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How to Import a Car from Japan to New Zealand

โœ“ No age limit RHD โ€” like NZ 0% duty on cars โฑ ~14โ€“28 days at sea

Yes — New Zealand is one of the easiest places to import a car from Japan. There is no age limit and no duty on cars — you pay 15% GST.

But the car must meet NZ safety and emissions standards, and if it ships between 1 September and 30 April it needs stink bug treatment first.

Written by Abdur (AZi Champ)Checked against official government pages
Age rule
No age limit
Cars 20+ years old skip some standards.
Customs duty
0% on cars
15% GST on the price, freight, insurance and duty.
Standards
Emissions + safety
Cars under 20 must meet Japanese emissions levels.
Stink bug season
1 Sep – 30 Apr
Treatment by an approved provider before arrival.

โœ… Can you import a car from Japan to New Zealand?

Yes — the car's age decides which standards it must meet.

Most imports
๐Ÿš—

Under 20 years old

Everyday imports
  • Petrol: Japan 2005 "low harm" or Japan 2018 emissions standard. Diesel: Japan 2009 standard.
  • Electronic stability control (ESC) and frontal impact rules apply.
  • The auction sheet and papers help prove it.
๐Ÿ

20+ years old

Classics
  • Exempt from the frontal impact, ESC and emissions standards.
  • Still needs the border inspection and entry certification.
โญ

Special interest (SIV)

Rare cars
  • A permit for special cars that don't meet the standards.
  • Only 200 permits a year, for cars only.
๐ŸšซTakata airbags block entry. A car with an outstanding Takata "Alpha" airbag recall cannot be imported. Check the recall before you buy.

๐Ÿš— Which Japanese cars meet the rules?

20-year line today
Nov 2006

Cars built around November 2006 or earlier skip the frontal impact, ESC and emissions standards. This line moves forward every month.

Emissions standardPetrolDiesel
Now (cars under 20 years)Japan 2005 "low harm" or Japan 2018Japan 2009
From 1 July 2028Japan 2018 "low harm"Japan 2018

The date that counts is the border inspection date, not the purchase date. Japanese cars are right-hand drive, like NZ.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to New Zealand?

No duty on cars. GST, inspection and certification make up most of the extra cost.

Car price in JapanAuction price + exporter fee, delivered to the Japanese port.
You choose
Shipping + marine insuranceRoRo ship or container to an NZ port.
Quote
Customs dutyCars and motorcycles pay no duty.
0%
GST15% of the price + international freight + insurance + any duty.
15%
Clean Car StandardHigh-CO2 cars can cost more to bring in; low-CO2 cars can earn credits. Use the NZTA calculator.
Varies
Stink bug treatment (season)Approved treatment in Japan for cars shipped 1 Sep – 30 Apr.
Quote
Levies + border inspectionCustoms and MPI levies, and the biosecurity inspection.
Fee
Entry certification + repairsCompliance inspection and any repairs it needs.
Quote
Registration + WoFPlates, registration and the Warrant of Fitness.
Fee

Worked example: a car from Japan

Example figures in NZD. Your own numbers will differ.
Car price in Japan$12,000
Shipping + insurance$2,500
Customs duty (cars)$0
GST — 15% of $14,500$2,175
Landed, before certification and registration$16,675

Customs works out the GST on your import entry. Certification, levies and registration come on top.

๐Ÿงฎ Live Landed-Cost Calculator

Estimate the total cost of importing a Japanese car to New Zealand โ€” including auction price, shipping, duty & taxes โ€” in your local currency. Live FX rates updated daily.

Cost to import to New Zealand
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Quick pick:
ยฅ100kยฅ1Mยฅ3Mยฅ10M
$800$1.5k$2.5k$4k
Auction priceโ€”
Shippingโ€”
Insurance (1.5%)โ€”
CIF subtotalโ€”
Duty & taxes (~15%)โ€”
Total landed cost โ€”
Approx. in NZD โ€”
Vehicle Shipping & insurance Duty & taxes

Estimate only. Actual cost depends on auction fees, current FX, port charges, and customs valuation. Always confirm with a licensed broker before purchase.

๐Ÿค– AI Import Advisor

Tell us the car you're considering and our AI will give you an honest assessment specific to New Zealand's rules — whether to import it, what to verify, and what to watch for.

Your inquiry is sent to Google Gemini AI for analysis. Don't include personal information. Free to use, 5 queries per hour.

Reading the auction sheet rulesโ€ฆ
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โ€ฆ
Why it works
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          AI-generated guidance — not a substitute for a licensed customs broker. Verify auction sheet, current duty rates, and import permits before purchase.

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          ๐Ÿ—‚ How to import a car from Japan to New Zealand, step by step

          1
          Check the standards. Emissions, ESC and frontal impact — or confirm the car is 20+ years old.
          2
          Check the car before you pay. Get the original Japanese auction sheet and translation, and check for a Takata airbag recall.
          3
          Treat and clean it in Japan. In stink bug season (1 Sep – 30 Apr), use an MPI-approved provider. Clean it inside and out.
          4
          Ship it. Common ports: Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson. About 14–28 days at sea.
          5
          Clear customs. Lodge the import entry and pay GST and levies.
          6
          Pass the border inspection. Biosecurity and a check the car is what the papers say.
          7
          Get entry certification. A compliance inspection with the ownership papers and certified translations.
          8
          Fix anything it needs. Repairs found at certification must be done first.
          9
          Register and get a WoF. Clean Car Standard settled, plates, registration and Warrant of Fitness.

          ๐Ÿ“‹ Documents you need

          ๐Ÿ“„Japanese export / deregistration certificate — original, with a certified translation
          ๐Ÿ“„Bill of lading and invoice
          ๐Ÿ“„Proof of standards — emissions and safety evidence
          ๐Ÿ“„Stink bug treatment certificate — in season
          ๐Ÿ“„Ownership papers — back to the last registered owner

          ๐Ÿชฒ Stink bug season and biosecurity

          ๐Ÿชฒ 1 September – 30 AprilJapan is a stink bug risk country. Cars shipped in season need treatment by an MPI-approved provider before they arrive.
          ๐Ÿงผ Clean carNo soil, seeds, plants or insects, inside or out. A dirty car means cleaning and re-inspection fees.
          ๐ŸŽˆ Takata recallAn outstanding Takata "Alpha" airbag recall means the car cannot be imported.
          ๐ŸŒฟ Clean Car StandardThe car must be accepted under the Clean Car Standard before it can be registered.

          ๐Ÿ” Check the auction sheet before you buy

          Most Japanese cars for New Zealand come from auctions in Japan. These marks on the sheet cost you money after import:

          S ยท C
          Rust and corrosionUnderbody rust means repair bills. Common on cars from snowy areas of Japan.
          ๅ† ๆฐด
          Flood damageA flooded car is a bad buy anywhere. This note is written in Japanese, so get it translated.
          โ˜… / ?
          Mileage doubtThe real mileage is unknown. Japanese sheets show kilometres, not miles.
          R / RA
          Repaired accidentBoth mean the same thing — the auction house picks the letter. Check what was repaired.
          XX ยท W
          Replaced or repaired panelsOne is normal. Several on one side, or near a pillar, point to a bigger past impact.
          0 ยท 1
          Grade 0, 1 or "as-is"Major problems, or not graded at all. Only buy with a full translation and a repair quote.
          ๐Ÿ“– How to read an auction sheet ๐Ÿ”ค Every damage code ๐ŸŒ Sheet translation

          โš ๏ธ Common mistakes

          โ“ Questions buyers ask

          Can I import a car from Japan to New Zealand?
          Yes. There is no age limit, but cars under 20 years old must meet NZ emissions and safety standards.
          Is there duty on cars from Japan?
          No. Cars and motorcycles pay no duty. You pay 15% GST on the price, freight and insurance.
          What emissions standard does my car need?
          For cars under 20 years old: petrol cars Japan 2005 "low harm" or Japan 2018, diesel cars Japan 2009. Stricter rules start on 1 July 2028.
          What is stink bug season?
          1 September to 30 April. Cars shipped from Japan in these months need treatment by an MPI-approved provider before they arrive.
          Can I import a car older than 20 years?
          Yes. Cars 20 years and older are exempt from the frontal impact, ESC and emissions standards.
          What is entry certification?
          A compliance inspection that checks the car and its papers before it can be registered.
          Do I pay a Clean Car Standard charge?
          High-CO2 cars can cost more to bring in, while low-CO2 cars can earn credits. NZTA has a calculator.
          Do I need a customs broker?
          It is not required, but many first-time importers use a compliance agent to handle customs, inspection and certification.

          ๐Ÿ“š Official sources

          Every rule above comes from these official pages. Rules change — confirm with your customs broker before you ship.

          Toyota Aqua Mazda Demio Toyota Prius Nissan Note Suzuki Swift

          Verify the auction sheet before you import

          Confirm grade, mileage and accident history before shipping to New Zealand. Original record from Japan's auction database. From $8.

          Verify Auction Sheet โ†’

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          Useful resources for New Zealand importers

          Tools and guides to make your Japanese car import successful

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          Verify Auction Sheet
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          Import Calculator
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          Car Value Calculator
          What is your car worth?
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          Sheet Translation
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