Our Contact Centre will be closed from 5pm on 24 December 2024, reopening at 8am on 3 January 2025. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 5pm on Friday 20 December, reopening at 8am on Monday 6 January 2025. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
Before making a claim to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal it's a good idea to look at Consumer Protection’s information about how to resolve a problem with a motor vehicle.
Consumer Protection website(external link)
You might find it useful to talk to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Community Law Centre.
Citizens Advice Bureau(external link)
Community Law Centre(external link)
If you make a claim to the tribunal – costs might be awarded against you if the tribunal thinks your claim is trivial or a claim is troublemaking.
If you’re sure that you have a legitimate claim against a trader, you need to write to or email the trader and set out clearly what you want and why you believe you are entitled to ask them to provide it. Keep a copy of your letter to the trader.
If you don't get a satisfactory reply from the trader within a reasonable time you can then make a claim to the tribunal.