Moomoo

We are considering importing two cars when if we decide to emigrate from UK. A couple of removal firms have suggested that there may be Import Duty. I thought that this was no longer the case for new emigrants? Does anyone know for certain?

Also has anyone done this before? What are the problems? Would you use a specialist car importer or removal firm?

Any advice would be welcome.

Mr Moomoo

Pete n Shell

Before you even think of talking to a shippling company you should ensure your cars are going to be allowed into the country.

There is a thing called a Frontal Impact standard that all imported cars must pass before entering New Zealand. A friend of Ours had a 5 year old Fiat and wanted to bring it over they could not because its model did not reach the standard or was listed.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/index.html

Read this

RobClubley

Have a read of this thread, about my experience of importing a car

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438805

RobClubley

Oh, and as for import duty - you need to have owned the car for 12 months or more in the UK. and you have to sign a statement declaring you will keep the car for two years in NZ. If you sell the car in that time you will pay duty.
On my Skoda the amount would be $3400

newzealandplease

What skoda was it?

I'm looking at taking over a 56 plate skoda fabia. But Skoda aren't listed on the frontal impact list. Did you have to contact Skoda?

cheers
M

RobClubley

Mine's an Octavia vRS estate.
They sell the Fabia over here so it definitely meets the frontal impact standard.
Your importer will most likely tell you that you need a certificate from the official importers at a silly cost ($600 IIRC, or might have been 600 quid!!)

You don't! They just look up the model in the computer when you pay the rego fee.

Jac&Adie

I done a search on the parts computer at work today, we don't list anything for Skoda Fabia's, we list Octavia's and L200's (but you wouldn't want one of those, the L200 that is) so you would be stuck with main dealer servicing for a few years to come.
(I currently work for Repco, who supply most non main dealer car service agents in NZ)

newzealandplease

I wonder how many parts are the same as the VW Polo and small Audi. A friend had an a4 and always used the Skoda parts dept. for his Audi as the parts stangely were similar but identical.

Cheers for the reply. Now to google how many Skoda dealerships there are in the North Island.

RobClubley

Five? Main dealer spares aren't THAT expensive and if you use teh web you can find lots of useful stuff - www.briskoda.net www.vask.org.nz

Moomoo

L200? Why not That's one of the cars we were thinking of importing!!! Do you think it would be a problem? It's a Mitsubishi L200 Animal double cab (2002). Great for dogs/outdoor stuff in the truck bit!

Kerry

RobClubley

Something to consider - with VAG cars you lose the third year of the warranty. The first two years are a manufacturer's warranty and worldwide. The third year is a UK dealer network warranty and becomes void when the car is exported.

Your RAC cover will also be invalid

CAN2NZ

I read your post regarding your experience bringing your car in. You mentioned that if the car is more than 20 years old it is not allowed in. Do you know if that rule covers antique or collector cars? I am thinking some cars over 20 years old would be great to have in like an BMW E28 style M5.

Jac&Adie

Sorry I ment Skoda L200

karonious

Great avatar Rob - I'm impressed!
Karma for your braveness!

RobClubley

I don't know a lot about the rules on older cars, but people have brought in stuff like classic campers, so it is possible.
You might be better looking for something older within New Zealand. There are some awesome cars over here.

Cheers