New Zealand

Import Regulations

Used or new cars can be shipped from any port in Japan to all major Ports in New Zealand. We will perform all the necessary pre shipping inspections and our team in NZ operates their own compliance center to assure a smooth import and registration of your vehicle.

Age Restriction and Compliance Standards
Older than 20 years old – Fully exempt from emissions and safety regulations.
Newer than 20 years old – If the prefix of the model code is 2 digits or less the vehicle does not comply. If it is 3 digits or more the vehicle will comply. **2 digit prefix model codes can still be imported for track or off-road use.  

**Petrol vehicles with a Dxx emission code must be first registered anywhere on or after January 1 2012. From April 30 2024, the following codes will be acceptable to import: Dxx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher. 

**Diesel vehicles from Japan must meet and emission code of Lxx or higher. These codes are: Lxx, Fxx, Mxx, Rxx, Qxx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher. 

Electronic Slip Control As of March 1st, 2020, all vehicles newer than 20 years old are required to have ESC (Electronic Slip Control) in order to import and register in NZ.

Service Costs and Logistics
We work with our trusted partner Dolphin Shipping to handle compliance, shipping, import and door delivery in NZ.
Please contact [email protected] and [email protected] for any questions regarding NZ shipping, compliance and GST costs.

Japan Side Costs

•  JCD Fee: 79,000 yen
•  Auction House Fee: 30,000 yen
•  Inland Transport to export yard: 18,000 ~ 45,000 yen for most houses
•  Export Customs Clearance 30,000 yen. Please see the How To Buy page for more details.

NZ Side Costs

For Private importers:

The private package is $2400 NZD plus Clean Car tax and any GST applied if the vehicle is shipped to any of the main ports and delivered within the metropolitan area.
If delivery is out of the metropolitan areas, there will be extra transport charges applicable.

For Registered Motor Vehicle Traders:

The trader package $2100 NZD plus Clean Car tax and any GST applied if the vehicle is shipped to any of the main ports and delivered within the metropolitan area.
If delivery is out of the metropolitan areas, there will be extra transport charges applicable.
*You must supply Dolphin Shipping with a genuine RMVT number to be applicable.

For the most up to date prices please contact Dolphin Shipping.

Service includes:

•  Gate in survey and photos Japan
•  MPI (Bio Hazard) Inspection and cleaning (No Steam Cleaning)
•  NZTA Border Inspection
•  Odometer Check
•  Japan Port Service Charges
•  Freight
•  Door Delivery
•  NZ Port Service Charges
•  NZ Customs Clearances
•  Tow off port to local compliance centre
•  Full Insurance whilst in our care

**Baf (Bunker Fuel Surcharges) additional charge of $95 nzd on RORO and $120 nzd on containers
** Heat Treatment additional charge of $225 nzd (September to March arrivals only)

Shipping Details

•  Vehicles must be drivable
•  3 Roll On/Roll Off Sailings (RORO) per month to Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton
•  Weekly Container Sailings from KOBE (for Osaka) & Yokohama to Dunedin
•  Door 2 Door delivery available
•  Inner cargo allowed on RORO shipments

Clean Car Tax rebates

Vehicles registered in New Zealand for the first time incur a rebate or a fee based on a sliding scale of CO2 emissions. The lower the emissions, the higher the rebate. The higher the emissions, the higher the fee. The Clean Car rebate only applies if the vehicle meets all eligible criteria.

Please check for your vehicle tax or tax rebate here.

Emission Standards

The car or vehicle in question must meet emission and noise standards issued by the New Zealand government for vehicles of the same class. Detailed information about emission standards for used vehicles can be obtained on the home page of the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Special Interest Vehicles

To have a vehicle identified as a special interest vehicle, the NZ Transport Agency must deem it to have historic value or it must meet three of the following four requirements:

•  The vehicle (or its make, model and submodel) is identified as being a collector’s item in one of the following magazines or their respective websites – Australian classic car, Car and driver (US), Automobile (US), Motor (Australia), Motor trend (US), New Zealand autocar, New Zealand classic car, Road and track (US), Top gear (UK), Top gear NZ,Unique cars (Australia) or Wheels (Australia).
•  The vehicle’s make and model has been (or was) manufactured in annual volumes of 20,000 units or less.
•  The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a two-door coupe or a convertible.
•  The vehicle is, and was manufactured as, a high-performance veh.