kimk

Hi there

i am wondering if it would be viable to take a car with me to NZ? i had varying advice and read some threads about importing cars to NZ. At present i don't own a vehicle but am looking to purchase a 2008 mini cooper to take with me, it seems they are alot cheaper here than in NZ. I realise that owning the car less than a year before departure means GST bills etc, but i was Just wondering if anyone has experience importing any similar car and could give me any advice?

Thanks

chez7

don't waste your money buy a jap car here they are the best sellers and most reliable and parts are cheaper than eu cars ,it will cost you to send it and then all the compliance checks and gst and import duty are not worth it ,minis are on sale here if you really want one but seriously would you >?

MrsFychan

we bought our vauxhall zafira out, part of Holden which is big here, so knew parts were not going to be an issue.
we also contact The AA, not just a break down service here but the main company for cars getting road licence, driving licence etc from, to make sure that the car complied. Had to send off chassis and other numbers from the car for them to check.
We just paid for a bigger container, we could not afford to buy a car here so had to bring it over.
Being on the container does mean it take some months to get here but we were fortunate that people my husband had gotten to know would lend us their cars.
The car inspection is brutal and my poor car is still suffering, they literally rip the car apart, and they even managed to lock one of the back seats down which my husband had to go and spend a morning fixing for them, they charged me for a tank of petrol they did not put in but luckily we spotted that before leaving the testing centre and got them to fill it.
all in all it was a long and frustrating time but in our circumstance cheaper than buying a new car.

Fooferfish

Come here And buy a ford falcon XR6 straight 6 cylinder , better to spend your money on motor here , to much hassle bringing one in .we started off with jap cars , had 4x4s and now got swift and a ford falcon XR6 .

RobClubley

Why would you change a smallish, well-handling Euro car for a petrol-slurping Aussie barge?

I brought my car with me, and having gone through the process I'd say don't do it, especially if you would be liable for GST when it lands.

I'm happy to have my car here but if I did it again I'd sell it in the UK and buy something here.

Hazelnut

Interesting replies. We have a Ford Fiesta that's now 18 months old so would be 3.5yrs old when we came out. We've had it from new and it's a really sweet car. Everyone we've spoken to so far says to take it with us.

What put you off advising others to do it RobClubley? Was it mainly that you had to pay GST?

RobClubley

I'm glad I brought it, but there were some issues. I ended up buying a car to drive during the 12 weeks or so it took to get here as it was cheaper than renting long-term. My car ended up sitting in Liverpool for a few weeks before going in the container.

Careless handling by the NZ shippers and import checkers meant I had $1200 of body damage plus broken trim inside and screws missing.
Bodywork was covered under insurance.

I didn't pay GST as I had owned the car 18 months. And I still own it now

The whole process went well apart from the damage. But it is a bit of mucking around.
If you have a car you're attached to, and the costs aren't excessive compared to selling and buying here then there's no reason not I guess.

GoingIn2011

We didn't bring our low mileage CMax and ended up regretting it.
What you get here for your money aint the same...

krisby

I believe GST is only applicable if you sell it within a certain time, 1 or 2 years, otherwise you should be fine.

The price difference is quite big so it is worth taking it with you if you can get a good price for the shipping, I won't divulge what I pay as my wifes brother (UK) is in shipping and I get preferential rates, but even at £1000 more, + compliance it is worth it.

However, my sisters husband (lives in Auckland) wanted a 2008 Rangie for towing his race cars, the price landed in NZ from UK is £23500, he reckons even if he runs it for 2 years he will make his money back. I also just shipped a 2009 Allroad to him, all up £12900, + NZ fees and compliance, so still heaps cheaper than what it would be to buy in NZ.

I'm moving back home later in year too and will taking my wifes Saab 9-3 and my BMW 530 as the cost of buying cars against what we can get here is huge, I've been through all the jappers in NZ, as well as owing Volvo and Beemers out there, the quality between the german cars and japs is huge (not so much on the Saab, but its well specced, fast and economical and rare on NZ roads), I fear having spent the last 2 1/2 years back in the UK has made me a euro car lover and I just hope that when my E39 needs replacing in NZ, I will be able to afford another decent euro.

kodachrome

Krisby, is there not a limit on how many cars you can import to Nz? Certainly how many you can import Duty free?

RobClubley

You have to own the car for 12 months in the UK, and can't sell in NZ for 2 years or you pay GST.

krisby

Not that I am aware of, but I've not needed to look either, I guess as Rob said, as long as you don't sell within 2 years you are fine.

kodachrome

My question was really more around the "multiple cars" aspect! I know in Oz its one car per Immigrant.

krisby

I can't find any specific restriction, but my assumption would be if it was for personal use you should be pukka.

I would however check with a NZ AA import specialist, they register the cars and should be able to tell you what the limit is, if any.

Personally, I hadn't even considered that brining both ours cars would be an issue, but I guess I will have to start looking into this in more detail soon too.

trafford

From NZ Customs Website:
If you are an immigrant, or are returning to New Zealand after 21 months or more overseas, you are entitled to concessions on private motor vehicles, boats and aircraft that either accompany you or are sent separately. It is possible to import more than one motor vehicle , motorcycle, motor scooter, boat, or aircraft, duty free, if you are able to meet all the concessionary requirements for each vehicle, boat or aircraft.
You will be required to give a written undertaking that, if a vehicle, boat, or aircraft granted duty-free entry is sold or otherwise disposed of within two years of the date of importation, you will pay the Customs duty that would normally have been payable.

Concessionary Requirements:
motor vehicles (including motorcycles) that are imported by a person who—
(i) has arrived in New Zealand and, on the date the motor vehicle is imported, holds a document authorising residence in New Zealand; and
(ii) has resided or been domiciled outside New Zealand for the whole of the 21-month period preceding his or her arrival; and
(iii) has personally owned and used the motor vehicle overseas for at least 1 year before the earlier of the following:
(A) the date of the person’s departure for New Zealand:
(B) the date on which the motor vehicle is surrendered for shipping; and
(iv) gives a concession reference 80 undertaking: