🇳🇿 Importing a Japanese car to New Zealand

New Zealand does not gate on age. It gates on frontal-impact and emissions standards, plus entry certification once the car lands.

Standards, not age

There is no age cutoff. Eligibility is decided by safety and emissions standards.

Duty: 0% duty, 15% GST. No tariff, but inspection is thorough.

Duty origin follows where the car was built, not where it was bought. A German car purchased in Japan is still EU-origin.

How it goes

1. Check the model meets the applicable frontal impact standard.
2. Order a Japanese export certificate and de-registration papers.
3. Border inspection for biosecurity — undercarriage cleanliness matters.
4. Entry certification (VINZ/VTNZ), then registration.
5. No duty; pay 15% GST on the landed value.

Prices are the Japanese domestic asking price. Shipping, duty and compliance are extra — ask us for a landed quote and we will put the whole number in one place.

Request a quote