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.
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
38–48 days to Auckland
Ports
Auckland, Wellington +1
Starting From
£2,000
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.
Shared Container Shipping to New Zealand
For enclosed protection at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated container, our shared container shipping service consolidates two to four UK vehicles bound for New Zealand into a single sealed 40ft high-cube container. Typically 25–35% cheaper than a dedicated container, with marine all-risks insurance, professional racking and personal-effects allowance included. See the full shared container shipping page for routes, prices and sailing schedules to New Zealand.
Explore shared container shippingTransit 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
RORO from £2,000–£2,800. Container from £3,000–£4,200. 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?
Shared Container Shipping to New Zealand — FAQs
Common questions about shared container shipping to New Zealand from the United Kingdom.
Do you offer shared container shipping to New Zealand?
How much cheaper is shared container shipping to New Zealand than a dedicated container?
Can I put personal effects in the car when shipping to New Zealand by shared container?
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.
Shared container to New Zealand
Two to four UK vehicles consolidated into a sealed 40ft container — typically 25–35% cheaper than a sole-use container. Shared container shipping to New Zealand — get a shared container cost estimate.
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 consolidated shared container departures from the UK. For sole-use loads we 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 quote online for your UK-to-New Zealand shipment. Most quotes are returned within one working hour.
Which Shipping Method Is Best for New Zealand?
Both roll-on/roll-off and container services run on the UK to New Zealand lane. RoRo suits standard running vehicles, while container shipping is the choice for higher-value, modified or non-running cars.
| Method | Best for | Main advantage | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo | Standard, road-legal running vehicles | Usually the lowest cost to Auckland | Vehicle must drive on and off; no personal effects |
| Dedicated container | Classic, luxury, modified or non-running vehicles | Fully enclosed and sealed for the whole voyage | Higher cost than a shared space |
| Shared container | Cost-conscious shipments to New Zealand | Container costs split across several vehicles | Sailing waits for the container to fill |
Compare in detail on our RoRo vehicle shipping, container car shipping and shared container service pages.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to New Zealand?
RORO from £2,000–£2,800. Container from £3,000–£4,200. Import duty 0% (UK-NZ FTA). GST 15%. Entry inspection ~NZD 250.
Your final figure for New Zealand depends on the vehicle's size and weight, the shipping method chosen, where in the UK the car is collected, the loading port and sailing availability, marine insurance cover, and the duties, taxes and terminal charges applied on arrival. We quote the freight and UK export side as a fixed price and set out the destination charges you should budget for separately, rather than guessing at them.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to New Zealand?
Ocean transit on this route is normally 38–48 days to Auckland from Southampton. Add time either side for UK collection and loading, and for customs clearance and release at Auckland.
- •Vessel sailing frequency on the lane
- •Direct call or transhipment routing
- •Chosen shipping method
- •UK collection and port cut-off times
- •Destination customs and inspection
- •Seasonal port congestion
Current departures are listed on our sailing schedule.
Ports for Car Shipping to New Zealand
Vehicles for New Zealand discharge at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch). Once landed, the car is held in the terminal's vehicle compound while customs clearance, any inspection and duty payment are completed. We can release the vehicle to you at the port or arrange onward transport inland.
Browse every terminal we work with on the international ports directory.
How to Ship a Car from the UK to New Zealand
- 1Request a quote for shipping your vehicle from the UK to New Zealand, giving the make, model, condition and your collection postcode.
- 2Confirm the shipping method — RoRo or container — and the sailing that suits your timeline.
- 3Book UK collection, or deliver the vehicle to the loading port yourself.
- 4Send us your V5C, photo ID and purchase or valuation paperwork so the export entry can be raised.
- 5We complete HMRC export formalities and hand the vehicle over to the terminal.
- 6The vehicle is loaded and sails to Auckland.
- 7On arrival, New Zealand customs clearance and any inspection or duty payment is completed.
- 8You or your agent collect the vehicle, or we arrange onward delivery.
See the full documents checklist and our UK vehicle export guide.
Vehicles We Ship from the UK to New Zealand
Destination paperwork and duty handling is covered by our customs clearance service, and trade shipments by our vehicle export team.
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