[Fretraer]

We are currently looking at whether it's worth it to ship our car or buy one there etc etc. At the moment it looks like it's worth it to ship the car.
Has anyone else done it from USA?

I see that you need a certificate of origin and/or FMVSS plate.
We do have an FMVSS plate on the inside of our car but it states the car was manufactured in Canada not here so i'm trying to figure out if this is going to give us issues when the car reaches NZ.

any help would be great :)

[baboonworld]

we brought a motorbike over (from UK) and after all the hassle we said at the time that we were glad we didnt bring a car over. - dont know if that helps but i remember definately feeling quite strongly that way. also my car didnt have aircon - so it wouldnt be much use here!

The hassles were at this end rather than in UK.

[IanW99]

I assume that it is LHD? If so then you want to read Factsheet 12 - Importing a left hand drive vehicle (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/12.html) first. If not then follow the link to Factsheet 44 - Importing a motor vehicle.

Possibly the most important point will be:-


Are there restrictions on LHD vehicles?
Yes. Most left-hand drive vehicles have to be converted to right-hand drive (RHD) before they can be driven on New Zealand roads.

Ian

[Fretraer]

I assume that it is LHD? If so then you want to read Factsheet 12 - Importing a left hand drive vehicle (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/12.html) first. If not then follow the link to Factsheet 44 - Importing a motor vehicle.

Possibly the most important point will be:-



Ian

thanks, we have already looked into that and our car doesn't have to be converted :)

[Fretraer]

we brought a motorbike over (from UK) and after all the hassle we said at the time that we were glad we didnt bring a car over. - dont know if that helps but i remember definately feeling quite strongly that way. also my car didnt have aircon - so it wouldnt be much use here!

The hassles were at this end rather than in UK.

what were the biggest hassles you had ?? :)

thanks!!

[JandM]

There have been a lot of discussions on importing cars on the site in the past - you might find it useful to use the Google Advanced search to call some up (because our own Search on the blue bar above doesn't like little words like 'car'!).

One thought - have you looked at the nature of the roads near where you will be living? You haven't said what kind of vehicle you have, but you might want to 'see' yourself in it, on them, e.g. on Google StreetView.

[72andsunny]

Are there restrictions on LHD vehicles?
Yes. Most left-hand drive vehicles have to be converted to right-hand drive (RHD) before they can be driven on New Zealand roads.


http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/12.html
A motor car or goods service vehicle that meets all of the following criteria:
A gross vehicle mass of not more than 3500 kg.
Imported by you, for your own personal use.
Manufactured less than 20 years before the date it was imported.
You have registered, owned and operated the vehicle overseas, for 90 days or more.
In a five-year period, you can only register one such vehicle in New Zealand.
The vehicle must be registered in the importer's name (ie your name) for at least five years after it's first registration in New Zealand unless the vehicle is 20 years old or more.

I'm a little confused here--this is just 1 of (the 6) categories for exception to the "right hand rule". It seems to me that most cars do not need to be converted...unless the link above was written for used car importers.

I was pretty sure I'd have to say goodbye to my beloved GT Cruiser...now I'm thinking: "How hard can it possibly be to drive it on the left?"

[dharder]

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/12.html


I would think it is safe to assume that if you import your own car for personal use, it's absolutely fine. Not sure why they say 'most cars.'


I was pretty sure I'd have to say goodbye to my beloved GT Cruiser...now I'm thinking: "How hard can it possibly be to drive it on the left?"

It really isn't a big deal.

Daniela

[72andsunny]

Just wanted to post an update to this thread for anyone else contemplating bringing a car from the US:

According to AA, the law changed on April 1st; left handed drive cars (under 20 years old) can only be imported if they are exotic/collectible. I'm hoping for an exemption, as our car has been on its way for almost 2 months...

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/app-cat-a-lhd-permit/

[IanW99]

Factsheet 12 hasn't been updated to say you must get a permit?

Surely in your case you just need to get a Left Hand Drive Exemption (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/app-left-hand-drive-exemption/)

Ian

[72andsunny]

Factsheet 12 hasn't been updated to say you must get a permit?

Surely in your case you just need to get a Left Hand Drive Exemption (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/app-left-hand-drive-exemption/)

Ian

We're waiting on a response from land transport; I'm hoping it's that easy. The guy at AA was not exactly confidence inspiring.

[slim8589]

Since yours is already on the way there seems no point in me saying that having imported a car and known others that have I wouldn't contemplate it, there were so many 'hidden' costs. That was nearly 6 years ago. Hope it all goes well for you.

[villager]

Factsheet 12 hasn't been updated to say you must get a permit?

Surely in your case you just need to get a Left Hand Drive Exemption (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/app-left-hand-drive-exemption/)

Ian

I just received my NZTA notice of rule changes in the mail today.

As I read it, it is bad news for immigrants bringing late model LHD cars into the country in hopes they can be registered and driven on the road.

While the link Ian quotes is still on the internet, the new rules (and the explanations) suggest it should have been removed. Perhaps someone should call NZTA.

The new rules:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/steering-systems-amendment-2010.html
-----------

“2.5 Left-hand drive vehicles
“No left-hand drive vehicle may be certified for entry into service, or operation in service, in New Zealand except:
“(a) vehicles of the categories specified in Schedule 1, subject to the conditions specified in relation to each category; or
“(b) an individual left-hand drive vehicle that was certified for entry into service in New Zealand before 1 April 2010.”

PART 1: CATEGORIES OF LEFT-HAND DRIVE VEHICLES THAT MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR ENTRY INTO, OR OPERATION IN SERVICE A Class MA vehicle that:
(a) has a Category A Left-hand Drive Vehicle Permit issued in accordance with Part 2 of this Schedule; and
(b) was manufactured in a country other than New Zealand less than 20 years before the vehicle is certified for entry into service in New Zealand.

3. Subject to paragraph 5, the Agency may issue a Category A Left-hand Drive Vehicle Permit for a Class MA motor vehicle if:
(a) the Agency considers that the vehicle is a collector's item and:
(i) is of historic value; or
(ii) is a model that was not manufactured in right-hand drive form and meets three of the four requirements set out in paragraph 4; and

4. For the purpose of paragraph 3(a)(ii), the Agency must consider that the vehicle meets three of the following four requirements:
(a) the vehicle (or its make, model and submodel) is identified as being a collector's item in a commercially-produced motoring publication;
(b) the vehicle's make, model and submodel has been (or was) manufactured in annual volumes of 20,000 units or less;
(c) the vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a coupe or a convertible;
(d) the vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a high performance vehicle.

“Coupe means a two-door, fixed-roof, passenger car with two or four seating positions.”

“Commercially-produced motoring publication
“(a) includes a website; but
“(b) does not include a publication or website of a club, dealer or trade association.”

“Historic value means having great and lasting importance.”

----------------------

Taking a PT Cruiser as the example, it is under 20 years of age.
It would be very difficult to argue that it is a collector's item with historic value (in contrast, say to most cars made by Ferarri, for example).

Therefore, one must go to the test in paragraph four. Since it was manufactured in RHD form (and is available in NZ in that form), the following tests won't be allowable. But if one managed to jump that test, then one must meet three of the four tests...

(a) It is possible that some car magazine said it could become a collector's item, but this would be luck, methinks.
(b) According to Wikipedia there were some limited edition models, but unless one brings in one of those, production even of the submodel may be over 20,000 cars
(c) If its a convertible, OK. If a 5 door, no joy
(d) High performance? Hmm. Can't find a definition for that one.

This suggests unless it is a limited edition convertible with high performance, it's unlikely to pass the test.

This suggests the PT Cruiser cannot be registered for use on the road until it is converted to RHD.

Since PT Cruiser was imported into NZ as a RHD, finding a wrecked one that has a good steering unit, dash board and other details necessary for conversion may be possible. In NZ, anyone can buy damaged cars at Turner's auctions. See http://www.turners.co.nz/. If a PT Cruiser is crashed, this would be where most insurance companies dump it. Is it worth it? Only if you can do the work yourself, and enjoy it.

Alternatively, consider selling it to a wrecking yard (or at the Turner's damaged auction) for parts only. It may seem a pity to consign such a nice car to the breakers, but unless it can get the exemption or be converted, it cannot be registered. To get an idea of the market, go to www.TradeMe.co.nz one will find RHD versions selling for the low five figures.

Bottom line? Unless you are a savvy collector, don't think about bringing a LHD under 20 year car to NZ. Cars are cheap here, gas is expensive, destinations are closer together.