Regulations To Respect When Importing Cars To NZ

 

The current regulations that have to be respected when importing cars to NZ date back from January 01, 2012. Regulations will vary based on the country that you import the vehicle from. This is why we should highlight the fact that you have to conduct a good research so you can find out exactly what rules or regulations have to be respected based on where you import from.

Also, let’s discuss the main regulations in regards to the 3 most common cars importing countries. These are Australia, USA, and UK.

Importing Cars From The UK

·         The minimum requirement for the car is for it to be Euro 4. Compliance plates can be required from the sellers to make sure this is correct.

·         When buying from Auction Houses or Dealers, the HPI report is also needed. You do this in order to prove that you became the owner of the vehicle. The document also shows that there is no owing present. You are protected against buying vehicles that were stolen.

·         Australian or NZ residents that owned the imported vehicle for over 12 mounts, and were out of New Zealand for over 21 months can import cars with the Immigrants Concession. When this applies, there is no restriction in regards to how old the vehicle is. However, NZ Road Regulations still need to be met in order to be able to drive in the country.

Importing Cars From Australia

·         The imported vehicle needs to be manufactured after 2010.

·         Immigrants Concession does apply. In this case, you have to make a formal request to receive a GST Exemption.

Importing Cars From USA

·         You can import any car that was manufactured prior to 1989.

·         The cars that were manufactured between 1990 and 2004 require the Special Interest Car Permit, together with the Category A Left Hand Drive Permit. Both of these are available for download on the official NZTA website.

·         GST Exemption is needed when you qualify for Immigrants Concession.

Conclusions

We talked about the main three countries that cars are imported from to New Zealand. At the same time, you need to consult with an official New Zealand Entry Certifier. Only commit to the purchase after you talk to an experienced customs broker. The worst case scenario is that you do not do research, you spend money, time, you import the car and you cannot take it out of customs. Even if you can, you will not be allowed to drive the car in New Zealand or sell it.