How to Make Importing Your Car into New Zealand Straightforward

Importing a car into New Zealand isn’t as complicated as you may think it is. Although the country does have stringent vehicle compliance regulations, they are not impossible to abide by, and as long as you have the right documentation, your vehicle will be one of the many that are being imported from overseas into the country every year without any problems.

Vehicle emissions: To be allowed in, your vehicle will have to be Euro 4 emission compliant unless you qualify for an exemption under the personal immigrant vehicle scheme or if your car is at least 20 years old. In doubt, a good vehicle freight-forwarder should be able to check whether your vehicle will indeed require it.

Frontal impact: Your vehicle will also have to pass a safety inspection to make sure that it complies with frontal impact requirements.

In addition, all vehicles need to be generally safe to be allowed on the road. So if your car needs to be repaired or upgraded, if it has any rusted parts that need replacing, do make an appointment with your mechanic as soon as possible.

Paperwork: You will be asked to present the right paperwork at Customs, for example a proof of purchase, various certificates of compliance, the original registration and a copy of the shipping bill of lading. Depending on the country your vehicle is coming from, the make and your own circumstances, you may need additional paperwork or permits.

Although there are general regulations as to what you need to produce for your car to be allowed entry into New Zealand, there are also a lot of rules specific to the country of export; this is why it is crucial to choose a shipping company with experience in importing goods into New Zealand.

For further information on vehicle shipping, contact us, phone us on +64 9 303 0075, or get a free quote.

Click here to see our reference guide to making car shipping stress free with our tried and tested 1-2-3 step process.