Written by Michael Dunstan, Managing Director · Updated 11 September 2026
If you’re moving from Australia to New Zealand, taking your car with you can make sense, particularly if you know the vehicle well, would rather not replace it after you arrive, or are already moving household belongings across the Tasman.
There is more to consider than the shipping price, though. Your vehicle also needs to clear New Zealand Customs and biosecurity requirements before going through the certification process required for use on New Zealand roads.
Palmers ships vehicles to New Zealand in containers, either as Shared / Groupage or Dedicated / Sole-use. We can move a vehicle on its own or arrange it alongside your household move.
We manage the move from Australia through the New Zealand arrival and border-clearance process using our established local network, so you’re not left trying to coordinate different companies at each end.
From our point of view, it’s still one Palmers move.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Australia to New Zealand?
For a car moving from Sydney or Melbourne to Auckland, a current Palmers indicative cost is around A$4,200–A$6,200, depending on whether you choose Shared / Groupage or Dedicated / Sole-use.
Our current vehicle estimates include the depot-to-depot move and allowances for MPI and the initial vehicle border/structural inspection in New Zealand.
If you are moving household belongings as well, the vehicle is priced separately. Your household component is then calculated according to the volume of belongings you are taking.
If your car is part of a household move, you can use our New Zealand Moving Cost Calculator to estimate the wider move and compare the available moving options.
There can still be costs after the car arrives. Entry certification and compliance, registration, onward transport and any extra cleaning, treatment or repairs are separate unless they have specifically been included in your quotation.
We’d rather show you the likely costs upfront. A cheap-looking shipping price isn’t much use if you only find out about the rest after the car arrives.
How long does it take to ship a car to New Zealand?
Timing depends on where your vehicle is going and whether it travels as part of a Shared / Groupage service or in a Dedicated / Sole-use container.
As a current Palmers planning guide:
| Destination | Shared / Groupage | Dedicated / Sole-use |
| Auckland | 6–11 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Wellington | 9–15 weeks | 5–7 weeks |
| Christchurch | 9–16 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
Shared / Groupage is the better-value option for many customers, but it needs more flexibility around timing because your vehicle travels as part of a consolidated shipment.
Dedicated / Sole-use gives you container space allocated specifically to your move and generally offers a shorter timeframe.
These are planning timeframes, not guaranteed delivery dates. Vessel schedules, port movements, Customs and biosecurity clearance can all affect when your vehicle is ready at destination. We would rather give you a realistic window than promise a date international shipping cannot always control.
Should I take my car to New Zealand or sell it in Australia?
There’s no blanket answer to this one.
Start with the numbers. What could you realistically sell the car for in Australia, and what would it cost to replace it with something similar in New Zealand?
Then think about the car itself.
If you know its history, it’s in good condition, and you’d struggle to replace it for sensible money in New Zealand, shipping it can stack up very well.
An older, heavily modified or damaged vehicle is a different conversation. Before spending money on freight, check that it’s going to be practical to certify once it gets there.
If we’re already moving your household belongings, tell us about the car at the start. Quite often it makes more sense to look at the move as a whole rather than price the car in isolation.
How does Palmers ship cars to New Zealand?
Palmers uses containerised vehicle shipping to New Zealand. We do not offer Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo).
Depending on your move, your vehicle can travel as part of a Shared / Groupage service or in a Dedicated / Sole-use container.
Shared / Groupage
Shared / Groupage is generally the better-value option if you have some flexibility around timing.
Your vehicle travels in a consolidated service with other customers moving in the same direction, which makes better use of the available container space.
Dedicated / Sole-use
With Dedicated / Sole-use, container space is allocated specifically to your move.
It gives you more control over the shipment and timing and can work particularly well if the vehicle is travelling with a larger household move.
With either service, the vehicle is secured inside the container for the sea journey.
If both options suit your move, we would rather show you the difference in price and timing so you can decide which one makes sense for you.
What information does Palmers need to quote my car?
We will normally ask for:
- make and model
- year of manufacture
- whether the vehicle is running or non-running
- registration details
- ownership details
- destination in New Zealand.
Giving us accurate information at the beginning helps us plan the right transport arrangements and spot anything that may need checking before the vehicle is shipped.
What documents do I need to ship my car to New Zealand?
It is worth getting the paperwork together early rather than waiting until the car is ready to leave.
You should have evidence showing ownership of the vehicle, such as a purchase receipt, invoice or bill of sale, together with your Australian registration records.
The original purchase price is relevant for Customs. If suitable proof of purchase is no longer available, New Zealand Customs may require an independent New Zealand valuation instead.
For a used Australian vehicle, NZTA sets out specific evidence requirements for vehicles imported from Australia, including ownership history, emissions, frontal-impact standards, fuel consumption, electronic stability control and overall vehicle standards.
An Australian ADR compliance plate can provide important evidence. If the necessary information cannot be established from the ADR plate, a Statement of Compliance may be required.
Before shipping, we recommend checking the vehicle against current NZTA requirements, or speaking with a New Zealand entry certifier if there is any doubt.
Palmers also collects and checks the required Customs and biosecurity documentation before shipping. It is much easier to sort out missing paperwork while the car is still in Australia.
Before you ship, make sure the car can actually be registered in New Zealand
An Australian registration does not automatically mean your car will meet every New Zealand entry-certification requirement.
This is particularly worth checking for older, modified, damaged, unusual or project vehicles.
Being able to put the car into a container is one thing. Being able to register and legally drive it in New Zealand is another.
If there is any doubt, check with NZTA or an entry certifier before you pay to ship it. Finding out in Australia is considerably easier than finding out once the vehicle has already crossed the Tasman.
Customs, MPI and NZTA: who does what?
Several organisations are involved when a vehicle enters New Zealand, and it is easy to confuse what each one is responsible for.
New Zealand Customs deals with the vehicle’s import entry, Customs value, duty and GST, including whether you qualify for concessionary entry.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) looks after biosecurity. Its role is to prevent soil, plant material, pests and other contaminants entering New Zealand with the vehicle.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) deals with the requirements for bringing the vehicle into the New Zealand road system, including border inspection, vehicle standards, entry certification, registration and licensing.
A vehicle clearing Customs and MPI does not mean it is automatically certified and ready to drive on New Zealand roads.
How clean does my car need to be before it goes to New Zealand?
Very clean.
New Zealand has strict biosecurity requirements, and used vehicles need to be thoroughly cleaned inside and out before they are shipped.
From practical experience, it is often the less obvious areas that need the most attention. Check around the tyres, inside the wheel arches and underneath the vehicle, where dirt and soil can easily be missed.
The aim is not simply to make the car look clean. Soil, plant material and other organic contamination should not be travelling with it.
If contamination is found after arrival, the vehicle may need further cleaning, treatment or inspection. That can add both cost and time before it is released.
A proper clean before shipping is much easier than dealing with a biosecurity issue once the car reaches New Zealand.
Can I leave personal belongings inside the car?
Loose personal belongings should be removed.
The vehicle needs to be accessible for biosecurity purposes, and goods inside the car can make an inspection more difficult or create their own quarantine concerns.
There is also the practical risk of loose items moving during handling and transport and damaging the interior or the item itself.
Vehicle equipment that forms part of the car may be acceptable, but check with Palmers before leaving anything inside or attached to the vehicle.
If you are moving household belongings as well, they should be packed and declared as part of your household shipment rather than stored loose inside the car.
How should I prepare my car before shipping?
Before handing the vehicle over:
- clean it thoroughly inside and out
- pay particular attention to the tyres, wheel arches and underside
- remove loose personal belongings
- check with Palmers before leaving equipment inside or attached to the vehicle
- keep the fuel level below a quarter of a tank and as close to empty as practical
- prepare the battery in accordance with Palmers’ shipping instructions
- tell us about any mechanical faults, damage, modifications or unusual features before the vehicle arrives at the depot.
It is also sensible to photograph the car before handover so you have a clear record of its condition.
We will confirm the final preparation requirements for your particular vehicle before it is shipped.
What happens when my car arrives in New Zealand?
Your car arriving at the port is not the end of the process.
A typical journey looks broadly like this:
Vessel arrives → Palmers-managed NZ destination handling → Customs and MPI clearance → NZTA border/structural inspection → vehicle released → transport to entry certifier → entry certification/compliance → Clean Car Standard requirements → registration and licensing → vehicle legally on the road
Some of these steps happen alongside each other, so don’t get too hung up on the exact order.
From your point of view, Palmers continues managing the move through the New Zealand destination and border process. We coordinate the arrival, Customs, MPI and initial vehicle inspection through our NZ network.
Once the car has been released, the road-compliance side begins. That normally means getting it to an entry certifier, completing any work required, dealing with the Clean Car Standard if it applies, and then registering and licensing the vehicle.
We’ll tell you what has been included in your Palmers service and what you still need to arrange, rather than simply handing you a car at the other end and leaving you to work it out.
What is the difference between NZTA border inspection and entry certification?
They are two different stages.
The NZTA border inspection forms part of the import process for used vehicles entering New Zealand. It records vehicle identity and condition information and can identify issues such as structural damage.
Entry certification, sometimes referred to as compliance, is the more detailed process required before the car can be registered for New Zealand road use.
The entry certifier checks the vehicle’s identity, ownership documentation, standards compliance and physical condition, and determines whether repairs or specialist certification are required.
Completing the border inspection does not necessarily mean the car is ready to register or drive.
Is Palmers vehicle shipping depot to depot?
Palmers can arrange vehicle shipping on a depot-to-depot basis, with additional collection or onward vehicle transport arranged where required and quoted.
The exact arrangement depends on the vehicle, origin and New Zealand destination.
Because the car may not yet be certified for normal New Zealand road use when it is released from the border process, specialist transport may be needed between the destination depot, entry-certification centre and final address.
Standard residential delivery, compliance, registration and on-road costs are not automatically included unless they appear in your quotation.
We will explain what has been allowed for before you commit to the move.
What should I budget for after my car arrives in New Zealand?
This is the bit that is often missing when people compare vehicle-shipping prices.
Getting the car across the Tasman is only part of the budget. There are inspection, certification and registration costs at the New Zealand end as well.
Some of these costs may already be included or prepaid in your Palmers quotation. Others are paid locally after the car arrives.
The table below is there to help you understand the overall budget, not to suggest every line is an extra charge on top of your Palmers quote.
| New Zealand cost | Useful planning guide |
| Combined Customs/MPI high-value sea import levy | NZ$118.44 excl. GST |
| MPI/biosecurity vehicle inspection handling | Approx. NZ$410 base under our current NZ destination tariff |
| NZTA border/structural inspection | Approx. NZ$340 base for a car under our current NZ destination tariff |
| Transport to entry-certification centre | Variable; roughly NZ$150–NZ$300 for a straightforward local transfer as a planning allowance |
| Entry certification/compliance | Provider-priced; allow roughly NZ$500–NZ$700 for a straightforward passenger vehicle as a planning guide |
| NZTA immigrant-vehicle application, if required | NZ$184 incl. GST |
| Registration including 12 months’ licensing – petrol passenger car | Approx. NZ$311–NZ$464, depending on engine size |
| Registration including 12 months’ licensing – diesel passenger car | Approx. NZ$351–NZ$540, depending on engine size |
| Registration including 12 months’ licensing – electric passenger car | Approx. NZ$351 |
| Clean Car Standard | Vehicle-specific |
| Current NZ destination storage if delayed | NZ$130 per vehicle per week under our current destination tariff |
There can also be smaller first-registration charges, including the passenger-car tyre stewardship fee, VIN data fee and Clean Car Standard administration fee.
The entry-certification figure above is a planning allowance rather than a fixed NZTA charge. The actual cost depends on the provider, the vehicle and whether any additional work or certification is required.
Some New Zealand destination, MPI and border-inspection components may already be included or prepaid in your Palmers price. We will explain what has been included and what remains payable after arrival.
What does the broader New Zealand process cost?
As a rough planning figure, a straightforward passenger car can easily involve around NZ$1,900–NZ$2,500 across the broader New Zealand border, certification and on-road process.
That assumes the car qualifies for the relevant Customs concession, arrives clean, doesn’t need significant compliance work and doesn’t pick up a large Clean Car Standard charge.
Don’t simply add NZ$2,500 to your Palmers quote.
Depending on the service you’ve chosen, some MPI, destination and border-inspection costs may already be included or prepaid. We’ll show you what is already covered.
The point is to understand the total landed and on-road budget, without counting the same charge twice.
What should I check before sending my car?
Before you commit to shipping, make sure you understand:
- What your vehicle is likely to cost to move.
- What is already included in the Palmers quotation.
- Whether you may qualify for concessionary Customs entry.
- Whether the vehicle is likely to meet New Zealand entry-certification requirements.
- What compliance, registration and on-road costs you should allow for after arrival.
- How clean and prepared the vehicle needs to be before shipping.
- Whether Shared / Groupage or Dedicated / Sole-use makes more sense for your timing and budget.
And if anything about the vehicle is unusual, tell us.
A modification, mechanical issue, project car or special delivery requirement does not necessarily stop the move. It simply gives us something useful to plan for before the vehicle reaches the container.
Moving your household belongings as well?
If your car is only one part of your move to New Zealand, Palmers can look at the relocation as a whole rather than asking you to coordinate each component separately.
Your household belongings are calculated according to the volume you are taking, while the vehicle is allowed for separately.
So the car does not disappear inside a generic three-bedroom house price. We can look at what you are actually taking and the services you genuinely need.
You can use our New Zealand Moving Cost Calculator to get an indicative cost based on your route, household belongings, vehicles and moving-service preferences.
For more information about the wider relocation, see our Moving to New Zealand guide or learn more about Palmers International Moving Services.
More questions about bringing a car to New Zealand
Do I need to have owned my car for 12 months to import it to New Zealand?
No, not simply to import it.
The 12-month rule matters because the length of time you have personally owned and used the vehicle can affect whether you qualify for particular Customs concessions or NZTA immigrant-vehicle provisions.
It does not mean every vehicle must have been owned for a year before it can enter New Zealand.
If you have owned your car for less than 12 months, tell us. It may change the Customs or compliance position, but it does not automatically stop the vehicle from being shipped.
Can I bring my car to New Zealand without paying duty and GST?
Some people moving to New Zealand may qualify for Customs concession Reference 80(c), which can allow a qualifying personal vehicle to enter without the duty and GST that would otherwise apply.
Several conditions need to be met. These generally include holding an appropriate document authorising residence in New Zealand, having lived or been domiciled outside New Zealand for more than 21 months, having personally owned and used the vehicle overseas for at least 12 months before the relevant departure or shipping date, and completing the required Customs undertaking.
A qualifying vehicle can also arrive up to six months before its owner, provided the appropriate evidence is supplied.
If a vehicle brought in under the concession is sold or otherwise disposed of within two years, Customs may require the duty and/or GST that would have applied when it was imported.
Twelve months of ownership on its own is not enough to establish eligibility. The wider concession requirements still need to be met.
What if I don’t qualify for the Customs concession?
You may still be able to import the car, but duty and/or GST may apply.
New Zealand Customs can calculate the Customs value using the vehicle’s purchase price or accepted valuation together with relevant international freight and insurance costs.
For example, if the Customs-assessed value were NZ$35,000 and 15% GST applied, the GST component alone would be NZ$5,250.
That is only an illustration. Customs determines the actual value and treatment of each vehicle.
What is the difference between the Customs concession and NZTA immigrant-vehicle status?
They are separate things.
Customs concession Reference 80(c) mainly deals with whether duty and GST apply to the vehicle.
NZTA immigrant-vehicle status relates to vehicle standards. An eligible immigrant’s vehicle may receive relief from certain standards that would otherwise apply to an imported vehicle.
There is some overlap in the eligibility requirements, but one does not replace the other.
NZTA currently charges NZ$184 including GST to process an immigrant-vehicle application, and the vehicle still has to go through entry certification before it can be registered for road use.
What if my car has a mechanical fault?
A minor mechanical fault does not automatically mean the vehicle cannot be shipped.
What we need to know is what the issue is before the car arrives for loading, and whether it may affect the vehicle once it reaches New Zealand.
Shipping a car and registering it for New Zealand road use are two different things.
If the vehicle has a mechanical fault, damage or anything unusual about its condition, tell us early. We can plan for the transport side, and you can check the NZTA or entry-certification position before committing to the move.
Can Palmers ship a project car to New Zealand?
Potentially, yes.
Project cars, non-running vehicles and other unusual vehicle moves need a little more planning than an ordinary running car.
For a project vehicle, we would generally ask for it to be delivered to our depot and make sure our New Zealand destination team understands its condition and any particular handling requirements before it is shipped.
If your vehicle may qualify as a special-interest vehicle, NZTA has a separate permit process and eligibility requirements that are worth checking before you ship. It is also worth checking the New Zealand compliance position before committing to the transport cost.
Tell us what you are working with at the beginning, and we can plan around it.
Can I drive my imported car from the depot to the compliance centre?
Not automatically.
For a private importer, an uncertified vehicle will normally need to be transported, trailered or towed to the entry certifier rather than simply driven away from the destination depot.
Palmers can explain the destination handout arrangements and, where required, arrange suitable transport to the compliance centre.
What is the Clean Car Standard?
New Zealand’s Clean Car Standard applies to many light vehicles being imported for the first time and uses the vehicle’s CO₂ performance to determine whether a charge or credit applies.
For a used light vehicle under the 2026 Pay As You Go system, the current charge is NZ$6 for each gram of CO₂ above the vehicle’s applicable target.
Every vehicle has its own applicable CO₂ target, so the actual result needs to be checked for the vehicle you are importing.
What are Road User Charges?
If you are bringing a diesel, battery-electric or certain other vehicles to New Zealand, you may also need to allow for Road User Charges (RUC) once the vehicle is on the road.
For most light two-axle diesel and battery-electric vehicles up to 3,500kg, the current rate is NZ$76 per 1,000 kilometres, plus the transaction fee.
Qualifying plug-in petrol hybrids currently pay NZ$38 per 1,000 kilometres, plus the transaction fee.
RUC is an ongoing New Zealand motoring cost rather than a Palmers shipping charge, but it is useful to know about when comparing the cost of taking your existing car with you against buying another one after you arrive.
Planning to take your car to New Zealand?
Tell us where you’re moving from, where you’re going and what you drive.
We can show you the Shared and Dedicated options, explain what is included in the Palmers price and flag anything you should check before the car leaves Australia.
And if taking the car doesn’t make financial sense, that is useful to know too.
We’d rather help you work that out before you ship it.