Used vehicles from Europe

Evidence 

Europe has two vehicle standards regimes:

• the Regulations of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
• the Directives of the Commission of the European Communities (EC, or formerly EEC).

Evidence that your vehicle complies with either of the standards may be acceptable for New Zealand requirements.

You must provide evidence of:

• proof of ownership – registration, deregistration or change of ownership papers plus an invoice, bill of sale or receipt, etc
• emissions standards – a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE approval plate/sticker, a certificate of conformity or statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard
• frontal impact standards – it appears on our list of compliant vehicles, a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker or statement of compliance
• fuel consumption – fuel consumption certificate
• light-vehicle brakes standards for electronic stability control (ESC)
• heavy vehicle brakes standards
• overall standards – a suitable EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker, a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker or statement of compliance.

Proof of ownership

You need to provide evidence that you're the legal owner of the vehicle. This includes:

• the original documents that prove previous registration and provide an ownership trail that goes back to the last registered owner in the country where the vehicle was last registered, and
• certified English translations of all documents not in English (bills of sale, purchase receipts etc).

Evidence of compliance with emission standards

For both used and parallel-imported new vehicles, acceptable proof your vehicle meets New Zealand requirements can be:

• a suitable European Community (EC) whole vehicle approval plate/sticker
• a suitable UN/ECE approval plate/sticker
• a certificate of conformity or statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard.

Determining emissions level from EC directives (for light vehicles)

The following is a list of EC/EEC directives for vehicle exhaust emissions and the 'Euro' emissions level corresponding to each directive.

If a directive is not listed on the above table, and the first number is a '7' or an '8,' the emissions level is Euro 0.

Determining emissions level from UN/ECE regulations for light vehicles

The following is a list of UN/ECE regulations for vehicle exhaust emissions and the 'Euro' emissions level corresponding to each regulation.

The regulation name can be listed either independently or within a UN/ECE system approval number.

Evidence of compliance with frontal impact standards

For cars (class MA)

You may be able to prove your car complies using our frontal impact lists. 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? Your vehicle will most likely have an EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker affixed to it, which you may be able to use to show that it complies with almost all of New Zealand's vehicle requirements. You can only use it as evidence if it includes the EC directive '2001/116'.

You may not have to prove your vehicle complies with frontal impact standards if:

• it is more than 20 years old
• it is a 'special interest' vehicle
• you're emigrating or returning to New Zealand and bringing your vehicle with you.

Find out more about these exceptions.

For 4x4, SUV and forward-control vans (classes MB and MC)

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.

Your vehicle will most likely have an EC whole vehicle approval plate or sticker attached to it, which you may be able to use to show that it complies with almost all of New Zealand's vehicle requirements. You can only use it as evidence if it includes the EC directive '2001/116'.

Evidence of compliance with fuel consumption information requirements

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.

Evidence of compliance with light-vehicle brakes standards for electronic stability control (ESC)

All MA, MB, MC vehicles having UN / ECE compliance from 1 November 2014 have electronic stability control. Otherwise, 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).

Evidence of compliance with heavy vehicle brakes standards

You must check for compliance with one of the approved brakes 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):

• Brakes: 8-1 Service brake and park brake(external link)
• Technical bulletin 31 – Brakes standard compliance(external link).

Identifying UN/ECE compliance plates

Identifying the UN/ECE compliance plate - motorcycles.

Identifying the UN/ECE compliance plate - vehicles excluding motorcycles.

Evidence of overall standards compliance

In many cases an EC whole vehicle approval plate/sticker or a suitable UN/ECE Approval plate/sticker affixed to your vehicle is acceptable evidence that your vehicle meets applicable standards in New Zealand. This proves your vehicle met the EC or UN/ECE standards when manufactured.

Before you import a European vehicle

Talk  to an entry certifier to check whether the EC or UN/ECE whole vehicle approval on your vehicle is acceptable.

No plate or sticker? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.