To import or not to import from uk??

[TimW]

Hi Everyone, Newbe here... Living in NZ for nearly a year and still have a car in UK and trying to decide if to sent it over or not, so has anyone any advice/experiences????
The car is a VW golf V5, 2000 reg... worth £1000 now in UK and would cost £1850 to sent over with Taurus. The car seems to be worth around 5/7000nzd watching trademe. Ive contacted the AA who say I would get the car in with my visa status even though the front inpact for the car doesn't meet the NZ spec.

Help lol

Tim

[JandM]

Hello and welcome.

The thing with European cars in NZ is that there are fewer people who know them inside out, and fewer dealerships that carry the parts in case anything needs doing, and you pay more for your specialist, and despite the inconvenience. There was a friend of my son's who had a small ding in a car park which led to a SIX MONTHS' wait while the wing or door panel or whatever it was came by sea. It's up to you whether you love the car enough! That said, at the last count, I think, in 11 years in NZ, my son's total of European cars owned was up to eight.

[dharder]

I thought the front impact compliance was they key to being allowed on the road here? But I might be wrong. I also can't quite believe that a car built in 2000 shouldn't be compliant. Ours is a 1997 car, and it was fine.

Anyway, as JandM says, it is your call how attached you are to your car. We brought our VW Multivan, and even though the only easy part was the shipping (getting it on the road was a bit of a hassle, it's a left hand drive, though), I am very glad we did it.

Daniela

[WinnieQ]

Hi, we have looked into exporting our vehicles when (fingers crossed) visa is granted. We researched vehicle values and export cost, import duty and have decided to bring over new-ish pre-owned jeep and trade in for 2nd new vehicle to export (will pay GST on this vehicle) but weighing up all costs considered beleive it more worthwhile to bring a more valuable vehicle (they cost the same to ship). Not sure if you'll get away GST free if you've been living in NZ for last year. This is an extract from info shipping company sent us:
Motor cars, motor cycles and motor scooters
• Original Passport
• Original registration / ownership certificate and / or original deregistration certificate as applicable
• Purchase invoice
• Original compliance certificate issued by the manufacturer of the car if applicable /
required Documents authorising residence in New Zealand – means any of the following:
• A New Zealand Passport
• An Australian Passport
• A current New Zealand Residence visa or permit or a current New Zealand returning residence visa or permit
• A current permanent residence visa (including a residence return visa) issued by the Government of the Commonwealth of
Australia
• A current New Zealand work visa or a work permit that was issued for a minimum of Documents required Customs Prescriptions Remarks
twelve months
• A current New Zealand work visa or work permit issued under the Work to Residence (Skilled Migrant Category) policy or the Long Term Business Visa/Permit category
• A current New Zealand visitor’s visa or permit that was issued for a minimum of three years

Concessionary entry (duty and / or tax free) is available to persons who meet all of the following conditions:
• Have arrived and on the date the motor vehicle is imported, hold a document authorising residence in New Zealand (see
left); and
• Have resided outside of NZ for the whole of 21 months before the date of arrival in NZ;
and
• Have owned and used the vehicle for at least 12 months before the date of departure to NZ or the date on which the vehicle is surrendered for shipping, whichever is earlier; and
• Do not sell the vehicle within 24 months of importation.

[TimW]

Thanks for your replies, helpfull and encouraging. I think I tick all the boxes so thats good!! Going to contact the AA for a quick check and then all I want to know is what gst I'm up for as Ive read the website and clear as mud lol. Anyone experienced with the cost of shipping? £1850 seem average?

Tim

[TimW]

I know there is not a lot wrong with the car whih is always a bonus eh... Multivan sounds fun!!

[britgeek]

Hmm. £1850 is about $3500 right now... And does it include all on-road costs?

From shipping my bike in from Japan, the main costs of note were the shipping fees (transport from my home in Tokyo to the port, onto the RORO, and delivery to the dealership in ChCh once it got here after 4 weeks at sea), GST (although I believe that can be postponed such that you only pay the GST if you sell the vehicle in NZ), and WOF/Rego fees (I also had to have a complete brake examination, which was extra). I bought my bike new in 2008, shipped it here in 2011, and ended up paying GST on only 30% of it's purchase value. All-in-all, it cost me around $3000 to get it on the road here.

If you've had the Golf since new or you know the history and are comfortable with it mechanically, then I would say ship it over. Otherwise, if you take the $1800 from the sale in the UK, plus the $3500 you would of paid for shipping, you'd have around $5300 to spend on a decent second-hand car here. I bought a 94 Mitsu RVR Sports 2.0i 4WD in good working condition for NZ$2000, and there are heaps of them over here so getting parts is easy.

Not sure what shipping company WinnieQ used, but I was able to import my bike in November 2011 even though I had arrived on a vistors visa in September 2011, and I have a UK passport.

[Georgebulldog]

Have you thought about where you are living & if you want to be driving a manual or automatic? Most cars from my experience here in Wellington are autos, I had to use a manual for a few days & it was horrendous for where I live as it's all hills & spent those few days shouting at the cars in front of me not to stop :-) We are currently on our 4th car, all have been autos one being a Golf. Unless your attached to it I would question the amount of hassle & cost it will be to ship it verses buying a car here.