Importing a left-hand drive vehicle

What should I do first?

Before going to the expense of importing a left-hand drive (LHD) vehicle, you must read:

• Factsheet 44, Importing a motor vehicle.
• Guide to importing a vehicle.

They tell you whether you can import your vehicle for use in New Zealand.

Also read New Zealand Customs Service's Fact sheet 29, Advice on private motor vehicle imports (PDF, 283 KB).

Are there restrictions on LHD vehicles?

Yes. Most left-hand drive vehicles have to be converted to right-hand drive (RHD) before they can be driven on New Zealand roads.

For modern vehicles, this is either very expensive or impractical – especially if the vehicle has a modern frontal impact protection system (eg airbags and crumple zones).

The only vehicles that can be registered as LHD and driven on New Zealand roads are those that belong to one of the specific categories of LHD that are permitted by law.

Before going to the expense of importing a LHD vehicle, you should check very carefully that your vehicle is either belongs to one of the permitted categories or is capable of being converted to RHD. Otherwise, you may find it impossible to use the vehicle on New Zealand roads.

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.

Do I need a permit for a LHD vehicle?

Some types of LHD vehicles will need to be issued with a permit in order to be registered in New Zealand, while others can be registered automatically.

Which LHD vehicles are allowed to be registered in New Zealand?

Under Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems (2001), it's generally illegal to register a LHD vehicle for use on New Zealand roads. However, the rule allows some specific categories of LHD vehicles to be registered and operated. The main categories are listed below. (Make sure you also read the requirements for each permitted category, which follow this list.)

Category A: Special interest light vehicles less than 20 years old

These are LHD vehicles under 20 years of age that have been recognised as special interest vehicles by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and have been issued with a Category A Left-hand drive vehicle permit.

Category B: Light vehicles that are 20 years old or more

These are light vehicles that were manufactured more than 20 years before their date of first registration in New Zealand

Category C: Specialist vehicles

• C1: Vehicles with dual steering controls
• C2: Identified categories of specialist vehicles that may, in some circumstances, be LHD
• C3: Other specialist vehicles that may be LHD
• C4: LHD hearses
• C5: LHD motorsport vehicles

Category D: Vehicles operated by diplomats

Category E: Vehicles exempt from registration and licensing

Category F: Former Crown vehicles

Category G: Motorcycles with sidecars

LHD vehicles that were entry certified in New Zealand before 1 April 2010 are also able to continue to be registered, and so are vehicles temporarily imported into New Zealand (see Factsheet 35, Temporary vehicle imports for more information).

If your LHD vehicle falls into one of these categories and meets all the safety and legal requirements applying to imported vehicles, you'll be able to register and license it for use on New Zealand roads.

What requirements must be met for each permitted category?

The following requirements must be met before vehicles in each category can be operated on New Zealand roads.

Category A: Special interest light vehicles

The vehicle must be class MA, and

• be issued with a Category A Left hand drive vehicle permit by the NZTA, and
• be manufactured in a country other than New Zealand less than 20 years before the vehicle is certified for entry in New Zealand

The vehicle must not be operated in a transport service and must be registered in the name of the person who obtained the original Category A LHD permit for a period of four years.

Requirements that the vehicle must meet

To issue a vehicle with a Category A LHD vehicle permit, the NZTA must either deem it to have historic value, or it must be a 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.

The NZTA may issue up to 500 Category A LHD vehicle permits per year.

See Factsheet 12a for more information on obtaining a Category A LHD vehicle permit

Category B: Light vehicles that are 20 years old or more

The vehicle must be Class MA, MB or MC with a gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, or a Class NA vehicle, that was manufactured in a country other than New Zealand 20 years or more before the vehicle is certified.

The vehicle must not be operated in a transport service.

Category C: Specialist vehicles

• Category C1: The vehicle must have dual steering columns and controls
• Category C2: The vehicle must be used solely or principally as:
  1. a mobile crane, or
  2. a vehicle which operates wholly or partly on self-laying tracks, or
  3. an agricultural tractor or self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine, or
  4. an earthmoving machine.
• The NZTA must confirm in writing that it is satisfied the operation of the vehicle requires it to be a left-hand drive vehicle or that the vehicle is only available as a left-hand drive vehicle.
• Category C3: The NZTA must confirm in writing that it is satisfied that the vehicle has special characteristics, or is equipped for special operational purposes, such that conversion to right-hand drive is impractical.
• Category C4: The vehicle must be identified as a hearse by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Category C5: The vehicle must be a Class MA or Class MC motor vehicle that is used in motor sport competition and is operated in accordance with the conditions of a valid motor sport authority card.

Category D: Vehicles operated by diplomats

The vehicle must be operated by a person who is, for the time being, entitled to diplomatic immunity from jurisdiction. You will need to prove diplomatic status with an appropriate letter of accreditation.

Category E: Vehicles exempt from registration and licensing

The vehicle must be exempt from registration and licensing requirements.

Category F: Former Crown vehicles

The vehicle must be formerly owned by the Crown.

Category G: Motorcycles with sidecars

The motorcycle may have a sidecar fitted to the right-hand side of the motorcycle.

Requirements for LHD vehicles imported temporarily

LHD vehicles imported temporarily must be cleared through Customs with the appropriate documents – Carnet de Passage en Douanes, Triptyque, or the relevant New Zealand Customs Service import declaration form.

The vehicle will then need to be registered as an overseas vehicle and pass a warrant of fitness inspection. This will allow you to operate the vehicle on overseas plates for up to 12 months.

If I meet the conditions, what should I do next?

If you meet the conditions, take your LHD vehicle and all the documents you need to an NZTA's transport service delivery (TSD) agent.

The following organisations are TSD agents. Use the web link or phone number given to locate the branch nearest you:

• the Automobile Association (AA) – phone +64 9 377 4660
• Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ) – phone +64 9 573 3055
• Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) – phone +64 4 495 2500.

Contact the NZTA contact centre on 0800 699 000 for advice on how to get any documents that you need from us.

What will the TSD agent do?

At the TSD agent, your vehicle will:

• be issued with a valid vehicle identification number (VIN), if it doesn't already have one
• be checked to see that it falls within one of the exempted categories (and that you have all the necessary documentation)
• be checked for compliance with New Zealand safety standards
• be registered and licensed
• be issued with a warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness
• where appropriate, be issued with a road user charges licence.

What if I have imported a vehicle under the pre-April 2010 requirements?

If you have purchased or imported a LHD vehicle that met the requirements for registration that were in place prior to 1 April 2010, but does not meet the current (ie post 1 April 2010) requirements, you may be eligible for an exemption. You can download an application form. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis by NZTA.

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Phone our contact centre: 0800 699 000.
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.