If you're importing a used vehicle from the USA you must provide evidence that it meets a range of approved standards before it can be registered for use on the road.
You must provide evidence of:
You need to provide evidence that you're the legal owner of the vehicle. This includes:
The Vehicle inspection requirements manual: Entry certification lists acceptable emissions standards for vehicles.
To see if your vehicle is required to meet an emissions standard see the 'Summary of legislation' tab in section 11-2 Exhaust emissions.
11-2 Exhaust emissions(external link)
To see how standards compliance are determined see Technical bulletin 28: Exhaust emissions standards compliance.
Technical bulletin 28: Exhaust emissions standards compliance(external link)
Detailed requirements for emissions standards can be found in the Land Transport Rule.
Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007(external link)
You may be able to prove your car complies using our frontal impact lists. These lists cover vehicles manufactured during 1994–1996 when frontal impact standards were being developed. They therefore apply mainly to used imports. If the list says your vehicle does not meet a frontal impact standard, then you cannot bring it into New Zealand.
Your vehicle isn't listed? If your vehicle was manufactured in the last 20 years it should have an FMVSS plate, which is acceptable as evidence.
No FMVSS compliance plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
You may not have to prove your vehicle complies with frontal impact standards if:
Find out more about these exceptions.
If your Class MB or Class MC vehicle was manufactured after 1 October 2003, it must meet a frontal impact standard. The exception is if you're emigrating or returning to New Zealand and bringing your vehicle with you. Find out more about this exception.
Acceptable proof is an FMVSS plate. No FMVSS compliance plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
Talk to an entry certifier to check whether the FMVSS plate on your vehicle is acceptable.
You don't have an acceptable FMVSS plate? You'll need to get a statement of compliance as evidence.
You can use our online tool(external link) to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. You'll then receive a fuel consumption certificate, which you take to the entry certifier.
All MA, MB, MC vehicles having FMVSS compliance from 1 September 2011 have electronic stability control. Otherwise, you must check for the presence of ESC. See the technical bulletin about how to prove the existence of ESC in the electronic stability control identification bulletin(external link). Also, vehicle-specific information can be found on this safercar.gov website(external link).
You must check for compliance with one of the approved brake standards if you want to import a heavy vehicle of class MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC, no matter what date the vehicle was manufactured.
See the detailed information about how to prove compliance with an approved brake standard in the following sections of the Vehicle inspection requirements manual – entry certification(external link):
To prove your vehicle meets applicable standards in New Zealand it must have an FMVSS plate fixed. This proves it met the standards when manufactured. The vehicle must also have:
