Shipping a Car From Australia to New Zealand

1. What Should I Do Before Shipping My Car From Australia to New Zealand?
2. What Costs Are Associated with Shipping My Car From Australia to New Zealand?
3. What Are Some Additional Fees Involved with Shipping My Vehicle From Australia to New Zealand?
4. How Can I Receive Clearance to Ship My Vehicle From Australia to New Zealand?
5. What Action Should I Take When I Get to New Zealand?

The need to ship cars is relatively common. Home relocation, racing, and car show events are three of the most common reasons people might ship their vehicle from Australia to New Zealand.

If you're moving to New Zealand from Australia and want to ship your car with you, we're here to help.

In this article, we're going to be covering:

• What you should do before shipping your car
• Costs associated with shipping your vehicle (plus additional fees)
• The topic of vehicle inspection/clearance
• Registration
• What to do after arriving in New Zealand

Once you follow all of the proper preliminary steps for shipping your car to New Zealand from Australia, it takes ten days on average for your vehicle to be delivered.

Let's dive in so you can get one step closer to driving your vehicle through New Zealand.

What Should I Do Before Shipping My Car From Australia to New Zealand?

The first step in preparing to ship your car from Australia to New Zealand is cleaning out any personal items within your vehicle. If you neglect to take personal items out of your vehicle before shipping it from Australia to New Zealand, you'll risk lengthening your clearance process as the items will need to be cleared separately. The second thing you can do to prepare for shipping your car is thoroughly cleaning the outside and inside the vehicle. Sending an unclean vehicle out to be shipped usually results in New Zealand biosecurity ordering the car to be cleaned to avoid possible diseases and pests from crossing the border.

What Costs Are Associated with Shipping My Car From Australia to New Zealand?

The total cost for shipping your vehicle from Australia to New Zealand is mainly going to depend on how you ship your car, the delivery service type you select, along with various additional fees. Sea freight shipping and air freight are the two options you'll have at your disposal to ship your vehicle from Australia to New Zealand. Sea freight shipping is less expensive than air freight shipping but takes longer to deliver your vehicle. People looking to ship their cars overseas commonly select either door-to-door delivery service or port-to-port service.

Door-to-door delivery costs more than port-to-port delivery due to the convenient nature of the service. A person who selects door-to-door delivery will have a vehicle shipping company pick up their vehicle at their current home in Australia and drop off the vehicle at the door of their new home in New Zealand. Port-to-port service involves dropping your vehicle off at an Australian port and picking up your vehicle at the New Zealand port closest to your destination.

Here's a list of some primary New Zealand ports:

• Auckland
• Nelson
• Wellington
• Lyttelton
• Port Chalmers

What Are Some Additional Fees Involved with Shipping My Vehicle From Australia to New Zealand?

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is associated with shipping your vehicle from Australia to New Zealand and is calculated through the vehicle's value, along with insurance and freight costs. The good news is you may be exempt from paying GST if you have used the car for more than one year overseas before shipping it, lived outside of New Zealand for at least 21 months before arriving, and arrive in New Zealand with your vehicle and proper residency established. If you select sea freight shipping as your means of delivering your car from Australia to New Zealand, you'll be subject to sea freight charges that fluctuate based on current demand.

Before you send your vehicle out, it needs to be cleared for shipping.

How Can I Receive Clearance to Ship My Vehicle From Australia to New Zealand?

Vehicle clearance is essentially proof that you own the vehicle. You can provide proof of ownership by supplying a shipping company with vehicle registration, purchase receipts, insurance papers, and your passport.

What Action Should I Take When I Get to New Zealand?

You're going to need to register your vehicle in New Zealand when you arrive. This registration will help prove that your vehicle is suitable to drive on New Zealand roads. Providing a manufacturer's certificate that reflects the vehicle's ability to meet emission and frontal impact standards will be sufficient for acquiring registration in New Zealand.