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Importing motor vehicles into New Zealand

New Zealand has legal requirements for the importation of any motor vehicle. Most of the standards deal with vehicle safety but there are also two types of environmental standards. For emissions standards see infosheet 2.08. For noise requirements that came into force on 1 June 2008 see Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2007.

The 2007 revision of the Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule requires vehicles certified for entry into New Zealand on or after 3 January 2008 to meet more stringent exhaust emissions standards than the 2006 version of the Rule. However, a transitional provision allows vehicles that are border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008 to meet earlier requirements.

Motor vehicles are checked for compliance with New Zealand's legal 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 3,500 kg. Light motor vehicles include cars, vans, utes, minibuses and motorcycles. They also include light trailers (Class TA and TB) and mopeds (Class LA and LB).
  • A heavy motor vehicle is one that has a GVM greater than 3,500 kg. Heavy motor vehicles include heavy trailers.

Can I import my motor vehicle into New Zealand?

The information that you need to determine whether you can import a motor vehicle into New Zealand is contained in our importing infosheets and factsheets.

  • If you're importing a used car, ute, bus, truck, motorcycle, station wagon, van, SUV, 4WD, minibus or heavy motor vehicle, carry on reading.
  • If you're importing a new motor vehicle, also read Importing a new motor vehicle.
  • If you want information on importing other types of vehicle, such as electric bicycles or electric scooters, read about Importing low-powered vehicles.

Where do I start?

If you want to import a motor 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.

These 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 qualifes 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. Details are provided in Factsheet 44a and Factsheet 44b.

Start at Infosheet 1.67, which tells you where to find information on the requirements that apply to your vehicle.

Infosheet 1.67 provides:

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

How do I use the importing infosheets?

The importing infosheets contain flowcharts that help you determine whether your vehicle can be imported into New Zealand. Make sure you read any notes that accompany the flowcharts.

What vehicles do the importing infosheets cover?

The importing infosheets cover cars, utes, buses, trucks, motorcycles, station wagons, vans, SUVs, 4WDs, minibuses and heavy vehicles.

They don't cover Class TA and TB vehicles (light trailers), or Class LA and LB vehicles (mopeds), because these vehicles don't undergo entry certification. (For more information about vehicle classes and the standards they must meet, see Infosheet 1.10.)

What general information is there on the importing process?

  • Factsheet 44 Importing a motor vehicle outlines steps to follow when importing a motor vehicle into New Zealand.
  • Factsheet 44a and Factsheet 44b - These set out information about immigrant's vehicles or special interest vehicles, that do not meet frontal impact or emissions standards.
  • Factsheet 12 Importing a left-hand drive vehicle describes the restrictions on the importation of left-hand drive vehicles (those with a steering wheel positioned on the left-hand side of the vehicle).
  • Infosheet 1.10 sets out the definitions of vehicle classes and the standards that they must meet.
  • Infosheet 2.09 outlines the documents you must have to prove legal title and standards compliance when importing a vehicle.
  • Infosheet 2.16 tells you how to find out whether the vehicle you wish to import is subject to a safety-related recall.

Other information on importing motor vehicles

  • Factsheet 35 Importing a vehicle temporarily describes the requirements for importing a vehicle for a period of up to 12 months.
  • Infosheet 2.08 explains how the Emissions Rule affects entry certification.
    There are two versions of this infosheet on this website:
    • Revision 5 is the current version of Infosheet 2.08. It sets out the new requirements for vehicles entry certified for use on New Zealand roads on or after 3 January 2008.
    • However, a transitional provision of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions means that if your vehicle was border checked for entry into New Zealand before 1 February 2008, it is allowed to meet the earlier requirements set out in Revision 3.1 of Infosheet 2.08.
  • Infosheet 2.15 presents information on fuel consumption data capture.
  • Factsheet 13 Vehicle dimensions and mass describes the restrictions on the dimensions and mass of heavy vehicles. This is particularly important for vehicles imported from the USA.
  • 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.
  • The Heavy Vehicle Brakes Rule and its implementation has information about changes to chassis ratings for heavy vehicles from 1 July 2008.

Importing low-powered vehicles

The recently revised Land Transport Act 1998 sets out special requirements for vehicles with a power output of less than 600 watts. In particular, the Act allows the Director of Land Transport to declare that certain vehicles or types of vehicle are not motor vehicles:

  • If the power output of a vehicle or type of vehicle is 300 watts or less, the Director may declare that it is not a 'motor vehicle'.
  • If the power output of a vehicle or type of vehicle is between 300 and 600 watts, the Director may declare that it is not a 'motor vehicle' but may also set conditions of use for the operation of the vehicle, such as the need to wear a helmet. The Director will consider making a declaration about vehicles in this category once the Ministry of Transport and Land Transport NZ have agreed on operational rules for their use.

The effect of these declarations will be to remove the vehicles, and their riders or owners, from certain obligations imposed by legislation — including registration, licensing and a range of equipment requirements. It will not, however, remove the general obligation to operate any vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner; neither will it remove obligations relating to the specific type of vehicle.

Fuel consumption information for importers

Our fuel consumption information for importers includes the fuel consumption database and a conversion calculator to convert fuel consumption data from other countries.

Roadworthiness requirements

All vehicles on the road in New Zealand must be roadworthy. For details about what inspectors will check, see the Vehicle inspection requirements manual: In-service certification.

Importing a new motor vehicle

If you want to import a new motor vehicle or become the importer of a particular kind of vehicle to sell commercially, you will need to prove that the vehicle was manufactured in accordance with approved standards. You will have to provide a Statement of Compliance or produce other evidence of standards compliance, such as a standards approval plate mounted on the vehicle. For more details, see Infosheet 2.09. 

If you're using a Statement of Compliance to prove the vehicle meets the relevant standards, you need to be aware that you may be required to produce test certificate information and evidence of conformity of production.

Where you can find out more

  • Contact Land Transport New Zealand.
    • Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
    • Phone our Helpdesk: (freephone) 0800 699 000 (within New Zealand); +64 4 931 8700 (overseas).
    • Write to us: Land Transport New Zealand, PO Box 2840, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Contact an entry certifier. The organisations listed below are appointed by the Director of Land Transport to advise on the suitability of vehicles for import. They carry out entry certification of imported used vehicles and new vehicles that are imported by persons other than the vehicle manufacturer’s representative in New Zealand:
  • Where the import status of a motor vehicle is difficult to determine, you may need to contact the manufacturer’s representative in New Zealand for confirmation that the vehicle is suitable for importation. (See the Motor Industry Association (MIA) list for contacts.)

Last updated: 16 April 2008