Importing motor vehicles into New Zealand

Situation

If you want to import a vehicle privately or commercially into New Zealand, it's your responsibility to prove that you're legally entitled to the vehicle and that it meets New Zealand safety and emissions requirements. The legal requirements depend on the type of vehicle, the date of manufacture, and the country from which it is being imported.

If you wish to import a motor vehicle to New Zealand, you may wish to check if it qualifies as an immigrant’s vehicle (of Class MA, MB or MC) or a ‘special interest vehicle’, in which case you may find it does not have to meet a frontal impact or emissions standard. The Fuel Consumption Information Rule also does not apply to these vehicles. Details are provided in Factsheet 44a and Factsheet 44b.

This infosheet tells you where to find the requirements that apply to your vehicle.

• It provides links and background information about importing motor vehicles into New Zealand.
• It links to five separate infosheets (2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14) and you select the infosheet(s) relevant to you, depending on the country from which you wish to import the vehicle.

Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in Infosheet 2.08. The exhaust emissions standards that vehicles must meet were changed on 3 January 2008.

• Revision 6 is the current version of Infosheet 2.08. It sets out the requirements for vehicles that were entry certified for use on New Zealand roads on or after 3 January 2008.
• If your vehicle was border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008, and it has not been entry-certified, it may be allowed to meet the requirements set out in the previous version of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions. Contact an entry certifier if you need to find out more about this.

Please note that standards for heavy-vehicle brakes will be introduced through the Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule, which came into force on 1 March 2007. These heavy-vehicle brakes requirements will apply to imported heavy vehicles that are first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2008. Detail is provided in the infosheets to which this document links.

Importing motor vehicles

New Zealand has legal requirements for both heavy and light motor vehicles. Vehicles are checked for compliance with these requirements by an entry certifier when they are first inspected before their approval for registration in New Zealand.

• A light motor vehicle is defined as one that has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) less than or equal to 3500 kg. Light motor vehicles include cars, vans, utes, minibuses and motorcycles.
• A heavy motor vehicle is one that has a GVM greater than 3500 kg.

If you are considering importing a motor vehicle into New Zealand, follow the steps below.

Carefully read all the relevant information you are directed to. It will enable you to determine whether you can import the vehicle, and what the requirements and processes are.

• Japan: Infosheet 2.10
• Australia: Infosheet 2.11
• the United States of America: Infosheet 2.12
• Europe: Infosheet 2.13
• a country other than Japan, Australia, the USA or Europe: Infosheet 2.14.

• Factsheet 35 describes the requirements for importing a vehicle temporarily (for a period of up to 12 months).
• For information on providing fuel consumption for a used vehicle at entry go to http://importer.fuelsaver.govt.nz.
• You may also want to refer to http://importer.fuelsaver.govt.nz which includes the tools you will need for finding out the fuel consumption information for a used vehicle at entry.
• Infosheet 1.10 provides extensive information on vehicle classes and the standards they have to meet to comply with New Zealand law.
• Factsheet 13 describes the dimensions and mass requirements of vehicles. This is particularly important for vehicles imported from the USA.
• Safety-related vehicle recalls provides information to check whether the vehicle you are importing is free of recalls. (You are strongly advised to do this).
• Other information on vehicle safety is given in Factsheet 73 Vehicle lighting, Factsheet 22 Bullbars, Factsheet 39 Vehicle windows, wipers and mirrors and Factsheet 43 Mopeds.

• New Zealand Customs
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Where you can find out more

• Contact details for Land Transport NZ, entry certifiers, and Motor Industry Association (MIA) representatives.

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