Importing motor vehicles from Australia: Standards and document requirements

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. The vehicle's performance and condition are also checked at this inspection to make sure the vehicle meets the relevant requirements appropriate to its age, and to confirm that it is within safe tolerance of its state when manufactured.

• 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 want to import a motor vehicle privately or commercially from Australia, it is your responsibility to prove that you are legally entitled to the vehicle and that the vehicle meets New Zealand safety and emissions requirements.

Most of the standards deal with vehicle safety but there are also environmental standards.

• For noise requirements that came into force on 1 June 2008 see Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Equipment Amendment 2007.
• The exhaust emissions standards that vehicles must meet were changed on 1 January 2008. Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in Infosheet 2.08.
• The Fuel Consumption Information Rule comes into force on 1 February 2009 and specifies which vehicles must provide fuel consumption information at entry certification. These are light vehicles of Classes MA, MB, MC, MD1 and MD2 and NA. See 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.

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 will help you to determine what steps to follow and what documents you need, based on the class of the vehicle and when it was manufactured. However, this infosheet is designed for original equipment (OE) production vehicles. If the vehicle has been modified, it is unlikely to comply with the required standards. We strongly recommend you check to see if your vehicle is modified and talk to an entry certifier to make sure it will meet required standards before you import it.

There is a table containing descriptions of the vehicle classes at the start of each section. If you cannot clearly identify what class of vehicle you have, contact an entry certifier for advice.

• Section 1: Importing motorcycles (Class LC, LD or LE) from Australia
• Section 2: Importing passenger cars (Class MA) from Australia
• Section 3: Importing forward-control vehicles (Class MB) or off-road vehicles (Class MC) from Australia
• Section 4: Importing goods vehicles (Class NA, NB or NC), minibuses (Class MD1 or MD2) or buses (Class MD3, MD4 or ME) from Australia
• Section 5: Importing heavy trailers (Class TC or TD) from Australia
• Appendices: You must have the correct documents to have the vehicle certified for use in New Zealand. The documents need to be presented with the vehicle to the entry certifier in New Zealand. We strongly advise that you have the correct paperwork before the vehicle is shipped to New Zealand.

Contact details for entry certifiers

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

Other sources of information

• Infosheet 2.08 - Vehicle exhaust emissions requirements: This infosheet sets out the exhaust emissions requirements your vehicle must meet in order to be certified for entry into the New Zealand vehicle fleet.
• Factsheet 44 - Importing a motor vehicle: This summarises the process involved – who does what with the vehicle, and when. It also provides indicative prices for the different steps involved in getting a vehicle certified and registered for use on New Zealand roads.
• Factsheet 44a and Factsheet 44b - These set out information about immigrants’ vehicles, or special interest vehicles, that do not meet frontal impact or emissions standards. The Fuel Consumption Information Rule also does not apply to these vehicles.
• Frontal impact lists for Class MA vehicles: These are lists, by make and model, of vehicles that manufacturers have advised as meeting (or not meeting) New Zealand's frontal impact requirements. Please note that the information in these lists is supplied by vehicle manufacturers, and is not exhaustive. Land Transport New Zealand has taken every reasonable precaution to ensure the accuracy of this information.

• Read the appropriate list carefully, because some makes and models don't comply until they reach a particular model year or chassis number.
• If your vehicle is not on the list, it may still comply with frontal impact requirements. Follow the steps in the appropriate flowchart in this infosheet to establish whether or not your vehicle meets an approved frontal impact standard.
• If your vehicle is on the list, but the list says that your vehicle does not comply with a frontal impact standard, do not import the vehicle into New Zealand. It will not be able to be certified for use on the road in New Zealand.
• Vehicle standards: Information about vehicle standards, and a comprehensive guide to the standards required for different vehicles.
• Infosheet 1.10 - Vehicle classes and the standards they must meet: Definitions of the different vehicle classes and the standards that must be met by vehicles of each class according to date of manufacture.
  
  Please note: As well as meeting the standards in Infosheet 1.10, many heavy vehicles will need to be modified to meet additional New Zealand requirements, and be certified by a heavy vehicle specialist certifier, before they can enter the fleet. These modifications can be carried out after the vehicle is imported into New Zealand. For more information on these requirements, see Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004 and Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002.
  
  Please note also that your heavy vehicle must have a chassis rating approved by Land Transport New Zealand before it can be registered for use on the road. Contact an Entry Certifier for the chassis rating application forms and procedure.
  
  Please note also: Standards for heavy-vehicle brakes will be introduced through the Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule, which came into force on 1 March 2007. Imported heavy vehicles of Classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC that are first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2008 will need to meet an approved brake standard. In addition vehicles of Classes NB or NC intended to be used to tow heavy trailers will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV. Vehicles of Class TC and TD first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2008 will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV.
  
  This will mean that you MUST check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured. This infosheet now details some means of providing compliance.
  
• 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.
• Application for an exemption: Your vehicle is required by law to meet one or more standards. If it does not, it cannot legally be used on the road unless an exemption has been granted. If you think you have a valid reason for your vehicle to be excused from the standards requirement(s), you may apply for an exemption. Exemption applications are judged against the criteria set out in section 166 of the Land Transport Act 1998.
  
  Please note that completing an application form does not mean that an exemption will be automatically granted. They are granted only in exceptional circumstances. If you wish to proceed please complete the form Application for an exemption from vehicle standards rules (PDF, 134 KB).
  
• New Zealand Customs Service
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)

 

Section 1: Importing motorcycles (Class LC, LD or LE) from Australia

Class	Description
LC (motorcycle)	A motor vehicle that has two wheels, and either has an engine cylinder capacity exceeding 50 ml or has a maximum speed exceeding 50 km/h.
LD (motorcycle and side-car)	A motor vehicle that: has three wheels asymmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median axis; and either: has an engine cylinder capacity exceeding 50 ml; or has a maximum speed exceeding 50 km/h. Definition: side-car. A car, box, or other receptacle attached to the side of a motorcycle and supported by a wheel.
LE (motor tri-cycle)	A motor vehicle that: has three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median axis; and has a gross vehicle mass not exceeding one tonne; and either: has an engine cylinder capacity exceeding 50 ml; or has a maximum speed exceeding 50 km/h. An LE 1 motor vehicle has one wheel at the front and two wheels at the rear. An LE 2 motor vehicle has two wheels at the front and one wheel at the rear.

See also:

• Appendix 1: What is a Statement of Compliance?
  
  Appendix 2: Sample ADR plates
• 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).

 

Section 2: Importing passenger cars (Class MA vehicles) from Australia

Class	Description
MA (passenger car)	A passenger vehicle (other than a Class MB or Class MC vehicle) that has not more than nine seating positions (including the driver's seating position).
Note: A passenger vehicle is a motor vehicle that is constructed primarily for the carriage of passengers, and either has at least four wheels, or has three wheels and a gross vehicle mass exceeding one tonne.

A Class MA vehicle is defined as a passenger vehicle (other than a Class MB or Class MC vehicle) that has not more than nine seating positions (including the driver's seating position).

Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in infosheet 2.08.

If your vehicle meets the requirements in infosheet 2.08, you can continue with the following process.

There are three flowcharts for Class MA vehicles. If the Class MA vehicle you want to import is more than 20 years old (based on the date of first registration anywhere), go straight to the ownership flowchart. Otherwise, work through the flowcharts in this order:

1. Frontal impact flowchart
2. Other standards flowchart
3. Ownership flowchart.

You will need to read the supporting notes for each flowchart you use.

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.

See also:

• Appendix 1: What is a Statement of Compliance?
• Appendix 2: Sample ADR plates
• 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).

 

Section 3: Importing forward-control vehicles (Class MB) or off-road vehicles (Class MC) from Australia

Class	Description
MB (forward control passenger vehicle)	A passenger vehicle (other than a Class MC vehicle): that has not more than nine seating positions (including the driver's seating position), and in which the centre of the steering wheel is in the forward quarter of the vehicle's total length.
MC (off-road passenger vehicle)	A passenger vehicle designed with special features for off-road operation that has not more than nine seating positions (including the driver's seating position), and that: has four-wheel drive, and has at least four of the following characteristics when the vehicle is unladen on a level surface and the front wheels are parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal centre line and the tyres are inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure: An approach angle of not less than 28 degrees A breakover angle of not less than 14 degrees A departure angle of not less than 20 degrees A running clearance of not less than 200 mm A front axle clearance, rear axle clearance, or suspension clearance of not less than 175 mm.
Note: A passenger vehicle is a motor vehicle that is constructed primarily for the carriage of passengers, and either has at least four wheels, or has three wheels and a gross vehicle mass exceeding one tonne.

Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in infosheet 2.08.

If your vehicle meets the requirements in infosheet 2.08, you can continue with the following process.

If your vehicle is a Class MB or MC motor vehicle (see the table of vehicle classes above) and it was manufactured before 1 January 1990, go straight to the ownership flowchart.

If your vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 January 1990, but before 1 October 2003, there will be standards it has to meet — start at the standards flowchart.

If your vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 October 2003, it will need to meet a frontal impact standard in addition to other standards. Start at the frontal impact flowchart.

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.

See also:

• Appendix 1: What is a Statement of Compliance?
• Appendix 2: Sample ADR plates
• 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).

 

Section 4: Importing goods vehicles (Class NA, NB, and NC), minibuses (Class MD1 and MD2) or buses (Class MD3, MD4, and ME) from Australia

Class	Description
MD (light omnibus)	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 5 tonnes.
MD 1	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes and not more than 12 seats.
MD 2	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes and more than 12 seats.
MD 3	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 4.5 tonnes.
MD 4	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes but not exceeding 5 tonnes.
ME	An omnibus that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 5 tonnes.
NA (light goods vehicle)	A goods vehicle that has a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
NB (medium goods vehicle)	A goods vehicle that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12 tonnes.
NC (heavy goods vehicle)	A goods vehicle that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12 tonnes.
Note: A passenger vehicle is a motor vehicle that is constructed primarily for the carriage of passengers, and either has at least four wheels, or has three wheels and a gross vehicle mass exceeding one tonne. An omnibus is a passenger vehicle that has more than nine seating positions (including the driver's seating position). A goods vehicle is a motor vehicle that is constructed primarily for the carriage of goods, and either has at least four wheels, or has three wheels and a gross vehicle mass exceeding one tonne.
Important: Your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in infosheet 2.08. Standards for heavy-vehicle brakes will be introduced through the Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule, which came into force on 1 March 2007. Imported heavy vehicles of Classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC that are first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2008 will need to meet an approved brake standard.  In addition vehicles of Classes NB or NC intended to be used to tow heavy trailers will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV. This will mean that you MUST check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured. This infosheet now details some means of providing compliance.

Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in infosheet 2.08.

If your vehicle meets the requirements in infosheet 2.08, you can continue with the following process.

If your vehicle is a light goods vehicle (Class NA), or a minibus (Class MD1 or MD2), (see the table of vehicle classes above for definitions) and it was manufactured before 1 January 1990, go straight to the ownership flowchart. If your vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 January 1990 there will be standards it has to meet – start at the standards flowchart.

If your vehicle is a heavy goods vehicle (class NB or NC), or a bus (class MD3, MD4 or ME), read on:

Heavy-vehicle brake standards

The new requirements in the Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule apply to imported heavy vehicles of classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC that are first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2008. You must check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured.

Detailed information about how to prove compliance with an approved brake standard is given in:
Vehicle inspection requirements manual: Entry Certification, Brakes: 8-1 Service brake and park brake (PDF, 232 KB), pages 8-1-3 and 8-1-4, and Vehicle inspection requirements manual: Entry certification, Technical bulletin 31 – Brakes standard compliance) (PDF, 287 KB).

 

Section 5: Importing heavy trailers (Class TC and TD) from Australia

Class	Description
TC (medium trailer)	A trailer that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 10 tonnes.
TD (heavy trailer)	A trailer that has a gross vehicle mass exceeding 10 tonnes.

Heavy-vehicle brake requirements

The Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule that came into force on 1 March 2007 requires that vehicles of class TC and TD first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2008 will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV. Detailed information about how to prove compliance with brake requirements is given in
Vehicle inspection requirements manual: Entry Certification, Brakes: 8-1 Service brake and park brake (PDF, 232 KB), page 8-1-5.

Please note:

• If your vehicle is a heavy trailer (class TC or TD) there are standards it has to meet, but they are for vehicle lighting components and tyres, that can be fitted to the vehicle after it has entered New Zealand (see Infosheet 1.10: Vehicle classes and the standards they must meet).
• As well as meeting the standards in Infosheet 1.10, many heavy vehicles will need to be modified to meet additional New Zealand requirements, and be certified by a heavy-vehicle specialist certifier, before they can enter the fleet. These modifications can be carried out after the vehicle is imported into New Zealand. For more information on these requirements, see Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004, Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002, and Land Transport Rule: Heavy-vehicle Brakes 2006.
• Your heavy vehicle must have a chassis rating approved by Land Transport New Zealand before it can be registered for use on the road. Contact an entry certifier for the chassis rating application forms and procedure.

Go to the ownership flowchart.

 

Appendix 1: What is a Statement of Compliance?

A Statement of Compliance is a statement from an authorised representative of a vehicle's manufacturer listing the standards to which the vehicle was certified when it was made. If these standards are approved vehicle standards, as listed in New Zealand Rules and Regulations, the Statement of Compliance is acceptable proof that the vehicle meets the required standards.

Follow these steps to get a Statement of Compliance:

Contact an authorised representative of the company that manufactured the vehicle. The representative must be either a New Zealand representative, or an overseas representative of the vehicle manufacturer who is authorised by the manufacturer to issue Statements of Compliance.

Read the list of New Zealand representatives authorised to issue Statements of Compliance on this website, or call our helpdesk (freephone 0800 699 000).

1. Ask the authorised representative to complete a Statement of Compliance (as shown in the sample Statement of Compliance at the end of this appendix), and provide you with a covering letter on company letterhead. The authorised representative must sign both the Statement of Compliance and the covering letter. You must present the original documents to the entry certifier.

   The manufacturer's authorised representative is not obliged to do this for you, but if they do offer this service, they will probably charge a fee.

Vehicle manufacturers can attach a schedule to the Statement of Compliance, listing the standards to which the vehicle was certified. However, the Statement of Compliance must still be completed and signed. They should write the words 'see attached schedule' on the part of the table where the standards are specified.

Before you ship a vehicle to New Zealand, we strongly advise you to get confirmation from an entry certifier that your Statement of Compliance lists standards that are accepted in New Zealand.

Be aware that your vehicle must meet the exhaust emissions requirements set out in infosheet 2.08.

Please note: Standards for heavy-vehicle brakes will be introduced through the Heavy-vehicle Brakes Rule, which came into force on 1 March 2007. Imported heavy vehicles of Classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC that are first registered in New Zealand after 1 July 2008 will need to meet an approved brake standard. In addition vehicles of Classes NB or NC intended to be used to tow heavy trailers will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV. Vehicles of Class TC and TD first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2008 will in most cases need to be fitted with ABS, EBS or LSV.

This will mean that you MUST check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of Class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured.

Please note that the Statement of Compliance has been updated to include the requirement for Fuel Consumption information to be included. This applies to vehicles of classes MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2 and NA.

Statement of Compliance

Make
Model
Model code(s)
Year of manufacture
VIN/chassis number

Component/system	Standard(s) met (eg, UN/ECE Regulation No. 16 for seat belts)
Door retention systems
Interior impact
Steering systems
Seats and seat anchorages
Frontal impact
External projections
Head restraints
Seatbelts
Seatbelt anchorages
Glazing
Rear-view mirrors
Brakes
Lighting equipment installation
Lighting components
Headlamps
Stop lamps
High-mounted stop lamp
Direction indicators
Reversing lamps
Rear registration plate illumination lamps
Front position lamps
Rear position lamps
Retroreflective material
Rearward-facing retroreflectors
Side-marker lamps
End-outline marker lamps
Front fog lamps
Rear fog lamps
Daytime running lamps
Tyres
In-built child restraint
Side impact
Emissions

Fuel consumption information

Fuel consumption information must be consistent with the test cycle cited in the vehicle’s certified emissions standard; and must be provided in kilometres per litre, litres per 100 kilometres, miles per US liquid gallon or miles per Imperial gallon.
Urban fuel consumption
Extra-urban fuel consumption
Combined fuel consumption
If the vehicle’s fuel consumption information is consistent with the Japanese 10.15 mode, the Japanese JC08 mode or ADR 81/01 Fuel Consumption Labelling for Light Vehicles, information may be provided for the combined cycle only.

Name and title
Company
Address

1. I confirm that the components and systems listed above comply with UN/ECE Regulations, EEC/EC/EU Directives, ADRs, Japanese domestic standards, or other approved standards for which type approvals are issued by the controlling jurisdictions or certification bodies at the time of manufacture.
2. I also confirm that where test certificates necessary to claim compliance with the above standards are required by the controlling standards authority, these are in existence for the vehicle(s), components and systems identified above and explicitly cover the production facility/facilities where the vehicle(s), components and systems were manufactured.
3. I also confirm that, for any components and systems complying with FMVSSs:
   1. test results are in existence demonstrating compliance of the components and systems with FMVSSs; and
   2. arrangements are in place to ensure conformity of production to cover all stages of manufacture of the vehicle(s), components and systems; and
   3. the components and systems are designed and manufactured for use in the USA.

Signed

Dated

Appendix 2: Sample ADR plates