If you're importing a used vehicle you must provide evidence that it meets a range of approved standards before it can be registered for use on the road.
There are other standards if you are importing a vehicle from Japan, Australia, Europe and the USA.
You must provide evidence of:
The proof you need depends on the country from which you're importing the vehicle.
You need to provide evidence that you're the legal owner of the vehicle. This can include:
For vehicles imported from Hong Kong you can present a vehicle registration card that shows the ownership history and is stamped 'cancelled' or 'deregistered' by the Hong Kong Transport Department.
You can provide:
You may be able to prove your car complies using our frontal impact lists(external link). These lists cover vehicles manufactured during 1994–1996 when frontal impact standards were being developed. They therefore apply mainly to used imports. If the list says your vehicle does not meet a frontal impact standard, then you cannot bring it into New Zealand.
Your vehicle isn't listed? You may be able to provide acceptable evidence from a suitable compliance plate/label or the vehicle documentation, such as a statement of compliance.
You may not have to prove your vehicle complies with frontal impact standards if:
Find out more about these exceptions.
If your Class MB or Class MC vehicle was manufactured after 1 October 2003, it must meet a frontal impact standard. The exception is if you're emigrating to New Zealand and bringing your vehicle with you. Find out more about this exception.
Acceptable proof is the same as for passenger cars above. You may be able to provide acceptable evidence from a suitable compliance plate/label or the vehicle documentation, such as a statement of compliance.
You need to prove your vehicle meets all applicable New Zealand standards, which depend on the date of manufacture. You may be able to provide acceptable evidence from a suitable compliance plate/label or the vehicle documentation, such as a statement of compliance.
For vehicles manufactured for the Japanese market but not previously registered in Japan, the vehicle's completion inspection certificate is acceptable proof of compliance.
You must check for the presence of ESC. See the technical bulletin about how to prove the existence of ESC in the electronic stability control identification bulletin(external link).
You must check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured.
See the detailed information about how to prove compliance with an approved brake standard in the following sections of the Vehicle inspection requirements manual – entry certification(external link):
You can use our online tool(external link) to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. You'll then receive a fuel consumption certificate, which you take to the entry certifier.
