Shipping A Car From Australia To New Zealand – Understanding The Process

Thanks to the close proximity and economic ties between Australia and New Zealand, it’s relatively easy to ship a car between the countries and register it. Whether you’re moving permanently or temporarily, shipping a car from Australia to New Zealand is a good choice. Get more details below, and start planning your car shipment right away.

Can I Bring My Car From Australia To New Zealand?

Yes. You can import any car from Australia that meets New Zealand standards for emissions, frontal impact ratings, fuel consumption, and other such requirements. To streamline this process, it’s recommended that you work with an Entry Certifier.

Entry Certifiers are approved testing stations in New Zealand that will test your vehicle and ensure that it meets all requirements for entry into NZ. Once you undergo entry certification, you will receive a Form MR2A registration application form and a warrant or certificate of fitness for the vehicle, and will be able to register the car in New Zealand.

Will I Pay Taxes Or Duties When Shipping A Car From Australia To New Zealand?

As long as you are present in NZ when your car arrives, hold NZ residency, have resided outside of NZ for 21 months before your arrival, and have owned and used your car in Australia for 1+ years before the vehicle was shipped, you won’t pay taxes on your vehicle.

You will need to provide proper documentation to prove this, including a copy of your passport, vehicle registration documents, and a vehicle bill of sale. If you meet these criteria, you can import your car tax and duty-free. Otherwise, you will be charged a 5% duty and 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax).

How Should I Ship My Car From Australia To New Zealand?

Ocean-going freight is the best way to ship a car from Australia to New Zealand. It’s very affordable, and because Australia and New Zealand are so close together, the transit often takes less than 4 days, and the entire import process will only take 1-2 weeks.

When it comes to shipping your car by ocean freight, you have two primary options – Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo), and container shipping. RoRo shipping uses a shipping vessel that’s sort of like a giant floating parking garage, with a ramp and unique hold that stores multiple levels of vehicles. Your car is driven on and off the vessel.

In container shipping, your car is loaded into a standard 20-foot or 40-foot container. You can also ship other goods with your vehicle, so this is a popular choice for people permanently relocating from Australia to New Zealand.

Contact A-1 Auto Transport Today To Ship Cars From Australia To New Zealand

If you’re ready to ship a car from Australia to New Zealand, A-1 Auto Transport can help. Contact us online or give us a call at (800) 452-2880 to learn more about our car shipping services throughout the Oceania region and get a quote for your vehicle shipment.