Car--Import or Local Buy

[rizjunior]

Have seen and compared prices of few cars on my list and prices in NZ are almost double compared to UK for some brands. A well maintained BMW 520, 2004 model could be sourced out from UK for around 7k, add 1500 pounds for shipping to NZ making it 8500 or round figure 9,000 pounds (NZ$18,000 appx). Same car is worth over NZ$30K in NZ.

Has anyone imported a car for personal use and how much tax/duties etc will have to be paid. Are there any other hidden costs apart from clearing agent fees, port charges etc? Can anyone give details and recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

[whakapapa]

Hi we're looking at doing this for the same reasons. You don't have to pay duty if you have owned the car for two years and agree not to sell it for two years.

[James 1077]

You need to also be aware that prices for servicing, maintaining and repairing most European cars make them very much luxury items over here! This is to the point that some people believe that Citroens and Fiats are really good cars!

Also parts can take a LONG time to get over here if they are slightly out of the ordinary (a friend at work has a Peugeot that was imported from the UK but not sold here - she has been waiting 6 weeks for a part to get shipped over and can't drive the car until it is here!).

[72andsunny]

Hi we're looking at doing this for the same reasons. You don't have to pay duty if you have owned the car for two years and agree not to sell it for two years.

I believe it's just 1 year prior ownership, and 1 year after importation before selling: http://www.customs.govt.nz/traveller...rges+apply.htm

OP: I'd count on spending an extra $1000 on: port charges (including storage charges when MAF takes too long to inspect), MAF charges, and compliance/registration charges...maybe a little more since registration went up earlier this year.

[xanctus]

Well, I am not so sure about importing it yourself.
But I can tell you this...as long as the model you want to import available as a NZ new model, then at least the panel parts are OK. But if not, then just like James 1077 said about his friend. It will take a long time to get it replaced of fixed.

I have a honda, which Honda NZ doesnt bring. Therefore, when I got hit from behind it took me about 2 weeks to get the car fixed. Meaning within 2 weeks I had to rent or do something with the car so that I can be mobile. However, the panel beater was kind enough to get the boot door replaced first so that I can use it.

[Super_BQ]

Same car is worth over NZ$30K in NZ.

I just had a quick look on TradeMe and a 2004 520i sticker dealer price is $25K. You can easily take $5K off and buy for under $20K NZD so I don't think there would be any savings if you imported yourself. Actually, you would be a fool to think NZ 2nd hand cars are far more expensive than in the UK. Consider the hassles and risks of importing. If the car has any hint of a previous accident where the car's structure had been compromised, the car can't be registered. You would have to make very sure the car you're buying had been looked over inside / out to ensure no previous body repair was done (that would compromise the structure of the car's body) because during the registration process, it's common for the inspectors to ask for interior panel to come off so the bare metal work is exposed.

[rizjunior]

Just checked on trademe as well and price is not less than 30K though bidding starts from 25k as well. Prices on autotrader are also in the same figure.

[diogenese]

Looking at prices recently you would be better off importing a caravan, they are hideously expensive here!
It is one year ownership before importing and keep for a year to get tax and duty free, I have signed the forms yesterday
My 1992 subaru legacy is worth next to nothing in the UK and $3000 over here but I can only import it as it has been in NZ before, it wouldn't pass current emisions rules.

[three to go]

Originally Posted by whakapapa
Hi we're looking at doing this for the same reasons. You don't have to pay duty if you have owned the car for two years and agree not to sell it for two years.

I believe it's just 1 year prior ownership, and 1 year after importation before selling.

We're in the process of shipping 2 cars from the UK to NZ at the moment and have been advised that its 1 year prior ownership and 2 years after importation before selling to meet the duty-free concessionary requirements...

http://www.customs.govt.nz/traveller...+residents.htm

It is possible for more than one motor vehicle, motorcycle, motor scooter, boat, or aircraft to be imported duty-free, provided that the importer/owner is able to meet all of the concessionary requirements in respect of each vehicle, boat, or aircraft. Full documentary evidence should be available to establish that:

You have arrived in New Zealand to take up residency and on the date the goods are imported hold a document authorising residence (refer below for list of documents) in New Zealand.
For the whole of the period of 21 months preceding your arrival, you have lived outside New Zealand (brief holiday or exploratory visits do not exclude a person from qualifying for this concession).
You have personally owned and used the vehicle, boat, or aircraft for at least one year before the date of your departure for New Zealand or the date on which the vehicle, boat, or aircraft is surrendered for shipping (or, where the boat, or aircraft is imported other than as cargo, the date of its departure for New Zealand); whichever is the earlier.
The vehicle, boat, or aircraft is being imported for your own use and not for sale, gift, or disposal in any other way.

Importers will be required to give a written undertaking that if a vehicle, boat, or aircraft granted duty free entry is sold or otherwise disposed of within two years of the date of importation, they will be required to pay the Customs duty that would normally have been payable.

[diogenese]

The form I just sent off to CHCH customs said that they would require the duty to be paid if I sold it within 12 months.