Improving land transport to make a better New Zealand

Accessibility | Help | Site index | Contact us

You are here: Home › Factsheets › 44b

Factsheet 44b - April 2008

Special interest vehicles

This factsheet informs you of the changed rules for importing certain vehicles that do not meet frontal impact or emissions standards.

This factsheet should be read in conjunction with Factsheet 44, Importing a motor vehicle, which outlines the overall requirements for importing a vehicle into New Zealand.

If you are a motoring enthusiast wishing to import a vehicle that does not comply with New Zealand’s frontal impact standards, there are certain changes in the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact Amendment 2008 that may affect you. Similar changes are also included in the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007 (the Emissions Rule).

Previously, vehicles that did not meet one of the approved frontal impact protection standards in the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact 2001 could only enter service in New Zealand if they were granted an exemption. However, the rules have changed. You may be able to import and register such a vehicle without needing an exemption, but to do so you will need to meet a number of specific conditions, listed below.

What do the changes mean for me?

The new rules mean motoring enthusiasts will be able to bring in non-compliant vehicles that are designated as special interest vehicles, provided that all the specified conditions are met.

What conditions do I have to meet before my vehicle can be registered in New Zealand as a special interest vehicle?

To have a vehicle identified as a special interest vehicle, the Director of Land Transport 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 its respective website) – 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 vehicle.

You may be requested to submit additional information.

What other requirements do I have to meet?

All general requirements for vehicles entering New Zealand are covered in Factsheet 44. You must also comply with the following requirements:

  • you must be a New Zealand citizen or resident
  • you must not have received a special vehicle permit during the two years before your application
  • you must have another vehicle (eg car, ute, minivan) for your everyday use.

How do I apply for a permit to register a non-compliant vehicle in New Zealand?

You will need to apply to a Land Transport NZ entry certification agent to obtain such a permit. A fee will be charged to process your application. The file will then be referred to the Director of Land Transport, who will make an assessment and decision.

If you do not complete this process, your vehicle will not be entry-certified and will not be registered for use on New Zealand roads, unless you can prove that it meets approved frontal impact and emissions standards by other means.

Is there a limit to how many special interest vehicle permits can be issued in any one calendar year?

Under the amended Frontal Impact Rule, the Director of Land Transport may not issue more than 200 special interest vehicle permits in any one calendar year. As a result, you may not be issued with a special interest vehicle permit if 200 such permits have already been issued in the calendar year in which you apply.

A special interest vehicle permit ceases to be valid if the vehicle is not inspected at the border or certified for entry within six months of the date of issue. A special interest vehicle permit that ceases to be valid in the calendar year it was issued will not be counted in the quota total mentioned above.

Can the Director of Land Transport grant exemptions?

The Director cannot grant exemptions from any conditions for special interest vehicles, including the quota total.

Does this change the requirements for left-hand drive vehicles?

No, it does not. The relevant requirements that have been in force for decades have not changed.

Are there any conditions attached to a special interest vehicle permit?

Yes, they are as follows:

  • a special interest vehicle cannot be sold or leased within four years of its registration in New Zealand
  • a special interest vehicle cannot be used for hire or reward or in a transport service.

Where can I find out more about these changes?

View the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact Amendment 2008 or obtain a hard copy by calling the Land Transport NZ contact centre on 0800 699 000. If you are outside New Zealand, phone +64 4 931 8700 and select option 3.

Contact an entry certifier

The organisations listed below are appointed by the Director of Land Transport to advise on the suitability of vehicles for import, and carry out entry certification of imported used vehicles and new vehicles that are imported by persons other than the vehicle manufacturer's representative in New Zealand: