All vehicles entering New Zealand must be checked, certified, registered and licensed before you can use them on the road. This process is called entry certification.

What’s involved

Only approved testing stations can carry out entry certification inspections. 

 The process involves an entry certifier:

  • verifying that the vehicle met the required safety emissions and frontal impact standards when manufactured

  • carrying out a vehicle inspection to verify it is still in good condition

  • deciding whether the vehicle needs any repairs and/or specialist certification to meet legal safety requirements

  • verifying that fuel consumption, CO2, gross vehicle mass, and unladen weight information has been provided for the vehicle

  • verifying who legally owns the vehicle

  • verifying the vehicle's identity and that it has a valid VIN assigned and affixed.

Where the vehicle meets requirements, the certifier issues:

  • a registration application form (form MR2A), which verifies that it has passed these checks and is safe for you to drive, and

  • a warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness, depending on the vehicle’s size.

Find an approved entry certifier

Check the websites below to find an entry certifier in your area.

Contact the site to check on their wait times and costs, and to book an appointment.

Some sites may not certify all vehicle types, so check before you take your vehicle in.

Organisation Phone Email
Nationwide
Automobile Association (AA)(external link) 0800 500 333, option 2 (for vehicle import advice) aatech@aa.co.nz

Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ)(external link)

You'll need to filter the service to Entry cert - car, truck or motorcycle.

0800 GO VINZ enquiries@vinz.co.nz
Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ)(external link) 0800 88 88 69 technical@vtnz.co.nz
Auckland
Drivesure Vehicle Testing Limited(external link) 0800 220 240 admin@drivesure.net.nz
Independent Training Audit Services (ITAS)(external link) 0800 367 4827
(027) 494 6051 (mobile)
richard@itasnz.co.nz
Nelson Tasman
i4 Checkpoint Ltd(external link) (03) 539 1223 admin@i4checkpoint.co.nz
Canterbury
Canterbury Vehicle Compliance(external link) (03) 308 2275
(027) 472 5233 (mobile)
admin@vehiclecompliance.co.nz

Importing a used light vehicle? 

Find out more about importing vehicles