Motorhome seat belts NZ: installation & regulations

So you want to increase the number of people who can ride in your motorhome? Adding seat belts to your motorhome enable more holidaymakers to tag along for the ride (a value add for motorhome owners looking to attract family hirers!), but also help to keep these passengers safe on the road.

However, there are several key rules and regulations you must follow if you plan on installing more seat belts. These relate to the number of seat belts you can add, the types of seat belts you can add, the type of signage you must add and the age of motorhomes that are required to have seat belts.

In this article, we walk you through the legal requirements in New Zealand and answer the question: can you add seat belts to a motorhome? We also provide some guidance on how to add seat belts to a motorhome and make a return on your investment!

Can you add seat belts to a motorhome in New Zealand?

The New Zealand Transport Agency states that you can add seat belts to a motorhome. In fact, if a motorhome is manufactured, imported or converted to have more sleeping berths than seat belts, you are required to add the necessary number of standard-compliant seat belts or permanently remove the excess sleeping berths.

Seatbelt requirements for motorhomes in New Zealand

In New Zealand, seat belts must be fitted in all motorhomes that were manufactured or converted on or after 1 October 2003. Standard-compliant seat belts must be fitted to:

• All front seating positions; and

• All rear seating positions until the total number of seat belts in the motorhome matches the total number of sleeping berths in the motorhome.

The manufacturer of the motorhome determines the number of sleeping berths, so refer to the original information provided by the manufacturer (not the importer or the seller). The term ‘sleeping berths/positions’ normally includes fixed beds, convertible beds, high-top beds, bunk beds and any other kind of bed in the motorhome.

Whilst it is not a requirement for motorhomes manufactured or converted before this date to have seat belts, it is strongly recommended that you add them. If it is not possible to add seat belts to your older model of motorhome, you should try to remove or pad sharp edges and hard objects to reduce the risk of injury in case of an accident.

It is also a requirement that you add and display a notice in a prominent position in the rear of your motorhome, advising passengers to:

• Travel on seats fitted with seat belts; and

• That they must use the seat belt if their seat is fitted with one.

If passengers sit in a swivel seat that can change direction, they should sit in the direction which allows them to use the seat belt properly. You must also display a sign showing which way the seat needs to face for the belt to be used properly.

Types of seat belts you can add to a motorhome

Front seats

The front driver's seat and passenger seat in your motorhome must each have a three-point, dual-sensitive, retractor seat belt. If there is a front middle seat, it must be at least fitted with a lap belt (however, a lap-and-diagonal belt is preferable as it provides more protection).

Rear seats

Forward-facing and rearward-facing seats in the rear of the motorhome must at least each have a lap belt fitted (however, a lap-and-diagonal belt is preferable as it provides more protection).

Sideways-facing seats in the rear of the motorhome must be fitted with lap belts. You are not legally allowed to fit a sideways-facing seat with a lap-and-diagonal belt.

How to add seat belts to a motorhome

It is not an easy process to fit old motorhomes with seat belts. Most older motorhomes were not originally designed to include seat belts and therefore lack the anchorage structures required to withstand crash forces.

As such, you might be limited in your options if you want to add seat belts to an older model of motorhome.

One option is to have your motorhome professionally modified to include seat belt anchorage structures capable of withstanding crash forces. However, this can get expensive and modifications may not always be possible depending on the design of your motorhome.

Alternatively, you can install crash-rated seats with the seat belt already pre-built into the seat. That said, this option will likely require you to modify the body of the motorhome by welding and bolting a metal plate between the beams of the chassis (i.e. strengthening the floor).

Either way, if you add seat belts to your motorhome, the belts must then be certified by:

• a specialist low volume vehicle certifier (if your motorhome is considered a light vehicle (GVM of 3500 kg or less))

• a heavy-vehicle certifier (if your motorhome is considered a heavy vehicle (GVM of more than 3500 kg)).

Please contact the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association for more information about certifying a light vehicle.

And if you don’t like the way the seats look, you can always learn how to make motorhome seat covers!

Earn a return on your motorhome

If you’re thinking about buying a motorhome, there’s a quick and easy way to start earning a return on your investment - rent it out on Camplify when it’s not in use!

Instead of letting your motorhome sit idly in the driveway, hire it out and make money from the comfort of your own home. Holidaymakers prefer motorhome rentals that they know are safe and fitted with seat belts for each passenger!

Why Camplify?

Each year, heaps of Kiwis earn up to $10,000 by renting out their motorhome through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance.

• 24/7 AA nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year if you rent out your motorhome!