Car Shipping to New Zealand
from the United Kingdom
New Zealand is a popular and relatively straightforward destination for UK vehicle imports. The Ship Cars provides regular RORO and container services to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Lyttelton. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to New Zealand from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to New Zealand costs from £2,230 port-to-port for a standard saloon (4x4/SUV from £2,970). 38–48 days to Auckland from Southampton. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch). The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Shipping to New Zealand: cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Information reviewed September 2026. Always confirm final rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to New Zealand
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) in about 38–48 days to Auckland from Southampton. RORO: £2,230. Container: Enquire (20ft container).
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to New Zealand
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 38–48 days to Auckland from Southampton.
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check New Zealand age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to New Zealand
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch). Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including New Zealand, inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
New Zealand vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- New Zealand is more open than Australia for vehicle imports.
- No age restrictions.
- Import duty is 0% for most passenger vehicles from the UK (under UK-NZ FTA).
- GST 15%.
- All vehicles must pass a NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) entry inspection.
- Vehicles must meet NZ emissions standards.
- Biosecurity inspection mandatory — vehicles must be clean and free of contaminants.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- MPI biosecurity declaration
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official New Zealand & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to New Zealand?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for New Zealand, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
38–48 days to Auckland
Ports
Auckland, Wellington +1
Starting From
£2,230
Overview
New Zealand is a popular and relatively straightforward destination for UK vehicle imports. The Ship Cars provides regular RORO and container services to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Lyttelton.
Shipping Methods
RORO and container shipping to major NZ ports. Auckland is the primary entry port. Vehicles must be biosecurity cleaned before or on arrival.
Transit Time
38–48 days to Auckland from Southampton.
Import Regulations
New Zealand is more open than Australia for vehicle imports. No age restrictions. Import duty is 0% for most passenger vehicles from the UK (under UK-NZ FTA). GST 15%. All vehicles must pass a NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) entry inspection. Vehicles must meet NZ emissions standards. Biosecurity inspection mandatory — vehicles must be clean and free of contaminants.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- MPI biosecurity declaration
Costs & Fees
| Saloon vehicle — RORO | £2,230 |
| 4x4 / SUV — RORO | £2,970 |
| Container | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 2 cars (saloon / 4x4) — 40ft container | Enquire |
Port-to-port only. UK collection, destination charges and import duty are quoted separately.
RORO shipping to New Zealand (Auckland) is £2,230 port-to-port for a saloon and £2,970 for a 4x4 / SUV. Import duty 0% (UK-NZ FTA). GST 15%. Entry inspection ~NZD 250.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there duty on UK cars imported to New Zealand?
What is biosecurity inspection?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to New Zealand?
Which UK ports do you ship from to New Zealand?
What documents do I need to ship a car to New Zealand?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to New Zealand?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to New Zealand?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to New Zealand from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to New Zealand every month. Oceania is one of the most rewarding long-haul corridors for UK exporters thanks to the natural fit of right-hand-drive vehicles, established personal-import schemes and strict compliance frameworks. Container shipping to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle and Auckland is the standard route. Typical clients on this lane include classic and JDM-equivalent collectors, alongside private owners relocating to New Zealand and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-New Zealand corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with New Zealand customs.
Vehicles depart from Southampton, Bristol (Portbury), Felixstowe and arrive at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) via Cape routing for oversize and project cargo. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 38–48 days to auckland from southampton, supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to New Zealand car shipping works
Every shipment to New Zealand follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Southampton, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Auckland (and onward feeder to Wellington where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to New Zealand.
RORO to New Zealand
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for New Zealand. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Auckland. RORO shipping to New Zealand — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to New Zealand
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Wellington. Dedicated container shipping to New Zealand.
New Zealand ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for New Zealand are typically routed through Auckland as the lead discharge port, with Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to New Zealand and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Auckland
- Port of Wellington
- Port of Lyttelton (Christchurch)
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
New Zealand import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into New Zealand is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest New Zealand customs schedule before quoting.
- Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) and Asbestos Declaration in Australia
- Border Inspection (MPI) and entry certification in New Zealand
- RAWS, SEVS and personal-import compliance pathways
- Container shipping to Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland
Document checklist for New Zealand
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- MPI biosecurity declaration
For full country-specific customs rules, see our New Zealand import guides and articles, our UK and New Zealand customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Auckland.
Who ships to New Zealand
- • Returning New Zealand residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to New Zealand
- • Oceania car dealers and New Zealand re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to New Zealand
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for New Zealand
• Specialist UK-to-New Zealand corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to New Zealand pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Auckland agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to New Zealand
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Oceania destinations from the UK
We ship to 2+ other Oceania countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as New Zealand. Many customers shipping to New Zealand also enquire about Australia because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to New Zealand
Request a free, no-obligation UK-to-New Zealand shipping quote online. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.