Moving overseas and wondering whether to ship your car, boat or motorcycle too? It can be more affordable than you think, especially if you are moving between New Zealand and Australia. Space permitting, a vehicle can sometimes travel in the same container as your household goods. This guide explains how to ship your car overseas from NZ, the shipping methods available, the documents you will need and how to prepare your vehicle.
Before you ship your car overseas
Start by working out whether shipping your vehicle makes financial sense. Get a clear picture of the freight cost, insurance, port charges, customs clearance and any duties, taxes or compliance costs in the destination country. Compare that total against selling your car here and buying again at the other end.
Then choose a freight forwarder carefully. A recommendation from friends or family helps, but also check the company’s experience with vehicle shipping, whether it offers customs clearance, and what insurance options it can arrange. Get a few quotes and compare exactly what each one includes. The cheapest quote is not always the best value if it leaves out port charges or destination costs.
3 ways to ship your car overseas
There are three main ways to ship a car overseas: roll-on/roll-off (RORO), container shipping and air freight. Larger items such as trucks, boats and machinery can also travel as breakbulk cargo.
1. RORO shipping
RORO shipping is usually the simplest and most cost-effective way to ship your car overseas. Your vehicle is driven onto a specialised vessel at the port of loading, secured on the vehicle deck, and driven off again at the destination port. There is no lifting or packing involved. RORO suits standard cars in good running order, but the vehicle generally needs to be empty of personal items.
2. Container shipping
If your vehicle is valuable, delicate or classic, a shipping container gives it more protection from weather and handling. Container shipping costs more than RORO, but you have options: share a container with other vehicles to cut the cost, or load your car into your own container along with household goods, which works well if you are relocating. See our container dimensions guide to check what fits.
3. Air freight
For most people, air freight is too expensive for a car. For a rare, exotic or urgently needed vehicle, though, it can be worth it. Air freight takes days rather than the weeks a sea voyage can take. Talk to us about air freight options if speed matters more than cost.
Documents you need to ship your car overseas
Every country has its own import rules, so the exact paperwork varies. This is where an experienced freight forwarder earns its keep. As a starting point, you will usually need:
- Proof of ownership, such as the vehicle registration and title documents
- The year, make, model and dimensions of the vehicle (length, width and height)
- Your purchase receipt or another document showing the vehicle’s value
- Name, address and phone number of the consignee at the destination
- Photo identification for the owner
- An authority for your freight forwarder to lodge export documents on your behalf, if required
How to prepare your car for shipping
- Clean it thoroughly inside and out. Many countries, including Australia, inspect imported vehicles for biosecurity risks such as soil, seeds and insects. A dirty vehicle can be held for cleaning at your cost.
- Remove personal items, especially for RORO, where the vehicle usually needs to be empty.
- Keep the fuel tank low. Carriers set limits on how much fuel can be in the tank, so check the requirement with your forwarder.
- Check it is in good running order, with no leaks, so it can be driven on and off the vessel.
- Supply a set of keys with the vehicle.
- Take dated photos of the vehicle’s condition before it is collected.
Insure your car for the voyage
Carriers have limited liability for damage in transit, so the carrier is not always responsible if something goes wrong. Marine cargo insurance protects the value of your vehicle while it is at sea or in the air, and is well worth the cost for anything you would struggle to replace.
Importing a car into New Zealand
Found the perfect car abroad? Shipping a car to New Zealand comes with its own steps, including customs clearance, biosecurity inspection and the vehicle compliance process before it can be registered. Read our guide to importing cars to New Zealand, and if you are bringing in a motorhome or caravan, see importing caravans and motorhomes.
Shipping a vehicle back into New Zealand? Check the MPI biosecurity requirements for importing vehicles before your car leaves its origin country, so it is not held for cleaning on arrival.
How Sneddens can help you ship your car overseas
Sneddens is an independent New Zealand freight forwarder with more than 20 years in business. We can arrange RORO, container or air freight for your vehicle, handle the export paperwork, arrange cargo insurance and manage customs clearance at the New Zealand end.
Whether you are relocating with your car, boat or motorcycle, or bringing a vehicle home to New Zealand, call us on 0800 76 33 33 or request a free quote.