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Used vehicles from anywhere else

Updated: 10 December 2009

As the main sources of imported vehicles, we've developed specific requirements for vehicles imported from Japan, Australia, Europe and the United States. If you're importing a used vehicle from these countries or elsewhere overseas you must provide evidence that it meets a range of approved standards for the type of vehicle before it can be registered for use on New Zealand roads. Here you can find out what proof you need to show your vehicle meets the required standards.

Evidence you must collect

You must collect the following documents as evidence that your vehicle meets the approved standards:

The proof you need depends on the country from which you're importing the vehicle. Further information on types of evidence is below.

Proof of ownership

You need to provide evidence that you're legally entitled to your 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).

For vehicles imported from Singapore you can also present a vehicle registration card that is stamped 'cancelled' or 'deregistered' by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA)

For vehicles imported from Hong Kong you can also present a vehicle registration card that shows the ownership history and is stamped 'cancelled' or 'deregistered' by the Hong Kong Transport Department.

Evidence of compliance with emissions standards

For vehicles imported from any country, you can provide:

  • a suitable compliance plate/label or
  • a statement of compliance that includes an approved emissions standard.

If you're importing either a used or parallel-imported new, Japanese domestic vehicle from Singapore, accepted evidence includes:

  • a Singapore deregistration certificate, and
  • a Singapore LTA technical letter listing an approved Japanese emissions code, and
  • an outcome notification letter from us advising that the Singapore LTA technical letter can be accepted as proof of compliance.

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? 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:

  • it is more than 20 years old
  • it is a 'special interest' vehicle
  • you're emigrating or returning 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 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.

Evidence of overall standards 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.

For vehicles imported from Singapore you can use these accepted forms of evidence:

  • the original Singapore deregistration certificate, and
  • the original Singapore LTA technical letter, and
  • a letter stating that the Singapore technical letter is acceptable evidence of compliance.

Evidence of compliance with heavy-vehicle brake 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:

Evidence of compliance with fuel consumption information requirements

You can use our online tool to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. The website is designed mainly for the four countries from which New Zealand imports most of its vehicles - Japan, Europe, Australia and the US. But it does cater for some other countries, including Singapore. To use the site you'll need:

  • a Singapore deregistration certificate, and
  • a Singapore LTA technical letter listing an approved Japanese emissions code, and
  • an outcome notification letter advising that the Singapore LTA technical letter can be accepted as proof of compliance.

To produce the compliance information, you simply need to enter the vehicle data. 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.

Collected all the evidence you need?

You can move onto step three of the importing process - preparing to import.

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