Evidence you must collect
You must collect the following documents as evidence that your vehicle meets the approved standards:
- Proof of ownership - deregistration or change of ownership papers plus an invoice, bill of sale or receipt, etc.
- Emissions standards - Australian design rules (ADR) plate or statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard.
- Frontal impact standards - it appears on our list of compliant vehicles, ADR compliance plate or statement of compliance.
- Fuel consumption - fuel consumption certificate.
- Heavy-vehicle brakes standards.
- Overall standards - ADR compliance plate or statement of compliance.
Proof of ownership
You need to provide evidence that you're legally entitled to your vehicle. This includes:
- the original documents showing the ownership history to the last registered owner in Australia (eg deregistration or change of ownership papers) plus
- an invoice, bill of sale or receipt, etc.
Evidence of compliance with emission standards
For both used and parallel-imported new vehicles, a statement of compliance that includes an approved emission standard is acceptable proof your vehicle meets New Zealand requirements.
The emission standards applying to light vehicles are coded ADR 79. You can determine the version of the ADR 79 standard from the date on the ADR compliance plate.
| Date on ADR plate | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 12/2002 | Non Compliant with ADR 79 | Non Compliant with ADR 79 |
| 01/2003 - 12/2003 | ADR 79/00 (Euro 2) | Non Compliant with ADR 79 |
| 01/2004 - 12/2005 | ADR 79/00 (Euro 2) | ADR 79/00 (Euro 2) |
| 01/2006 - 12/2006 | ADR 79/01 (Euro 3) | ADR 79/00 (Euro 2) |
| 01/2007 - 06/2010 | ADR 79/01 (Euro 3) | ADR 79/01 (Euro 4) |
Some vehicles may comply up to a year in advance of these dates (and up to two years in the case of petrol vehicles complying with ADR 79/02). To confirm compliance in these cases, contact the vehicle manufacturer.
See more detail on New Zealand emission standards.
Examples of ADR plates
AMVCB second edition compliance plates
(in use before 1 July 1988 and until 1 July 1991)
| Motor vehicles except motorcycles (90 mm x 90 mm) |
Motorcycles only (100 mm x 40 mm) |
|---|---|
| General use Colour: other than red, green, blue or yellow. |
|
 |
 |
AMVCB third edition compliance plates
(in use after 1 July 1988 and until 1 July 1992)
| Motor vehicles except motorcycles (100 mm x 50 mm) |
Motorcycles only (95 mm x 35 mm) |
|---|---|
| General use Colour: other than red, green, blue or yellow. |
|
 |
 |
Motor vehicle standards compliance plates
(in use from October 1989 - current style)
| Motor vehicles except motorcycles (100 mm x 50 mm) |
Motorcycles only (100 mm x 40 mm) |
|---|---|
| General use Colour: other than red, green, blue or yellow. |
|
 |
 |
| Trailers over 4.5 tonnes ATM (150 mm x 90 mm) |
|
|---|---|
| Trailer Colour: other than red, green, blue or yellow. |
|
 |
|
Evidence of compliance with frontal impact standards
For passenger 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? If your vehicle was manufactured after 1996 it should have an ADR compliance plate, which is accepted evidence.
No ADR compliance plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
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 to New Zealand and seeking to take 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 seeking to bring your vehicle with you. Find out more about this exception.
Acceptable proof is an ADR compliance plate.
No ADR compliance plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
Before you import a vehicle from Australia
We recommend that you talk with an entry certifier to determine whether the ADR plate on your vehicle is acceptable.
You don't have an acceptable ADR plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
Evidence of compliance with fuel consumption information requirements
You can use our online tool to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. You simply need to enter your vehicle data on the website. You'll then receive a fuel consumption certificate which you take to the entry certifier.
Your fuel consumption certificate says consumption is 'unknown'?
This is still acceptable as compliance evidence - you can provide this to the entry certifier.
Evidence of compliance with heavy-vehicle brakes standards
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:
- Brakes: 8-1 Service brake and park brake (pages 8-1-3 and 8-1-4) (PDF, 334 KB, 16 pages)
- Technical bulletin 31 - Brakes standard compliance (PDF, 772 KB, 92 pages).
Evidence of overall standards compliance
An ADR plate fixed to your vehicle is acceptable evidence that your vehicle meets applicable standards in New Zealand. The plate proves your vehicle met the standards when manufactured.
No ADR compliance plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
Collected all the evidence you need?
You can move onto step three of the importing process - preparing to import.
