Questions people ask before they ship

It depends on the route and the size of the vehicle. To New Zealand, cars, vans, utes and 4WDs up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price per car, including port and customs charges at both ends, the MPI inspection and pickup within 50 km of the port. Caravans and motorhomes are priced on volume (length × width × height) with a 50 m³ minimum, plus fixed local charges at each end. NZ GST and any duty are paid separately in New Zealand. Enter your vehicle in the price box above for an instant price.

Yes. We arrange pickup from your home, dealer or auction yard, deliver the vehicle to the port, ship it, clear it through customs and biosecurity, and deliver it at the other end. Cars to New Zealand include collection and delivery to the port within 50 km. Any other cartage is quoted when you book.

Port to port to Auckland usually takes 5 to 14 days, depending on the sailing and your load port. Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson can take longer when the vessel tranships via Auckland. See the live sailing schedule for exact dates.

Brisbane, Sydney (Port Kembla), Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, with weekly roll-on roll-off sailings to New Zealand and container or RoRo services to Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the UK.

Not by us. Phoenix Shipping doesn't sell or arrange insurance, and the shipping line's liability is limited by international rules to a fraction of most vehicles' value. We strongly recommend you arrange marine transit cover before the vehicle is collected. Our marine insurance guide explains what to ask for.

Check it when it's delivered and tell us in writing within 7 days. We take the claim up with the shipping line on your behalf. The details are in our Terms of Trade.

No. Getting a price is free. An online booking is a request: Nick confirms the vessel, receival dates, cartage and dimensions by email before anything is committed.

Cars, vans, utes and 4WDs up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price per vehicle, from AUD 2,850. The price depends on the port you load at and the New Zealand port it goes to; the table on this page shows each one. Caravans and motorhomes are priced on size.

Sea freight on a weekly roll-on roll-off sailing, Australian port and export charges, NZ port, customs entry and MPI fees, and pickup within 50 km of the port. Not included: NZ GST and any duty, cleaning if MPI fails the first inspection, delivery from the port to your compliance yard, compliance and registration in New Zealand, and cartage beyond 50 km.

Cars load weekly at Brisbane, Port Kembla (for Sydney) and Melbourne, with selected sailings from Adelaide and Fremantle. They discharge at Auckland, and we also deliver to Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) and Nelson. Some sailings call there direct and others tranship via Auckland.

Usually yes. NZ GST is 15% of the vehicle's value plus freight and insurance, unless you qualify for a concession as someone moving to New Zealand. Our NZ GST and duty calculator gives an estimate before you ship.

Yes. MPI inspects every vehicle on arrival, and one that fails is cleaned and re-inspected at the owner's cost. Clean the inside, outside and underneath before it is collected. Our MPI cleaning checklist shows what they look for.

Yes. Caravans and motorhomes are priced per cubic metre with a 50 m³ minimum, plus fixed local charges at each end. Machinery and trucks go RoRo or on a flat rack and are priced from the make, model, dimensions and weight.

Not by us. Phoenix Shipping doesn't sell or arrange insurance, and the shipping line's liability is limited by international rules. We strongly recommend you arrange marine transit cover before the car is collected.

No. A price is free and valid for 14 days. An online booking is a request: Nick confirms the vessel, receival dates, cartage and dimensions by email before anything is committed.

On volume: length × width × height in metres, with a 50 m³ minimum per unit, plus fixed local charges at each end. Measure the caravan including the drawbar and any roof fittings, or give us the make and model and we'll check it against our measurements.

Cartage beyond 50 km of the port (quoted when you book), cleaning or a second MPI inspection if the unit fails the first, NZ GST and any duty, and compliance and registration in New Zealand.

Online prices are valid for 14 days and are confirmed when you book, against space on the sailing and the unit's actual dimensions.

Caravans and motorhomes are priced on volume: length × width × height in metres, with a 50 m³ minimum per unit. On top of the freight are fixed Australian and New Zealand local charges per unit. Cartage to the port is extra. Enter your van in the price box for an instant quote on our published routes.

Cars, utes and 4WDs up to 20 m³ ship at one set price per car, with Australian and New Zealand local charges per unit. Collection and delivery to the port within 50 km is included. Larger vehicles are priced individually.

Port to port to Auckland usually takes 5 to 14 days depending on the load port and the sailing. Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson can take longer when the ship tranships in Auckland. Allow a few more days at each end for receival, customs and MPI.

Brisbane, Port Kembla (Sydney) and Melbourne have sailings most weeks, with Adelaide and Fremantle on some services. Check the sailing schedule for dates.

Usually NZ GST of 15% on the value plus freight and insurance and any duty. Units that qualify as Australian made can be duty free under ANZCERTA with origin evidence, and people moving to New Zealand or returning New Zealanders may qualify for a concession. Try the import tax calculator.

Yes. MPI inspects every used vehicle and caravan arriving in New Zealand, and dirt, plant material, insects or standing water mean cleaning at the port at your cost. Use our NZ biosecurity cleaning checklist.

Yes. We arrange cartage from the auction yard, dealer or your home to the port. For cars, collection and delivery to the port within 50 km of the port is in the price. Beyond that, cartage is quoted when you book.

Yes. Add each car in the price box, or send us the list on WhatsApp. Cars up to 20 m³ ship at one price per vehicle, so the total is the price times the number of cars.

The auction invoice or dealer tax invoice, the Australian registration papers and the VIN for each car. Customs values the vehicle on what you paid, so keep the invoice. Our pre-shipment checklist lists everything.

Sailings leave weekly from Brisbane, Port Kembla and Melbourne, and cargo is usually received at the terminal 2 to 5 days before departure. Tell us the auction house and when the car has to be collected, and we confirm the sailing and receival window when you book.

Tell us when you book. Non-runners can usually be shipped, but they need to be quoted and loaded differently.

NZ GST and any duty, cleaning if MPI fails the first inspection, delivery from the port to your compliance yard, and compliance. We don't arrange marine insurance, so arrange your own before the car is collected.

Yes. Caravans and motorhomes are priced per cubic metre with a 50 m³ minimum, plus fixed local charges at each end, and cartage is quoted separately. Check the volume with the caravan m³ calculator.

Yes. Almost every road vehicle, including caravans and trailers, needs an import approval from the Australian Government before it arrives. Apply first, and only ship once it is granted.

GST is 10% of the customs value plus duty plus freight and insurance. Duty is usually 5%, but vehicles that qualify as New Zealand origin under the free trade agreement can be duty free with origin evidence. Cars over the threshold also pay luxury car tax. Our import tax calculator gives an estimate.

Auckland only, to Brisbane, Sydney (Port Kembla) and Melbourne.

Yes. We can arrange cartage to the NZ port and delivery from the Australian port to your home or compliance workshop. Cartage is quoted when you book.

Yes. Australia inspects imported vehicles, and anything with soil, plant material, insects or animal matter is cleaned at the port at the owner's cost. Clean it thoroughly inside, outside and underneath before it leaves.

Almost every road vehicle, including caravans and trailers, needs an import approval from the Australian Government before it arrives. Apply first, and only ship once it is granted.

We help with the paperwork and tell you which approval route fits your vehicle before you spend anything. The approval itself is granted by the Department, applications go through the ROVER system, and the Department says assessment takes around 30 business days.

Yes. We lodge the Australian customs entry, pay the duty, GST and any luxury car tax on your behalf, and arrange the biosecurity inspection and delivery. Those taxes are not part of our shipping price.

No. An import approval does not guarantee registration. Check your state's rules before you ship, especially for modified vehicles.

Australia bans asbestos in imported vehicles of any age. Older vehicles, and vehicles with replacement brake, clutch or gasket parts from unknown sources, need evidence the parts are asbestos free or that they were replaced. Sort it out before the vehicle ships.

Yes. On cars and caravans shipped from Australia, the NZ customs entry, the vehicle border check and MPI fees are in our price. NZ GST and any duty are paid separately in New Zealand.

Yes. Commercial imports worth more than A$1,000 need a full import declaration. We lodge it, pay the duty and GST on your behalf, and arrange biosecurity and delivery. See general freight.

Both. Container is the usual choice for prestige, new and classic vehicles, and for routes without a regular RoRo service. Machinery and oversize units go RoRo where possible, or on a flat rack.

Goods worth more than A$2,000 need an Australian export declaration. We prepare and lodge it for every vehicle we ship.

Yes. We arrange cartage from your home, dealer, auction yard or workshop to the container yard or terminal. Cartage is quoted when you book.

Every country has its own rules, and some restrict used vehicles. Check with the receiver's customs agent before you buy, and see our route pages for the main points on each country we ship to.

Yes. Container prices on our published routes show instantly in the price box. Anything else is priced by a person, usually the same business day.

One car or 4WD usually fits a 20 ft container. A 40 ft takes two or more vehicles, or a vehicle plus parts, and often brings the cost per unit down. A 40 ft high cube suits taller loads.

The vehicle is chocked and lashed inside a sealed box, so it's protected from weather and handling. That's why prestige, new and classic vehicles usually go by container.

Sometimes, depending on the destination's rules. Everything must be declared, so tell us what you want to pack before you book.

Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.

Yes. Our published container routes show a price instantly in the price box on this page.

LCL (less than container load) means your pallets or crates share a container with other cargo and you pay for the cubic metres you use. FCL (full container load) is a whole 20 ft or 40 ft container for your goods only. From about 15 m³ a full container is usually the cheaper option per cubic metre.

Yes. We ship pallets, crates, machinery and full containers from Australian ports to New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond, and lodge the Australian export declaration when one is needed. Goods worth more than A$2,000 need an export declaration.

Yes. Commercial imports worth more than A$1,000 need a full import declaration. We lodge it, pay the duty and GST on your behalf, and arrange biosecurity and delivery to your door, depot or site.

Goods with a customs value over NZ$1,000 need an NZ import entry. NZ Customs charges GST of 15% on the value plus freight, insurance and any duty, plus entry fees. Your NZ receiver normally pays these.

Full containers on our published lanes can be priced online. LCL and anything unusual is priced by a person, usually the same business day. Send the supplier's quote or a packing list and we will come back with a door-to-door price.

All-risks cover protects against physical loss or damage from any external cause during transit, subject to exclusions. Total-loss cover only pays out for major events such as the ship sinking, fire or a general average claim.

It isn't compulsory, but the shipping line's liability is limited by law to a fraction of most vehicles' value, so without it you carry most of the risk yourself.

No. We recommend you arrange your own marine transit cover with an insurer or broker before the vehicle is collected, so it's covered from pickup to delivery.

Usually not once it's at sea. Ask your insurer whether they cover sea transit, and get it in writing.