Factsheet 12 – April 2005

Importing a left-hand drive vehicle

What you need to do first

Before going to the expense of importing a left-hand drive (LHD) vehicle, you must read:

• Infosheet 1.67, Importing motor vehicles into New Zealand.
• Factsheet 44, Importing a motor vehicle.

They tell you whether you can import your vehicle for use in New Zealand.

Also read New Zealand Customs Service's Factsheet 29, Advice on private motor vehicle imports (PDF, 283 KB).

Are there restrictions on LHD vehicles?

Yes. Most left-hand drive vehicles have to be converted to right-hand drive (RHD) before they can be driven on New Zealand roads.

For modern vehicles, this is either very expensive or impractical – especially if the vehicle has a modern frontal impact protection system (eg airbags and crumple zones).

The only vehicles that can be registered as LHD and driven on New Zealand roads are vehicles considered exempt from the law.

Before going to the expense of importing a LHD vehicle, you should check very carefully that your vehicle is either exempt or is capable of being converted to RHD. Otherwise, you may find it impossible to use the vehicle on New Zealand roads.

How is the system enforced?

Restrictions on a LHD vehicle are enforced when you go to register it for use on the road, not when it's imported into New Zealand.

Do I need a permit for a LHD vehicle?

No. The permit requirement was removed in 1999.

Which LHD vehicles are exempt?

Under the Traffic Regulations 1976, it's generally illegal to operate a LHD vehicle on New Zealand roads. However, some specific exemptions have been made to this law. The main exemptions are listed below. (Make sure you also read the requirements for each exempted category, which follow the list.)

1. A motor car or goods service vehicle that meets all of the following criteria:
   • A gross vehicle mass of not more than 3500 kg.
   • Imported by you, for your own personal use.
   • Manufactured less than 20 years before the date it was imported.
   • You have registered, owned and operated the vehicle overseas, for 90 days or more.
   • In a five-year period, you can only register one such vehicle in New Zealand.
   • The vehicle must be registered in the importer's name (ie your name) for at least five years after it's first registration in New Zealand unless the vehicle is 20 years old or more.
2. A motor car or goods service vehicle that meets all of the following criteria:
   • A gross vehicle mass of not more than 3500 kg.
   • Imported by you for your own personal use.
   • Was manufactured 20 years or more before the date it was imported.
   • In a 12-month period, you can only register one such vehicle in New Zealand.
3. A specialist vehicle with dual steering controls, or that has been exempted for other reasons related to the vehicle's special characteristics or use.
4. A vehicle operated by a person entitled to diplomatic privileges or staff of Operation Deep Freeze.
5. Any vehicle imported before 1 April 1998 that was previously exempted.
6. A vehicle imported temporarily into New Zealand. See Factsheet 35, Temporary vehicle imports for more information.

These are referred to as 'exempted categories' in the rest of this factsheet. If your LHD vehicle falls into one of these exempted categories (or was purchased from the Crown by the owner or any former owner) – and meets all the safety and other legal requirements applying to imported vehicles – you'll be able to register and license it for use on New Zealand roads.

What requirements must be met for each exempted category?

The following requirements must be met before vehicles in each category can be operated on New Zealand roads.

Requirements for a light vehicle less than 20 years old when imported

As the importer of the vehicle, you must be resident in New Zealand, at least 15 years of age, and the first registered owner of the vehicle here.

When you register the vehicle for use on New Zealand roads, you'll need to sign a declaration stating the vehicle is for your personal use and that you intend to keep it for at least five years after its registration in New Zealand, or until it is at least 20 years old, whichever is the earlier.

You'll also have to provide evidence that you've owned and operated the vehicle, and that it was registered in your name, in another country for no less than 90 consecutive days immediately before the vehicle was shipped to New Zealand.

You must sign a declaration that you haven't registered another vehicle in this category in the last five years.

Requirements for a light vehicle 20 years or older when imported

As the importer of the vehicle, you must be resident in New Zealand, at least 15 years of age, and the first registered owner of the vehicle here.

When registering the vehicle for use on New Zealand roads, you'll need to sign a declaration stating the vehicle is for your personal use and that you intend to keep it for at least six months after registration.

You'll be asked to provide evidence of the vehicle's month and year of manufacture.

You must sign a declaration stating you haven't registered another vehicle in this category in the previous 12 months.

Requirements for a vehicle with dual steering controls

Vehicles under this category must have dual steering columns and controls. You can only drive the vehicle using the LHD controls when you need to do so for operational or safety reasons.

Requirements for other specialist LHD vehicles

The following types of specialist vehicles are exempt if they are used solely or principally for the use identified:

• a mobile crane
• a vehicle equipped as a hearse
• a vehicle that operates wholly or partly on self-laying tracks
• an agricultural tractor or self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine
• an earthmoving machine.

In addition, a specialist vehicle is exempt if the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has confirmed in writing that it has special characteristics, or is equipped for special operational purposes, so that conversion to RHD would be impractical.

Requirements for LHD vehicles operated by diplomats and staff members of Operation Deep Freeze

To register one of these vehicles, you will need a recent letter of accreditation from the relevant organisation stating that you have been posted to New Zealand.

Requirements for vehicles exempted before 1 April 1998

To reregister one of these vehicles, you need to supply evidence that the vehicle was previously registered in New Zealand, such as a certificate of registration.

Requirements for LHD vehicles imported temporarily

LHD vehicles imported temporarily must be cleared through Customs with the appropriate documents – Carnet de Passage en Douanes, Triptyque or the relevant New Zealand Customs Service import declaration form.

The vehicle will then need to be registered as an overseas vehicle and pass a warrant of fitness inspection. This will allow you to operate the vehicle on overseas plates for up to 12 months.

If I meet the conditions, what should I do next?

If you meet the conditions, take your LHD vehicle and all the documents you need to an NZTA's transport service delivery (TSD) agent.

The following organisations are TSD agents. Use the web link or phone number given to locate the branch nearest you:

• the Automobile Association (AA) – phone +64 9 377 4660
• Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ) – phone +64 9 573 3055
• Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ) – phone +64 4 495 2500.

What documents do I have to take to the TSD agent with my vehicle?

1. Work out your LHD vehicle category from the list below:

Category A:	Vehicles less than 20 years old with gross vehicle mass not more than 3500 kg
Category B:	Vehicles 20 years or older with gross vehicle mass not more than 3500 kg
Category C:	Specialist vehicles
Category D:	Vehicles operated by diplomats and Operation Deep Freeze staff
Category E:	Vehicles previously exempted
Category F:	Vehicles imported temporarily

2. In the table below, look down the column for your vehicle category. You must take all the documents marked with a to the agent. (All documents must be originals.)

Original documents required	Category
	A	B	C	D	E	F
Vehicle’s overseas registration papers (certificate of title, pink slip)
Evidence of vehicle ownership (vehicle’s purchase receipt, bill of sale)
Evidence that you are the importer of the vehicle (ie vehicle's import entry document from customs broker, vehicle's shipping papers, bill of lading or insurance document)
Evidence that you have resided in the country that the vehicle is being exported from for at least 90 days (eg passport with entry/exit stamps or immigration visas, plane tickets etc)
Evidence of your New Zealand citizenship (eg your current passport), or current New Zealand residency permit
Evidence of the vehicle’s month and year of manufacture
Letter of accreditation for diplomats and Operation Deep Freeze staff
Evidence of previous New Zealand registration
Carnet de passage, Tryptique, or New Zealand Customs import declaration form
Letter from the NZ Transport Agency, for specialist vehicles

Contact the NZTA contact centre on 0800 699 000 for advice on how to get any documents that you need from us.

What will the TSD agent do?

At the TSD agent, your vehicle will:

• be issued with a valid Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), if it doesn't already have one
• be checked to see that it falls within one of the exempted categories (and that you have all the necessary documentation)
• be checked for compliance with New Zealand safety standards
• be registered and licensed
• be issued with a warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness
• where appropriate, be issued with a road user charges licence.

For categories A and B, the agent will ask you to sign declarations about what you intend to use the vehicle for, and the period since you last registered a LHD vehicle in that category. These declarations will be sent to the NZTA for inclusion in the LHD vehicle database.

Where you can find out more

• Email us: info@nzta.govt.nz.
• Phone our contact centre: 0800 699 000.
• Write to us: NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141.