Category A special interest left-hand drive vehicles

This page applies to class MA vehicles only. Please confirm your vehicle belongs to class MA before importing a category A left-hand drive (LHD) vehicle. Ask an entry certifier if you are unsure of your vehicle category, before you import.

Before you register your vehicle

You will need to get a category A LHD vehicle permit from the NZ Transport Agency.

To issue a permit for a vehicle, the Transport Agency must either deem it to have historic value, or it must be a production vehicle (ie not a replica, kit car or scratch-built vehicle) that was not manufactured in right-hand drive form that meets three of the following four requirements:

• The vehicle (or its make, model and submodel) is identified as being a collector's item in a commercially produced motoring publication.
• The vehicle's make and model and submodel has been (or was) manufactured in annual volumes of 20,000 units or less.
• The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a two-door coupe or a convertible.
• The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a high-performance vehicle.

You must also comply with the following requirements:

• You must be a New Zealand citizen or resident.
• You must not have received a category A LHD vehicle permit during the two years before your application.
• The vehicle must be registered in your name.
• You must prove the other necessary standards for the vehicle year.

How do I apply for a permit?

You will need to apply to an entry certifier to obtain such a permit. A fee may be charged to process your application. The file will then be referred to the Transport Agency, who will make an assessment and decision. The Transport Agency charges a fee of $39.77 to process each application. An application form can be downloaded.

Is there a limit to the permits?

Under the amended Steering Systems Rule, the Transport Agency may not issue more than 500 category A LHD vehicle permits in any one calendar year. As a result, you may not be issued with a category A LHD vehicle permit if 500 permits have already been issued in the calendar year in which you apply.

A category A LHD vehicle permit ceases to be valid if the vehicle is not inspected at the border or certified for entry within six months of the date of issue. A category A LHD vehicle permit that ceases to be valid in the calendar year it was issued will not be counted in the quota total mentioned above.

Requirements

• A category A left-hand drive vehicle cannot be sold or leased within four years of its registration in New Zealand.
• A category A left-hand drive vehicle cannot be used for hire or reward or in a transport service.

Fuel consumption

Land Transport Rule: Fuel Consumption Information 2008 (the Fuel Consumption Information Rule) sets out requirements for the provision of fuel consumption information for light motor vehicles that enter the New Zealand fleet and are manufactured on or after 1 January 2000. This rule applies to category A LHD vehicles.

How is the system enforced?

Restrictions on a LHD vehicle are enforced when you go to register it for use on the road, not when it's imported into New Zealand. A light vehicle less than 20 years old cannot generally be registered unless it has been issued with a category A left-hand drive vehicle permit, which is issued by the NZ Transport Agency.