Shipping a Car to New Zealand

Shipping Your Car to New Zealand? Car Shipping to New Zealand from the USA starts at a cost of $2,395 USD with an estimated turnaround time of 30 days, depending on the make and model of the car and whether the origin in the USA is on the east or west coast. Below, our 2024 guide will explore everything you need to know about car shipping to New Zealand.

Shipping a Car to New Zealand: Checklist

Vehicle Import Options

Vehicle Import Approval

Shipping a Car to New Zealand: Costs & Time Frame

Shipping a Car to New Zealand: Options

Additional Services

Ports Served in the US and New Zealand

Cleaning Your Vehicle of Biosecurity Concerns

Plating Your Vehicle in New Zealand

Other New Zealand/US Shipping Options

Are you ready to get started shipping a car to New Zealand?

Here’s a rough breakdown of the shipping process you’ll need to go through for New Zealand car shipping.

More information on the process of shipping a vehicle to New Zealand can be found here.

As you engage in the auto transport process, some of the most important questions to consider include:

These questions and more will determine you are eligible to ship your car to New Zealand. New Zealand allows the import of new and used cars , provided the car meets applicable standards, safety compliance standards, and emissions requirements.

There must also be acceptable proof of entitlement to the car and standards compliance. You should never assume your scenario is the same as someone else’s. Some vehicles such as classic cars may have eligibility requirements that differ from those for newer cars.

Controls under New Zealand Land Transport Rules only apply to whether vehicles may be used on public roads or not. You may legally import any type of vehicle if it is for public display or for use on private roads or off road.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship your car to New Zealand, fill out our free quick quote form.

Entry Certification Process:

The entry certification processes apply to mopeds, motorcycles, cars, off-road passenger vehicles, vans, utes, minibuses and heavy vehicles. They do not apply to low-powered vehicles, or to Classes TA and TB (light trailers). Older vehicles, pre-1990, only need to meet some of the standards. The vehicle classes fit into two groups: light vehicles and heavy vehicles, depending on the gross vehicle mass (GVM) which is the maximum allowable weight specified by the manufacturer.

Once the inspector has completed his/her structural inspection a pink Transport Agency sticker will be applied to the driver’s side windscreen wiper arm of the vehicle. The vehicle can be released when both the Transport Agency and the MPI biosecurity inspection stickers are affixed to the vehicle.

Things to Consider

Taxes & Duties for Car Shipping to New Zealand

Duties are levied by New Zealand Customs when your car is imported. Immigrants arriving for the first time in New Zealand may be able to import cars without paying GST (Goods and Services Tax) if they satisfy the New Zealand Customs Service that they’re taking up permanent residence, have owned and used the vehicle for at least one year and agree that they will continue to use the vehicle for at least two years. Otherwise, a Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 15% of the vehicle’s purchase price plus all the freight charges.

You may not have to pay duties and GST on cars/crafts if you have documents to prove you’re allowed to live in New Zealand – these are:

Please Note: This concession doesn’t apply if you’re importing the vehicle as a gift, to exchange or sell or for commercial use.

To obtain an estimate of the cost to ship a car to New Zealand, fill out our free quick quote form.

Car Shipping from USA to New Zealand can be performed using a shared container, a sole container or a roll-on/roll-off service.

Roll-On/Roll-Off – This option to ship a car tends to be one of the more cost-effective ones, as the only added charges asides from shipping costs are port charges and customs clearance charges. Your vehicle will be loaded into the holding area of a large vessel, one which resembles a big parking garage. This method is suitable for shipping and handling bulkier vehicles like work trucks.

Shared Container Service – Several vehicles are shipped using one single shipping container. This is our most used service to ship cars. The shipping container must be processed, so more fees are involved than with the roll-on/roll-off method, however these shipping costs are shared between several clients. The additional car shipment fees include customs clearance, trucking charge, terminal handling charge, and unloading charges.

CFR Classic operates a weekly Shared Container service for shipping cars.

Full Container Load – This method is the same as the shared container load, except that one single vehicle occupies the entire container and the fees, which are like those for shared containers, are borne by you alone.

Container loading offers the benefit of added security. When the vehicle is received, photographs are taken of the car itself as well as the loading process, after which the container door is locked, and the car is kept safe. The car is only released when the container arrives at the destination, and an agent once again takes photographs of the unloading process. The car is kept secure, so clients may transport other items inside the car, although they are advised to pack with care as we are not liable for any loss or damage sustained.

We choose not to use wood ramps like other companies but instead employ a steel loading system, which is more effective in preventing loss and damage when shipping cars – ideal for shipping exotic, luxury, and classic cars.

Sourcing Vehicles – Thanks to nearly thirty years in the car industry, we’ve developed an extensive network of car buyers, allowing us to find and buy cars (such as classic cars) for purchasers located overseas for a commission or additional fee to be paid to the car buyer.

Other Services – Some of the auto transport services we offer in overseas territories include domestic pickup, vehicle import assistance, tracking of your shipment, customs clearance in the USA and a full vehicle inspection report.

Departure Ports – United States

The location your vehicle will depart from depends on the method of car shipping to New Zealand, where your vehicle is located, your budget, and what the nearest port offers. We have multiple departure locations in the USA, including Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Miami, Savannah and more.

Destination Ports – New Zealand

Here are the New Zealand entry ports that we can ship cars to.

Before shipping your vehicle to New Zealand, the undercarriage must be cleaned and free of foreign soil to prevent the introduction of invasive plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. This can be accomplished through steam cleaning or other thorough cleaning methods.

CFR Classic can assist with finding an appropriate cleaner to help ensure you comply with this requirement. We do not recommend washing the interior of the vehicle as it can cause mold during transport. Vacuuming the interior is usually more than sufficient.

Before a vehicle can be registered for use on New Zealand roads, your vehicle must successfully complete Customs and  MPI entry certification before you can apply to register it – a process that provides you with a certificate of registration and number plates. The costs for registration and licensing vary according to vehicle type, engine size, the period of the license (i.e. six or 12 months) and what the vehicle will be used for.

For information on vehicle inspection requirements, vehicle registration and driver license requirements, contact the New Zealand Transport Agency.

To obtain an estimate of the cost for car shipping from USA to New Zealand and other services, fill out our free quick quote form.

Importing a Car from the US to New Zealand
Importing a Car from New Zealand to the US
Car Shipping from the US to New Zealand
Car Shipping from New Zealand to the US
Cargo Shipping from the US to New Zealand
Cargo Shipping from New Zealand to the US
Moving Household Goods from the US to New Zealand
Moving Household Goods from New Zealand to the US

This information was updated in January 2024. All information, time frames, pricing, and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a sales representative for the most current rates and information.

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