Moving to New Zealand with your car
Relocating across the Tasman? We ship your car from AUD 2,850 all-in on a weekly sailing, clear it through NZ customs and MPI, and tell you whether you can claim the Customs vehicle concession.
Who this is for
Kiwis coming home, new migrants and families relocating to New Zealand who want to bring their own car, ute, 4WD, van, motorhome or caravan. Your move has enough moving parts already. The vehicle shouldn't add to them.
How it works
- Get a price. Cars, vans, utes and 4WDs up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price. Caravans and motorhomes are priced on size. See current prices.
- Check the concession. It can mean no GST or duty. The conditions are below.
- Book a weekly sailing. From Brisbane, Port Kembla or Melbourne to Auckland, with Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson reached direct or via Auckland.
- Clean it before it goes. MPI inspects every unit, inside and out.
- Collect it in New Zealand. Then get it entry certified (cars) or registered (caravans).
The NZ Customs vehicle concession
If you qualify, NZ Customs waives the duty and GST on a vehicle you bring with you. You need to:
- hold an NZ passport or another document authorising NZ residence on the day the vehicle is imported;
- have lived outside New Zealand for more than 21 months before you arrive;
- have personally owned and used the vehicle overseas for at least 1 year before you leave, or before you hand it over for shipping;
- sign a Customs undertaking (form NZCS 80c).
If you sell or dispose of the vehicle within 2 years, the duty and GST become payable. The concession covers cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and campervans; caravans aren't listed. If you don't qualify, GST is 15% on the price paid plus international freight and insurance, plus any duty. Estimate it with the NZ GST and duty calculator. Read the full detail in moving home to NZ with your car or caravan.
What it costs
It's one lump sum: the only things on top are the items below. See how to compare shipping quotes for the full list.
In the price
- Sea freight on a weekly roll-on roll-off sailing
- Collection and delivery to the port, within 50 km of the port (cars)
- Australian export clearance and terminal handling
- Port service charges
- New Zealand arrival port charges
- Cargo reporting fee
- NZ vehicle border check and MPI clearance and inspection
On top
- NZ GST and any duty, paid in New Zealand
- Cleaning and re-inspection if MPI fails the first inspection
- Delivery from the port to your compliance yard, and compliance
- Cartage beyond 50 km of the port (caravans and motorhomes are quoted separately)
- Marine transit insurance, which you arrange yourself
Prices are indicative until Nick confirms them in writing, and are valid for 14 days.
Cars, motorhomes and caravans
| Vehicle | How it's priced | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| Car, van, ute, 4WD up to 20 m³ | One all-in price per vehicle. | Covered, if you meet the conditions. |
| Motorhome or campervan | Per cubic metre, with a 50 m³ minimum, plus fixed local charges at each end. | Covered, if you meet the conditions. |
| Caravan | Per cubic metre, with a 50 m³ minimum. Check the size with the caravan m³ calculator. | Not listed. Check with us. |
Cleaning for MPI
MPI inspects used vehicles on arrival. There's zero tolerance for live insects, standing water, seeds and fresh plant material, and only small amounts of loose soil are allowed, so clean underneath, in the wheel arches and inside every compartment. A unit that fails is cleaned and re-inspected at your cost. Our cleaning checklist covers it room by room.
Getting it on the road in NZ
- Cars, utes, vans and motorhomes need entry certification: a border inspection, then a certifier's check before registration. Keep the original Australian registration papers.
- Light caravans and trailers (usually under 3,500 kg) aren't entry certified, but they still need registering, a licence and a warrant of fitness.
- Returning New Zealanders who've owned and used the vehicle overseas for more than 12 months may be exempt from some standards; your certifier will confirm.
Delivery from the port to your compliance yard isn't in the price. The NZ shipping planner lists every step and cost to budget for.
Get a price now
Live rates for the published lanes. Anything else, we price by email.
- Free, no obligation
- Nothing is booked until you confirm
- Price valid 14 days
5.0 on GoogleNick replies the same business day
- Your cargo
- Your details
- Your price
Moving to New Zealand with your car: questions
Can I ship my car to New Zealand when I move?
Yes. Cars, vans, utes and 4WDs up to 20 m³ ship at one all-in price per vehicle on weekly roll-on roll-off sailings from Brisbane, Port Kembla (Sydney) and Melbourne to Auckland. We lodge the Australian export paperwork and handle NZ customs entry, the vehicle border check and MPI inspection.
Will I pay GST on my car in New Zealand?
Possibly not. If you meet every condition of the NZ Customs vehicle concession, no GST or duty is payable. If you don't, GST is 15% of the price paid plus international freight and insurance, plus any duty. Use the NZ GST and duty calculator for an estimate. Customs sets the final figures.
I'm not a New Zealander. Does the concession apply to me?
It can. You need an NZ passport or another document authorising NZ residence on the day the vehicle is imported, and you must have lived outside New Zealand for more than 21 months before you arrive. Check your own situation with NZ Customs or ask us.
How long do I need to have owned the vehicle?
For the concession, you must have personally owned and used it overseas for at least one year before you leave, or before you hand it over for shipping.
What happens if I sell it after I arrive?
If you sell or dispose of the vehicle within two years, the duty and GST become payable. You sign a Customs undertaking when you claim the concession.
Does the concession cover my caravan?
Caravans aren't listed in the concession, which covers cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and campervans. Check with us before you rely on it for a caravan. Caravans are priced by volume with a 50 m³ minimum.
Can I pack things inside the car?
Ask us before you pack anything inside. Shipping lines have strict rules on loose items in RoRo cargo, and MPI inspects everything inside the vehicle.
What isn't in the price?
NZ GST and any duty, cleaning if MPI fails the first inspection, delivery from the port to your compliance yard, and compliance and registration in NZ. We don't arrange marine insurance, so arrange your own before the vehicle is collected.
How far ahead should I book?
Sailings leave weekly, and cargo is usually received at the terminal 2 to 5 days before departure. Get a price as soon as you have a move date, and we confirm the sailing and receival window when you book.