Thread: Importing vehicles from New Zealand?

Well I've been reading through some paper work from customs on vehicle importation.

On the surface it looks like it's not going to be anywhere near as expensive as I first thought. Extra cleaning etc aside that is.

Also a shipping company is yet to be investigated but would I be in the right ballpark if I was to say.....oh......uh....around $1,000 to $1,500 in shipping from NZ to Australia?

This is all just a "what if" kind of idea at the minute. I would only really consider doing it if there was something really special over there that I couldn't get here.

Still it's always good to have an idea of whats involved with these things even if it's just for the sake of knowing.

Originally Posted by D110V8D

Well I've been reading through some paper work from customs on vehicle importation.

On the surface it looks like it's not going to be anywhere near as expensive as I first thought. Extra cleaning etc aside that is.

Also a shipping company is yet to be investigated but would I be in the right ballpark if I was to say.....oh......uh....around $1,000 to $1,500 in shipping from NZ to Australia?

This is all just a "what if" kind of idea at the minute. I would only really consider doing it if there was something really special over there that I couldn't get here.

Still it's always good to have an idea of whats involved with these things even if it's just for the sake of knowing.

I have some small advice from experience shipping forklifts to PNG & other islands. You will pay more but try to arrange to pack the car in a container of it's own. When you hand the car over to a sea freight company to be packed on your behalf, chances are it will be packed together with other goods. Things move and there is a good chance your car will be damaged. PITA.

Originally Posted by Reads90

I had mine cleaned 3 times by a garage and then the shipping agent cleaned it again (as part of the service) . But i read a book about moving to Aus and it says in there that "quote" 99.999999999% of cars will be cleaned when they get to Aus

Ahhh... You know what I did extra? I waxoiled the underneath in black & then gave it a quick blow over on the jet wash just before putting in the container.

When inspected, it sailed through...

M

Originally Posted by D110V8D

Well I've been reading through some paper work from customs on vehicle importation.

On the surface it looks like it's not going to be anywhere near as expensive as I first thought. Extra cleaning etc aside that is.

Also a shipping company is yet to be investigated but would I be in the right ballpark if I was to say.....oh......uh....around $1,000 to $1,500 in shipping from NZ to Australia?

This is all just a "what if" kind of idea at the minute. I would only really consider doing it if there was something really special over there that I couldn't get here.

Still it's always good to have an idea of whats involved with these things even if it's just for the sake of knowing.

Hi Mick,

Drop me a PM if you want the details of the guy I used in Melb for importing & exporting my 110. He's a great guy & he should have contacts in NZ to help out too.

Doing the paperwork yourself is easy(ish). I managed to get it sorted after a couple of hours in the main customs building in Melb CBD. They have step-by-step guides on how to fill in the paperwork but it does take a lot of too-ing & fro-ing between books & charts!!!

The other thing to note is that, thanks to the unions, Aus has some of the highest port charges in the world!!!!

HTH

M

Well it's roused my curiosity now, so I just rang the co I usually use for shipping. He suggested that a 20' box would cost in the vicinity of $3k. RORO (roll on, roll off) would be somewhere around the $2k mark with cleaning. This would be utilising a specialised car carrier ship travelling from Japan to NZ then on to Oz.
He pointed out that you must have your permit organised first or customs will reject it, but more importantly the first step would be to check whether the NZ car meets Aussie ADRs as Australia has some of the most stringent standards in the world.

Originally Posted by oldzook

but more importantly the first step would be to check whether the NZ car meets Aussie ADRs as Australia has some of the most stringent standards in the world.

Thats a bloody Joke.
Was told all that in the uk before i got the 90 over here. Was craping myself as when they inspect it they will tell you what does not pass and then you have to pay to fix it. I was worried about this for 2 years

But My 90 came in to Aus . I organised the inpection
A chap came round . Checked the chassis numer and engine were what was on the paper work and checked the windows were motor rated glass, and checked the seat belts had there right details on. That was it he signed the paper work and put the plates on the car. This took 5 mins and cost me $275. And when i phoned up the office in Victoria to tell them it had been done they told me the chap i had was a very good inspector and very tough so they would send the paper work out straight away as they belive his judgement

I was worried bacause the roll bar is not ADSR, nor is the rear tyre holder, steering guard, nor are the QT diff guards , the spare fuel tank, the A bar , The light guards, all the treadplate, the seats. But non of this was even looked at
I was also told i would have problems because the tyres were bigger than what was put on at the factory , and the car was a soft top so the saftey details would be looked at . Also the speedo would have to be checked and maybe calabrated to comply with Aus law. Non of this was even looked at or even mentioned by anyone.

Originally Posted by oldzook

Well it's roused my curiosity now, so I just rang the co I usually use for shipping. He suggested that a 20' box would cost in the vicinity of $3k. RORO (roll on, roll off) would be somewhere around the $2k mark with cleaning. This would be utilising a specialised car carrier ship travelling from Japan to NZ then on to Oz.
He pointed out that you must have your permit organised first or customs will reject it, but more importantly the first step would be to check whether the NZ car meets Aussie ADRs as Australia has some of the most stringent standards in the world.

Just one thing to check. When importing from the uk you have to of lived with the car for 12 months before you can import it . Make sure the same rules don't apply to NZ. Also the paper work they are talking about is the paper work from Camberra. Most shipping companys will not even load the car with out this paper work . As the customs in Aus will crush a car that turns up with out it and fine the shipping company

Originally Posted by Reads90

Thats a bloody Joke.
Was told all that in the uk before i got the 90 over here. Was craping myself as when they inspect it they will tell you what does not pass and then you have to pay to fix it. I was worried about this for 2 years

But My 90 came in to Aus . I organised the inpection
A chap came round . Checked the chassis numer and engine were what was on the paper work and checked the windows were motor rated glass, and checked the seat belts had there right details on. That was it he signed the paper work and put the plates on the car. This took 5 mins and cost me $275. And when i phoned up the office in Victoria to tell them it had been done they told me the chap i had was a very good inspector and very tough so they would send the paper work out straight away as they belive his judgement

I was worried bacause the roll bar is not ADSR, nor is the rear tyre holder, steering guard, nor are the QT diff guards , the spare fuel tank, the A bar , The light guards, all the treadplate, the seats. But non of this was even looked at
I was also told i would have problems because the tyres were bigger than what was put on at the factory , and the car was a soft top so the saftey details would be looked at . Also the speedo would have to be checked and maybe calabrated to comply with Aus law. Non of this was even looked at or even mentioned by anyone.

Trouble is that the insurance company's could kick up a stink if they investigate a claim ! You know what there like !