New Zealand is about as far from the UK as you can get, so it is natural to assume that shipping a car from there is a huge undertaking. It is a long voyage, but it is not a complicated one. New Zealand cars are right-hand drive like ours, so once the car lands there is usually far less to change than on most imports.
- RoRo
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Container
- 8 to 10 weeks
- Guide shipping price
- From £3,200
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Import tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty
Collection and ports
We collect from throughout New Zealand and take the car to the port. The ports we ship from are:
- Auckland
- Tauranga, the country's largest export port
- Wellington
- Lyttelton, for Christchurch
- Napier
- Nelson
- Bluff
That spread means there is usually a port not far from the car, on either island.
RoRo or container
Both methods run from New Zealand. RoRo, where the car is driven onto the ship, takes around 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the sailing schedule. A container takes around 8 to 10 weeks, sometimes more, depending on the route.
Most container shipments go in a shared container with other customers' cars, which keeps the cost down. If you would rather have one to yourself, we can book a dedicated 20ft container.
| Feature | RoRo | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Time at sea | 6 to 8 weeks | 8 to 10 weeks or more |
| Car must run | Yes | No |
| Sealed in transit | No | Yes |
| Own container option | No | Dedicated 20ft |
If you are not sure which suits your car, container, RoRo or air sets out the trade-offs.
Your New Zealand paperwork
0 of 4 done
What happens when it lands
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Before it sails
Collection
We collect the car in New Zealand and take it to the port.
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6 to 10 weeks
At sea
Around 6 to 8 weeks by RoRo, or 8 to 10 weeks by container.
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On arrival
Customs
Our in-house HMRC CDS agents make the customs entry, and the import tax is paid unless you qualify for Transfer of Residence.
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Next
To our site
The car is brought to our site in Castle Donington, Derby.
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At our site
Changes and testing
Usually just a rear fog light and a speedo conversion, then an IVA test or MOT on our own lanes.
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Within 10 working days
Registration
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car and fit your plates.
Fewer changes for a right-hand drive car
Because New Zealand drives on the left, the car is already set up for UK roads in the ways that matter most. The changes we usually make are:
- A rear fog light, if the car does not have one
- A speedometer that reads in mph, on cars under 10 years old
The test depends on age. A car under 10 years old takes an IVA test. One between 10 and 40 years old takes an MOT, usually with a rear fog light added first. A car over 40 years old does not need an MOT, and can be delivered straight to your UK address before it is registered.
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run our own IVA lane. We are one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with the DVSA visiting weekly, so you are not waiting for a slot at a government test centre. The My Car Import IVA page explains the test in more detail.
What it costs
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from New Zealand starts from around £3,200. That is shipping only. It does not include registration, other services, import tax or any work the car needs.
New Zealand is outside the EU, so a car bought there normally pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty, worked out on the price of the car plus shipping, with the VAT on top of the duty. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty.
Moving to the UK? If you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and owned the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty. Apply to HMRC before the car ships.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to ship a car from New Zealand to the UK?
Around 6 to 8 weeks by RoRo, or around 8 to 10 weeks or more by container. After that the car clears customs, has any changes it needs, is tested and is registered.
Which New Zealand ports do you ship from?
Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton, Napier, Nelson and Bluff. We collect from throughout New Zealand.
Does a New Zealand car need many changes for UK roads?
Usually very few, because it is already right-hand drive. The common changes are a rear fog light and, on cars under 10 years old, a speedometer that reads in mph.
How much does it cost to ship a car from New Zealand to the UK?
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping starts from around £3,200. That excludes registration, other services, import tax and any remedial work.
Tell us about the car on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from New Zealand to UK plates.
