[hels1977]

Hi,

Helen's OH here. I've got quite a few questions regarding cars. A quick search didn't reveal any hits! So here goes;

I've got a extensively modified car here in the UK that I would like to bring with me to NZ. By modified I mean, it's practically a race-car, not a body-kitted plastic 1.0 shopping cart :yes

1.) What is the NZ general attitiude towards cars and modified cars?
2.) At the moment the car is not UK road-legal. If I was able to make it street-legal, ie get an MOT for the car, would that be sufficient to let it be legal in NZ?
3.) Does NZ have publically accessible race-tracks and 1/4mile drag strips?
4.) How does my driving license work? Because it's a full license in the UK does that mean I can automatically drive in NZ, or do I have to take a test?
5.) Does NZ make car insurance mandatory?
6.) What about my no-claims bonus in the UK? I presume this gets lost in the move?

thanks :nice1

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi,
You will find most of what you are looking for here
www.ltsa.govt.nz/

Hope this helps

Dave and Caroline

[hels1977]

Ah, cool. thanks for the link and the prompt reply :raebanana

[Moorf]

Hi

They LOVE their cars here - and modded cars are everywhere. Loads and loads of car related stores/services here (in Chch) too, it's unbelievable!

Car insurance isn't mandatory, but advisable and pretty cheap.

Bring a statement of your no-claims status from your insurer - hubby kept his UK no-claims status here.

You can drive on your UK licence for a year, after which you need to take a very simple and easy scratchcard test to get a full NZ licence (this applies to British licences only).

Hope that helps a little.

Moorf

[hels1977]

Brilliant :clap

He's out "tinkering" with the aformentioned car at the moment so I shall go and pass the information on, he will be pleased! :nice1

[StevieD]

Drag strips are quite popular and I believe there is one near Auckland that is open once a year??? People in NZ will be able to put you right on this.

[pieeater]

Yep,they're real petrolheads here.And generally far more knowledeable about cars than your average a U.K.car owner.Parts can be an issue for euro cars though.I've just had to wait 3 weeks for some bushes for the anti roll bar(VW)and parts can cost around 3 times as much as a similar jap part.i.e.brake master cyl.toyota $300 same part vauxhall $1000.There is a drag strip at meremere just off SH1 north of Huntly pronounced merry merry where you will get the chance to put it up against N.Zs.best.

[NoelMC]

I believe the expression is "Hoon" ;-)

I only get to use the wifes Impreza once a week, I',m an E class estate type of guy.........

[Hannah]

Hi,

Helen's OH here. I've got quite a few questions regarding cars. A quick search didn't reveal any hits! So here goes;

I've got a extensively modified car here in the UK that I would like to bring with me to NZ. By modified I mean, it's practically a race-car, not a body-kitted plastic 1.0 shopping cart :yes

1.) What is the NZ general attitiude towards cars and modified cars?
2.) At the moment the car is not UK road-legal. If I was able to make it street-legal, ie get an MOT for the car, would that be sufficient to let it be legal in NZ?
3.) Does NZ have publically accessible race-tracks and 1/4mile drag strips?
4.) How does my driving license work? Because it's a full license in the UK does that mean I can automatically drive in NZ, or do I have to take a test?
5.) Does NZ make car insurance mandatory?
6.) What about my no-claims bonus in the UK? I presume this gets lost in the move?

thanks :nice1


1. We looked into this about 2 years ago and basically it's not good. They don't like kits cars etc., certainly not if being imported. Everything has to have been crash tested etc. and meet quite strict regulations (you wouldnt believe it when you get there and see the souped up hoon mobiles out in the street every day). Don't know ins and outs as long time ago, but do a search for ministry of transport website in NZ and email them. They responded in less than 24 hours to all our questions.
2. Again i think crash testing is a requirement. Note that many models of standard road car in UK are not allowed to be imported due to not meeting crash or other regulations. Note that being crash tested in UK (eg in the case of your modified car) does not mean it will pass NZ regulations.
Check out customs website also - www.customs.govt.nz - as there is a leaflet on there relating to importing cars that you might also find helpful.
3. Plenty of race tracks - opps for off road, banger racing, 1/4 mile drag strips etc. OH into racing minis up 1/4 mile strips and we found one just miles away from where we stayed in New Plymouth. It's much cheaper to access these racing tracks that in UK also, although they are not as up to date as UK ones (often no cafes, decent toilets, viewing areas etc. ) although this may vary in other areas.
4. Yes your licence is valid when you arrive, but you have to take an NZ theory test (multiple choice) within a year of arrival to gain NZ licence as your UK one will become invalid
5. Car insurance not mandatory but recommended. If you injure someone or yourself in accident you are covered by ACC - accident compensation - for cost of medical treatment (as injury is due to an accident) however cost of repairing your/their car is not covered and you would be personally liable for this if you did not have insurance. Insurance much cheaper in NZ than in UK (although i understand it's still quite expensive for younger drivers)
6. We asked about no claims bonus while in NZ and were told that if we brought evidence of our no claims bonus with us from uK we would qualify in NZ, so make sure you have your no claims bonus with you when you arrive!

Hope this helps, do contact Ministry of transport to clarify details, however i know that what OH found out 2 yrs ago was enough for him to sell all his mini racing parts just a few weeks ago in anticipation of our move. It broke his heart....

hannah

[Brijan]

Hi
when we came out i got a proof of no claims bonus from the uk and there was no problem at all, it was added to my NZ insurance, we use AMI insurance, although i imagine all the other would be the same
Brian

[Trigirl]

hmmph

diamond won't send me anything - not even a letter saying no claims to such and such a date - until the car is sold. but by the time the car is sold we'll have moved out of here and be touring around seeing people and all our post will be being redirected to the in-laws who are going to hold it for us and send it out once we get a rental. so no chance of that catching up with us before we buy a car. 7 years no claims down the drain.

[Smiler]

hmmph

diamond won't send me anything - not even a letter saying no claims to such and such a date - until the car is sold. but by the time the car is sold we'll have moved out of here and be touring around seeing people and all our post will be being redirected to the in-laws who are going to hold it for us and send it out once we get a rental. so no chance of that catching up with us before we buy a car. 7 years no claims down the drain.

Mandy

State accepted our word that we had full NCB and never asked for proof. :D

If the insurance co needs to see it they usually give you 28 days to produce it though. Explain the circumstances, I'm sure they'll be less stuffy than Uk ones.

[jubjub]

Trigirl, dont despair, we bought our no claims proof with us, but they did not want to see it.. we just told them what we had had, and they honoured it. But on the other hand if they want it, you could always explain the situation, and ask if the premium could be lowered once the proof arrives, so its not totally lost...

[Trigirl]

thats very good to know - thanks both of you. i've got my renewal form from last time (June) showing 7 years NCB at that point so i can show them that - but in the uk they'd just laugh and charge full price!

funny isn't it - the "packing" bit of this still feels like we're just going on holiday as we're only packing stuff to take with us for 10 weeks or so and the shippers will do the rest. but things like this are starting to make it feel a bit more real!

[hels1977]

hannah wrote lots of good information


Thanks, I've been doing some additional research and it appears that the same model of car was released in NZ as well, so hopefully it should pass any crash test requirements; the car was only ever built at the Sun Rock Alliance factory in the USA before being shipped to various markets.

I'll get in touch with the various people and see what they all say.

:nice1

[hels1977]

Just worked my way through all the import regulations on the NZ website (name escapes me) and it looks like I can just bring my car over :raebanana :cheers

[The Hodges]

Top thread Helensy, I was just thinking about some of those questions this week, but didn't get round to asking them. :clap I've left the wife to chase up our insurance companies for the NCD certificate....

[SteveR]

Thanks, I've been doing some additional research and it appears that the same model of car was released in NZ as well
:nice1

that does not mean that it will be OK for NZ certification, it will still have to meet numerous stanards with frontal impact being the main one, if LHD then that will give you further problems not to mention you say the vehicle has been modified so further Low Volume Vehicle Certication may be needed this will be extra cost.

[Kimmie]

All cars taken into NZ have to pass a frontal impact system test, you should check this first or it will fail the NZ WOF (Warrant of Fitness - as opposed to MOT here) and then you won't get it passed customs.

[hels1977]

We checked here and the VIN number (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/frontal-impact-compliance-status.html) and it is indeed listed as passing the frontal impact test which is a good start :yes. Many hurdles yet but it's one less!