The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is a government body responsible for the certification, registration and licensing of vehicles in New Zealand.

When shipping a vehicle to New Zealand, it must go through a process called ‘Entry Certification’. This process checks the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, has not been crashed or water damaged, and is legally the importer’s property.

New Zealand seeks to limit the importation of older used vehicles from overseas, which are designed to meet lower safety and emission standards than new vehicles. Used imported vehicles must therefore meet a number of international vehicle standards and this is determined during the entry certification process. A vehicle that was registered overseas is therefore not automatically able to be registered in New Zealand.

Determining whether a vehicle meets these standards can be a complex task. To assist vehicle importers with this, NTZA has appointed several agents to manage the process. These agents are:

Automobile Association (AA), Tel: +64 9 966 8800, Fax:+64 9 966 8893, Email: aatech @ aa.co.nz

Vehicle Inspections NZ (VINZ), Tel:+64 9 580 3170, Fax: +64 9 525 8910,
Email: info @ vinz.co.nz

Vehicle Testing NZ (VTNZ), Tel: +64 4 495 2500, Fax: +64 4 495 2530, Email: technical @ vtnz.co.nz

Safer vehicle testing ltd (SVT), Tel: + 64 9 296 1169, fax: +64 9 296 2813, Email: kismatt @ safervehicletesting.co.nz

During recent months, NZTA has dealt with a number of individuals moving to New Zealand who have attempted to bring in a vehicle that doesn’t meet the required standards and therefore have been unable to register their vehicle. They have had to sell their vehicle for parts, or re-export it and buy an alternative vehicle to use.

The NZTA therefore request anybody thinking of shipping cars to New Zealand should direct any questions regarding the importation of vehicles to the appointed agents as detailed above. These agents will be able to advise correctly, and if their advice is followed, there should be no problems.