NZ Left Hand Drive Vehicle Rules

Old Vehicles = more than 20 years old

Vehicles that are at least 20 years old may be imported and used on NZ roads in LHD form.  No permit is required. We take care of all the paperwork IN YOUR NAME and all facets of the importation process on your behalf.  

For full details please see:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/12/importing-a-left-hand-drive-vehicle.html

New Vehicles = less than 20 years old (coupes and convertibles)

As of 1 April 2010 the rules regarding importation and use of LHD cars on our roads have changed. You can now register a car in original LHD form as long as it meets the criteria set.  The rules were changed to allow late model collectible cars into NZ without requiring (sometimes agricultural and always expensive) conversion to RHD. 

There are several criteria set but if you are a NZ citizen or resident and havent imported on of these in the past 2 years you may be granted a LHD permit if your car meets 3 of the 4 following criteria:

      1) The car is high performance

      2) The car is collectible

      3) There were less than 20,000 units produced

      4) It's a coupe or convertible

There is a quota of 500 permits per year

For full details please see:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/12a/category-a.html

NOTE RE EMISSIONS :  Vehicles manufactured between 1990 and 2000 do not as of right meet NZ emissions requirements. There are some expemptions but we dont recommend going there....

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/docs/vehicle-exhaust-emissions-2007.pdf