[Clare & Dunc]

We are considering bringing our car with us.
We have read the other posts about cars and how many pieces they end up in. Has anyone had a good experience, when I mean good I mean not totally horrendous. Also insurance companies, has anybody used not used Letton Percival and had a good quote?
Many thanks
Clare

[richard]

...
Has anyone had a good experience, when I mean good I mean not totally horrendous. Also insurance companies, has anybody used not used Letton Percival and had a good quote?
Many thanks
Clare

Clare, I don't know if you found my post in the archives but here it is again.:-

I brought my Jaguar XJR with me from the UK. Before I left the UK I had corresponded with the AA in NZ. The Ford agent in NZ (they own Jaguar) wanted $956.25 to simply issue a statement of compliance.

I gave the AA the details of the EU compliance plate under the bonnet and they confirmed that would be sufficient to meet NZ compliance. If your car is less than five years old it should do too. I think people are wasting hundreds of pounds trying to get a statement of compliance from manufacturers when it doesn't appear to be needed.

I mentioned my communication with the AA to the guy at the place that tested my car and he just said he hadn't seen a Jag yet that didn't comply so he didn't seem too bothered about a statement. All I had to give him was a copy of my passport and my V5.

You will also need to make sure that the car meets NZ frontal impact regulations. Mine car was specifically mentioned on the LTSA website so that was another box ticked at no cost.

On the day the container was opened here in ChCh I arrived at the shipping agent at 8.30 in the morning. I drove the car out of the container at 8.45 and by 9am MAF had given it a clean bill of health. The car was so clean the MAF guy actually asked if it was brand new.

To prepare it I simply spent a morning the weekend before the car was taken away giving it a thorough clean. First I hoovered thoroughly inside the car, under the seats and in the boot (including under the spare wheel).

Then I took each wheel off and got out all of the mud from around the wheel arch. I then sprayed under the car to clean that then cleaned all obvious surfaces under the bonnet with a damp cloth. Finally a quick wash and polish (including door shuts) and it was ready. The car then stayed in my garage for 4 or 5 days to dry out before being put in to the container.

Once MAF had passed the car I was then free to get it taken away to be certified. I phoned the AA and they said that there was a 3-4 week wait for compliance/registration etc. They helpfully gave me the number of another place though just down the road from them. They were able to fit me in the same day so they picked it up from the shipping agent 'after morning tea' and drove it on trade plates to their garage.

The only thing that needed sorting was a small chip in the windscreen. They must be more picky over here as the chip wouldn't have affected an MOT. Anyway the certifier arranged for it to be repaired for $55.

Once the car passed certification (should take about 2 days) I popped in to pick up a registration form then drove 1 mile down the road back to the AA where it took 10 minutes to arrange registration. I was then free to drive the car in NZ.

The main costs were £306 for shipping insurance whilst in the container, $160 for MAF inspection, $568.13 for compliance and $370.68 for registration. We had too much stuff for a 20 foot container so had a 40 foot highcube. That meant that there was room for the car so it didn't really cost a lot extra to ship it.

One niggle I did have is that the number plates are physically smaller in NZ so I looked at getting a larger one as the number plate surround on the car was sized for a UK one. There appears to be a Government agency in NZ that has the sole rights to make number plates and upgrading to a 'European' style plate would have cost $279 instead of £21 from Halfords. Since I wanted to change the plate I thought I might as well buy a personal plate too to help justify the cost. See www.plates.co.nz for choices.

BTW, if anyone needs to get a car certified in Christchurch I can recommend Michael Fiddymont Ltd, 383 Brougham Street.

[Clare & Dunc]

Thanks for your reply Richard, I hadn't seen your post so thanks for re-doing it.We are looking at RORO as we haven't got that much in the way personal goods.
Clare