We ship a variety of vehicles from the UK to New Zealand, including cars, vans, motorcycles and jet skis. With weekly direct exports to Auckland, Christchurch, Napier, Tauranga and Wellington, utilising container ships, with no hidden fees shipping couldn’t be simpler.

Car Shipping Made Simple use containers to ensure your vehicle’s security and safety, and you can track your vehicle’s progress using our tracking system. We use direct routes to ensure the fastest transit times possible, and handle all paperwork, including inspection reports, country regulations and customs formalities.

Simply bring your vehicle to our depot or we can pick it up for you. Unlike RoRo methods, we use containers so that you don’t have to travel to the port to drop off your vehicle.

We require a copy your driving license, V5 and passport, sales receipt and full inventory if you are shipping personal effects and we’ll take care of the rest, including a bill of lading and inspection reports. You only pay 50% upfront, and we guarantee excellent customer service from the UK all the way to New Zealand.

To ship your vehicle to New Zealand, you need to do the following:

• Gain entry certification through meeting the standard vehicle and personal requirements
• Meet biosecurity standards and pass a WoF inspection
• Pay necessary import and tax duties
• Present evidence for registration

For an in-depth look at shipping with us to New Zealand, read this shipping guide using the navigation on the left.

To have a vehicle identified as belonging to an immigrant or returning New Zealander, the person must:

• be a New Zealand citizen, a New Zealand resident or a person entitled under the Immigration Act 1987 to take up permanent residence

• have lived outside New Zealand for a period of not less than 21 months before the date of his or her arrival in, or return to, New Zealand

• apply within 18 months of the applicant’s arrival in or return to New Zealand and have personally owned the vehicle

• have personally owned and registered the vehicle for personal use in a country outside New Zealand for a period of at least one year before the applicant’s arrival in, or return to, New Zealand

• not have had any other vehicle identified as an immigrant’s vehicle

• not have imported, or be importing, the vehicle on behalf of, or for, a third party.

The NZ Transport Agency cannot grant exemptions from any of these requirements if you want to apply for immigrant-vehicle status.

For more information, please see Fact sheet 44a here.

All vehicles entering New Zealand must be checked, certified, registered and licensed before you can use them on the road. This process is called entry certification.

The first step you need to take when importing a vehicle is to identify which New Zealand vehicle class it comes under. The vehicle class determines which technical standards apply to your vehicle and also whether you, or the vehicle, must meet any special terms or conditions.

You can find out your vehicle class here.

We recommend that you talk with an entry certifier to determine whether the EC or UN/ECE plate on your vehicle is acceptable.

If you don’t have an acceptable EC or UN/ECE plate you’ll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.

You will also need to provide evidence of compliance with fuel consumption information requirements.

You can use the NZTA online tool to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. You simply need to enter the vehicle data off the EC or UN/ECE whole vehicle approval plate or the certificate of conformity. You’ll then receive a fuel consumption certificate to take to the entry certifier.

If your fuel consumption certificate says consumption is ‘unknown’, this is still acceptable as compliance evidence – you can provide this to the entry certifier.

Once you’re satisfied your vehicle meets the applicable New Zealand standards, you can arrange shipment with us.

The Requirements

To submit an application to ship your car to New Zealand, your Class MA car must meet the following requirements:

• meet applicable emissions standards
• be entry inspected
• be in roadworthy condition (ie be able to pass a WoF inspection and not be rusty)
• be a right-hand drive – but there are some exceptions
• be manufactured to meet an approved frontal impact standard
• be manufactured to meet other vehicle standards depending on its date of manufacture.
• You’ll also need to provide evidence of your car’s fuel consumption.
• You may not have to prove your car complies with some of these standards, if:
  • it is more than 20 years old
  • it is a ‘special interest’ vehicle
  • you’re emigrating or returning to New Zealand and seeking to bring your vehicle with you.

Your motorcycle must be:

• entry inspected
• be in roadworthy condition (ie be able to pass a WoF inspection and not be rusty)
• manufactured to meet a brake standard if manufactured after 1 October 2002
• manufactured to meet other vehicle standards depending on its date of manufacture.

Exceptions for older vehicles

If your vehicle was manufactured before 1990 it may be excluded from many of the standards requirements. However, your vehicle must still meet the general safety requirements in the Land Transport Rules, and it must have at least front seat passenger safety belts if manufactured after 1955.

An ‘historic vehicle’ must meet the safety requirements applying at the time it was manufactured. Visit the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand’s website to find out more.

Along with your application to New Zealand, you must collect a number of documents to provide evidence for your shipping.

Europe has two vehicle standards regimes:

• the Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
• the Directives of the Commission of the European Communities (EC, or formerly EEC).

Evidence that your vehicle complies with either of the standards may be acceptable for New Zealand requirements.

You must collect the following documents:

• Proof of ownership – registration, deregistration or change of ownership papers plus an invoice, bill of sale or receipt, etc.
• Emissions standards – a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE approval plate/sticker, a certificate of conformity or statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard.
• Frontal impact standards – it appears on our list of compliant vehicles, a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker or statement of compliance.
• Fuel consumption – fuel consumption certificate.
• Heavy-vehicle brakes standards.
• Overall standards – a suitable EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker or statement of compliance.

Proof of Ownership

You need to provide evidence that you’re legally entitled to your vehicle. This includes:

• the original documents that prove previous registration and provide an ownership trail that goes back to the last registered owner in the country where the vehicle was last registered, and
• certified English translations of all documents not in English (bills of sale, purchase receipts etc).

Evidence of Compliance With Emission Standards

For both used and parallel-imported new vehicles, acceptable proof your vehicle meets New Zealand requirements can be:

• a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker
• a suitable UN/ECE approval plate/sticker
• a certificate of conformity or statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard.

Determining Emissions Level from EC Directives (for light vehicles)

The regulation name can be listed either independently or within a UN/ECE system approval number.

Evidence of Compliance with Frontal Impact Standards

For Cars

You may be able to prove your car complies using our frontal impact lists. These lists cover vehicles manufactured during 1994-1996 when frontal impact standards were being developed. They, therefore, apply mainly to used imports. If the list says your vehicle does not meet a frontal impact standard, then you cannot bring it into New Zealand.

If your vehicle isn’t listed, it will most likely have an EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker affixed to it, which you may be able to use to show that it complies with almost all of New Zealand’s vehicle requirements. You can only use it as evidence if it includes the EC directive ‘2001/116’.

You may not have to prove your vehicle complies with frontal impact standards if:

• it is more than 20 years old
• it is a ‘special interest’ vehicle
• You’re emigrating or returning to New Zealand and seeking to take your vehicle with you.

Find out more about these exceptions.

For 4×4, SUV and Forward-Control Vans (Classes MB and MC)

If your Class MB or Class MC vehicle was manufactured after 1 October 2003, it must meet a frontal impact standard. The exception is if you’re emigrating to New Zealand and seeking to bring your vehicle with you. Find out more about this exception.

Your vehicle will most likely have an EC whole vehicle approval plate or sticker affixed to it, which you may be able to use to show that it complies with almost all of New Zealand’s vehicle requirements. You can only use it as evidence if it includes the EC directive ‘2001/116’.

Evidence of Overall Standards Compliance

In many cases, an EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker or a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker affixed to your vehicle is acceptable evidence that your vehicle meets applicable standards in New Zealand. This proves your vehicle met the EC or UN/ECE standards when manufactured.

Before you import a European vehicle, it’s wise to talk with an entry certifier to determine whether the EC or UN/ECE whole vehicle approval on your vehicle is acceptable.

No plate or sticker? You’ll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.

Before your vehicle is allowed entry into New Zealand it must meet biosecurity standards, as all vehicles entering the country must be inspected by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

The MPI works to prevent unwanted pests and diseases entering the country, To prepare your car for shipment, clean the inside and outside of your vehicle and clear it of soil, plant matter, animal matter and  insects.

Take particular care to inspect wheels and tyres, wheel arches, mud guards, boot, radiator, engine bay, cooling fan, battery tray, dashboard, air vents and under seats.

If unwanted material is found your vehicle will be decontaminated at your cost. You can find more information on preparing your car for New Zealand here.

When shipping your vehicle to New Zealand, you will have to pay the necessary customs duties.

The customs duties are based on the landed value of the vehicle, which includes the cost of the vehicle plus shipping and insurance costs.

Import Duty

If you are shipping a motorhome or caravan or similar vehicle which has been equipped for habitation, you will pay an import duty of 10% of the landed value. However, if you are shipping privately imported motorbikes or cars, there is no import duty fee.

Goods and Services Tax

GST is dependent on what type of purchase the vehicle is. If it is a NEW PURCHASE then GST is calculated at 15% of the CIF value of the vehicle. This is the landed value of the vehicle, made up of the cost price, freight and insurance.

Depending on your immigration status, you may be eligible for exemption from GST when importing your vehicle. In general, you will be exempt if you meet the criteria below:

• Be a first-time immigrant, or a returning New Zealand citizen who has been living outside of the Country for a period of over 21 months
• Be prepared to sign a deed where you agree not to sell the vehicle for 2 Years following registration in New Zealand
• That the vehicle has been owned and used by you for a period of at least 12 months

Prior to being able to use your car on the New Zealand’s roads, it must be issued with a Warrant of Fitness (WoF), very similar to the UK’s MOT.

Ensure your vehicle is in top condition to pass this test before it is shipped as if it fails its WoF inspection, you cannot drive it in New Zealand. Check tread depth and tyres, brakes, lights, windscreen, wipers, doors, safety belts, airbags, speedometer, steering, suspension, exhaust, and fuel, as these are the areas that the test will inspect.

Once you meet these requirements, your vehicle will be approved for a registration application form (MR2A) which must be presented to a registration agent with your fees for processing.

If your application proves successful, your vehicle will be registered and licenced for use in New Zealand.

This information is meant as a guide only and is not definitive. As destination regulations are subject to change without notice, we strongly urge you to obtain updated information from the NZ Transport Agency and the New Zealand Customs Service.

Our price does not include any vehicle compliance fees.

Rates shown are for guidance only and are from Depot to Depot only, excluding any local destination fees, duties or taxes.

For up to date rates please use our online quotation system.

We ship a variety of different vehicles from New Zealand direct to the UK, including vans, cars, caravans and jet skis.

Being exclusively represented in New Zealand we can offer weekly exports, guaranteeing fantastic customer service all the way from New Zealand to the UK.

We use direct routes to ensure the fastest possible transit times, and you can track your vehicle’s progress using our tracking system.

Providing fast shipment times and weekly departures with direct connections from New Zealand to the UK.

Auckland– Port to port transit time of 47 days

Christchurch – Port to port transit time of 52 days

Napier – Port to port transit time of 54 days

Tauranga – Port to port transit time of 54 days

Wellington – Port to port transit time of 44 days

1. Deliver your vehicle into anyone of our 5 terminals throughout New Zealand, or if required we can arrange for collection.
2. To ship your car we will require

• • Copy of Passport/ License
  • Copy of registration document
  • Copy of the purchase invoice (if available)
  • If any personal effects in the vehicle please supply detailed packing list.

1. We will then deal with any paperwork, carry out a vehicle inspection report and help with specific country regulations.
2. Once your vehicle arrives in the UK, you can pick it up from our terminal, or we can deliver to your door.
3. We will handle all paperwork, including inspection reports, country regulations and customs formalities. Plus, you only pay 50% upfront.

With our no hidden fees policy and professional shipping agents, shipping couldn’t be simpler

You can also choose your departure times and use our tracking service to follow your vehicle on its journey. So get an instant quote today to ship your vehicle with a safe, reliable and trusted service.

Click here for a full UK Car Import Guide.

Rates shown are for guidance only and are from Depot to Depot only, excluding any local duties or taxes. They also exclude local handling and clearance fee’s in the U.K.

For up to date rates please use our online quotation system.