Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the details for your shipment when you book.
The short version
- Get a price. Cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price; caravans and motorhomes are priced on volume. See current prices.
- Work through the pre-shipment checklist: paperwork, measuring, and getting the unit ready to load.
- Clean it for MPI. Every used vehicle is inspected when it lands. Use the checklist for cars, 4WDs and machinery or the caravan checklist.
- Work out the NZ tax. GST is 15%, but you may qualify for a concession, and the value can be reduced for the time you've owned and used it. Use our NZ GST and depreciation calculator.
- We collect it, clear it for export and ship it on the next suitable sailing. You follow it on your private tracking link.
- It's cleared by NZ Customs and MPI on arrival, then it's entry certified (or registered, for caravans) and you're on the road.
What we ship to New Zealand
| What | How it ships | How it's priced |
|---|---|---|
| Cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes | RoRo (driven on and off the ship) | One all-in price per car up to 20 m³, including pickup within 50 km of the port |
| Caravans and motorhomes | RoRo | On volume (length × width × height), 50 m³ minimum per unit, plus fixed local charges at each end |
| Machinery, trucks and tractors | RoRo on its own wheels or tracks, or on a roll trailer | Quoted on request with dimensions and weight |
| Household goods, pallets and crates | Shared (LCL) or full (FCL) container | See general freight |
Sailings and transit times
RoRo ships leave Brisbane, Port Kembla (Sydney) and Melbourne for Auckland every week, with Adelaide and Fremantle on selected sailings. Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson are reached direct on some voyages or by transhipment via Auckland. Port to port to Auckland usually takes 5 to 14 days. Allow about a week before the ship's cut-off to collect the unit and lodge the paperwork. Exact dates are on the live sailing schedule.
What the price covers
Our Australia to New Zealand RoRo prices include Australian export clearance, terminal handling and port service charges, ocean freight, New Zealand arrival port charges, the cargo reporting fee, the NZ vehicle border check and MPI clearance and inspection. Cars also include collection and delivery to the port within 50 km.
Not included: cleaning and re-inspection if a unit fails its first MPI inspection, delivery to a compliance yard, entry certification and compliance, and any NZ GST or duty.
Paperwork
- Proof of ownership: the purchase invoice or bill of sale, and the original Australian registration papers. NZ certifiers need an ownership trail back to the last registered owner in Australia.
- Photo ID: a copy of your passport or driver licence.
- If you're moving to NZ: your passport or NZ residence document, and the Customs concession form NZCS 80c if you qualify.
- If there's finance on it: the lender's written permission to export. NZ needs clear title.
- We lodge the Australian export declaration and the NZ customs entry for you.
NZ Customs: GST, duty and the concession
NZ Customs charges GST of 15% on the vehicle's value plus international freight and insurance, plus any duty. Duty is 0% on cars and motorcycles and 10% on motorhomes and campervans, unless the unit qualifies as Australian origin under the Australia–New Zealand trade agreement. If you've owned and used it overseas for more than three months, Customs reduces the value for depreciation, which can cut the GST noticeably. Work it out with the GST and depreciation calculator.
If you're moving to New Zealand or coming home, you may pay no GST or duty at all under the Customs vehicle concession. See moving home to NZ with your car or caravan.
MPI biosecurity
MPI inspects every used vehicle, caravan and machine on arrival. There's nil tolerance for live insects and spiders, standing water, seeds and fresh plant material, and only a trace of soil is allowed. A unit that fails is cleaned and re-inspected at the owner's cost, so it pays to clean properly before it leaves. Australia isn't one of NZ's stink bug risk countries.
Getting it on the road in New Zealand
- Cars, utes, vans and motorhomes need entry certification: a border inspection, then a certifier's check of the vehicle, its documents and its compliance with NZ standards before it's registered.
- A vehicle built for the Australian market normally proves its standards with its Australian Design Rules (ADR) compliance plate or label.
- Clear any open safety recalls before it ships. A vehicle with an open safety recall can't be certified.
- The odometer must be working, connected and accurate, or the vehicle can't be imported.
- Most light vehicles fall under the Clean Car Standard, which needs a CO₂ account and can mean a charge for higher-emitting vehicles. Motorcycles, trailers and caravans, and vehicles over 40 years old, are outside it.
- Diesel vehicles need a road user charges (RUC) licence in New Zealand.
- Caravans and trailers aren't entry certified but still need registering, a licence and a warrant of fitness.
Ready to ship to New Zealand?
Instant prices for every weekly RoRo sailing, and we look after the paperwork, NZ customs and MPI.
Common questions
Can I ship my car from Australia to New Zealand?
Yes. Cars, utes, 4WDs, vans and motorhomes built for the Australian market can generally be imported and registered in New Zealand, as long as they pass entry certification. Clear any open safety recalls before it ships.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Australia to New Zealand?
Cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price from Brisbane, Port Kembla or Melbourne to Auckland, including pickup within 50 km of the port. See the current prices.
How long does it take?
Port to port to Auckland is usually 5 to 14 days. Allow about a week before the sailing for collection and paperwork, and a few days after arrival for Customs and MPI clearance.
Do I have to pay GST in New Zealand?
Usually 15% of the value plus freight and insurance, unless you qualify for the Customs vehicle concession as someone moving to NZ. The value is reduced for depreciation if you've owned and used it overseas for more than three months.
Can I pack things in the car or caravan?
Ask us before you pack anything. Shipping lines restrict loose items in RoRo cargo, and MPI inspects everything inside. Household goods are better sent separately in a container.
Do you ship to the South Island?
Yes. Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson are served direct on some voyages and by transhipment via Auckland on others, so allow extra time.