[johnandbethcox]

Does anyone have any experience with shipping cars or motorcycles from the US? Do you know if typical international shipping companies will do that or if you have to find special ones? Are there restrictions on what kinds of cars can be brought in?

We have a Miata, and my husband also has a Triumph motorcycle. Since both are relatively small, we're wondering if we should bring them with us. However, the husband is in the middle of rebuilding a classic muscle car (1970 AMX), so we're wondering if that is even allowed in NZ.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Oregonkiwi]

Sorry, I don't know anything about this, but for the legal requirements, try this:
http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/index.html

[barryp]

Most questions are answered pretty well on the gov't website:

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/

For imports from the USA, there are pretty severe additional restrictions (see Factsheet 12, regarding left-hand-drive vehicles). The process is arcane so typically requires the use of a broker to follow the process at a cost of NZ$1000-1500 per vehicle (the estimates on the gov't website are on the low side of reality IMO).

The first question you should ask yourselves and answer honestly is: are you OK with left-hand-drive vehicles in a country where almost every other vehicle is right-hand-drive?

[johnandbethcox]

Thanks for the input! I had gone looking for this info, but never seemed to find the right spot.

I guess the AMX won't be able to come, but the Miata and Triumph are a possibility!

[clg]

If it were me I would look a lot more carefully at the AMX and Triumph. There are miata's here so probably cheaper to sell yours and buy here. You do see american muscle cars here that are left hand drive, I think they may have good value as collectors cars and it would be worth the hassle of importing.

[johnandbethcox]

Really! That is interesting...and would make the husband giddy with glee!

But, in reading the regulations, how would that get by the 'no used cars over 20 years old' restriction? I didn't see anything about waivers for classic cars, but could have missed it.

Actually, the Miata is almost a classic as well. It is one of the first to have rolled off the line, so is about 16 yrs old, but running like a dream.

Maybe we can figure out a way to bring all three.