying bikes on a bike rack, you are breaking the law. You could receive 20 to 25 demerit points for each offence, alongside hefty fines. More importantly, you're putting yourself, your family, and other motorists in danger.
Bike Rack Lights Requirements
It is illegal to obscure your vehicle lights when carrying bikes. Your lights must be clearly visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 200 metres, and it's your responsibility to ensure they're clean and in good working condition at all times.
If your bike rack or the bikes themselves obscure any of your lights, you must fit an additional light bar or bike rack lights. This isn't optional or a suggestion from NZTA, it's a legal requirement that protects everyone on the road.
Supplementary Number Plates: Getting the Details Right
It is illegal to drive a vehicle with a number plate that is wholly or partially obscured. When a tow bar mounted bike rack or bike carrier is used, it will almost certainly obscure your number plate, meaning a supplementary plate is required.
Critical Requirements for Supplementary Plates
- When carrying bikes on the back of a car, it's illegal to simply hang a supplementary plate loosely at the rear
- Supplementary plates must be fixed to a hard, flat surface
- They must be illuminated when driving at night
- It's illegal to use homemade supplementary plates or numbers written on cardboard
- Only official NZTA supplementary plates are permitted
Making Compliance Simple with the Right Equipment
Staying legal doesn't have to be complicated. The Safelite bike rack light board is designed specifically for New Zealand drivers who want to protect their expensive bikes while meeting all NZTA requirements. This NZ-made solution features:
- Universal fit that slots straight onto virtually every bike rack sold in NZ
- Quick installation with two heavy-duty bungee cords and easy-lock toggles
- Plug-and-play wiring with a standard flat 7-pin trailer plug
- Pre-drilled holes for your NZTA supplementary number plate
- UV-stable, waterproof construction built tough for NZ roads
Your Safety is Worth the Investment
Modern bikes cost a fortune, and the last thing you want is damage from a rear-end collision because the driver behind couldn't see your brake lights. By ensuring your bike rack setup meets all NZTA standards, you're protecting your valuable bikes, avoiding costly fines and demerit points, and most importantly, keeping everyone safe on the road.
Don't risk it, stay legal and stay safe with proper bike rack lighting and supplementary number plates that meet New Zealand's strict vehicle standards.