Importing Cars To NZ - Permanently And Temporarily

Whenever you want to permanently import cars to New Zealand, it is usually a very good idea to work with a freight company that is certified for such imports. This is because your imported vehicle (including motorcycles, campers, vans, and cars) can be driven on the road, some requirements need to be met. Dealing with these and the entire import process is not easy for people that do not have the knowledge to do so.

Permanently Importing Cars To NZ

To make it clear why the process is so complicated, here are the main steps that have to be followed to get a vehicle ready for New Zealand roads:

• Identifying car import requirements.
• Proving the fact that the vehicle does meet New Zealand import criteria.
• Preparing the car for importing, which includes license cancellations and cleaning.
• Dealing with border clearances, customs, and shipping.
• Getting the vehicle entry certification, which requires on-road inspection.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed with importing cars to NZ, which actually happens so much more often than many believe, the best thing you can do is to contact specialists to handle the process for you. Shipping to compliance is something that is very complex.

When you discuss things with a shipping company, make sure to ask about potential extra services like vehicle organization, clearing, and road inspection. Not all of them are actually included in standard shipping packages.

Temporarily Importing Cars To NZ

If you are a tourist, you visit the country and want to bring your car with you, this is allowed for a maximum of 12 months as a temporary import. The process is different than with permanent importation in the fact that you do not need an entry certification.

The temporarily imported car can display the existing plates. This is allowed in 2 different ways. They are presented below:

• Carnet

This document is practically a vehicle passport. You need to get it before you ship the car. You get it through the services of a motoring organization or another authorized issuer in your country of residence.

• NZ Customs Import Entry

The NZ Customs authorities hold a bond. This is a bond that will cover the GST and is needed whenever the vehicle was sold or lost in the country. Bonds depend on vehicle value and type. You get the bond back when the car leaves the country, as long as the allowable timeframe is respected.

With both situations, there are requirements that you have to meet. These are:

• Importers should not be a citizen or resident of NZ since temporary imports for cars are reserved for tourists.
• Vehicles need to remain licensed in the origin country.
• The car needs to pass the WoF (warrant of fitness) in NZ before it can be driven on roads.
• The ACC licensing premium has to be paid.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, the process of importing cars to NZ seems to be very simple but the truth is that it is quite complex. You have to be sure that you follow the correct paths and handle all the needed documentation. As a result, the truth is you need to seriously consider working with customs brokers that have experience with importing cars into New Zealand.