SYMPLE UTILITY / 02
A practical path from finding a car in Japan to getting New Zealand plates on it.
Start here before bidding. Import eligibility, paperwork and shipping choices should be confirmed before money changes hands. A cheap car that cannot be certified in New Zealand is not a bargain.
WHERE TO FIND CARS
For most private NZ buyers, the realistic options are public dealer listings, exporter stock, or using an auction agent. Japanese trade auction networks exist, but you normally cannot buy from them directly.
USS and AUCNET are major Japanese auction networks, but they are not realistic direct-buying options for an ordinary NZ buyer. Access is generally restricted to licensed businesses, so use an exporter or auction agent that can search and bid through these networks for you.
Browse vehicles currently listed across Japanese auctions, search upcoming auction dates and look up specific lot numbers. Purchasing and bidding still need to be arranged through an auction agent or exporter.
Browse current auctions ↗ DEALER LISTINGSSearch used vehicles listed by Japanese dealers. Confirm export availability, inspection details and whether the seller will work with your exporter.
Browse Goo-net ↗ PRIVATE / DEALER LISTINGSCars offered by private sellers and businesses. Most overseas buyers need a Japanese buying agent to bid, collect the vehicle, verify documents and arrange export.
Browse Yahoo! Auctions ↗Ask your exporter whether they can search TAA, JU, JAA, CAA and regional auction houses. Compare agent fees, translations, inspection support and cancellation rules before bidding.
Set a maximum hammer price and an all-in Japan budget. Confirm buyer fees, consumption tax treatment, inland transport, storage, cleaning, inspection and export-document charges.
Large Japanese used-vehicle stock marketplace with export and shipping services.
Visit BE FORWARD ↗ EXPORTER / STOCKUsed-vehicle stock and Japan-side export service. SAT Japan does not provide NZ Customs brokerage, so you must arrange New Zealand clearance with a local Customs broker or freight forwarder.
Visit SAT Japan ↗ MARKETPLACE / EXPORTMarketplace connecting buyers with Japanese exporters and vehicle stock.
Visit CAR FROM JAPAN ↗ EXPORTER / STOCKPublic vehicle stock and export service for private international buyers, with purchasing, documentation and shipping support.
Visit Carused.jp ↗ AUCTION AGENT / EXPORTERStock vehicles, auction access and export arrangements, including shipping to New Zealand.
Visit Japan Partner ↗ AUCTION AGENT / EXPORTERAccess to Japanese dealer auctions, auction-sheet translations, inspections, bidding, Japan-side transport and export shipping, including service to New Zealand.
Visit Japan Car Direct ↗ NZ DEALERS ONLYVehicle sourcing, auction access and Japan-to-NZ logistics for licensed New Zealand motor-vehicle dealers. Nichibo does not accept ordinary private buyers.
Dealer information ↗THE FULL PATH
Do the checks in order. Eligibility and documents are hardest to fix after the vehicle has already been purchased or shipped.
Confirm the exact model code, chassis number, build date, emissions, frontal-impact and ESC requirements with NZTA guidance or an entry certifier.
Read the full auction sheet and inspector comments, check the chassis number, request extra photos and confirm recall status.
Agree on the purchase price, exporter or auction-agent fees, inland transport, storage, inspection, cleaning and payment terms in writing.
The Japanese agent must arrange deregistration for export and obtain the original Export Certificate. Do not accept recycling paperwork as a substitute.
Arrange inland transport, cleaning, export processing, marine insurance and RORO or container shipping. Retain every invoice.
Your broker or freight forwarder handles Customs and MPI clearance using the purchase, ownership, freight and shipping documents.
Prepare evidence early, but lodge the Special Interest Vehicle application after the vehicle has arrived at the NZ port and before entry certification.
Send the vehicle and original documents to an entry certifier. Repair any faults, complete certification, obtain a WoF, register and fit NZ plates.
BUYING SMART
An auction grade is only a summary. The inspector notes, damage map, photos and chassis details matter more than the headline number.
Match the chassis number, model code, first-registration year, engine size, transmission and trim with the vehicle being offered. Japanese registration year is not always the manufacturing year.
Get a human translation. Look for warning lights, smoke, oil or coolant leaks, corrosion, flood signs, modified structure, missing parts, unusual noises and odometer comments.
These are separate from the overall auction grade. A high overall grade can still have worn trim, odours, stains, paint defects or underbody corrosion.
Letters mark the defect type and numbers usually indicate severity. Codes vary between auction houses, so use the legend printed on that sheet.
Open full size ↗
WORKED EXAMPLE
The body diagram marks condition notes such as A2 and A3 scratches. Always translate the handwritten inspector comments and confirm the chassis number before bidding.
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
Names can vary between agents and shipping lines. Keep originals, clear scans and proof of every payment. Entry certification may require original documents.
SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLES (OPTIONAL)
A Special Interest Vehicle permit can provide an exception for an eligible vehicle that does not meet New Zealand's frontal-impact, exhaust-emissions and/or electronic-stability-control requirements. It can be especially useful for collector and high-performance cars that are not yet old enough to qualify for the 20-year exemptions, provided the vehicle and applicant meet the SIV criteria.
NZTA must consider that the vehicle will be owned as a collector's item. It must either have historic value, or evidence must show that it meets at least three of these four criteria:
The permit is issued to an eligible person, not simply to the vehicle. The applicant must:
Confirm the exact vehicle and evidence pathway with NZTA or an entry certifier before bidding. Collect reputable evidence for every criterion you intend to rely on.
The signed declaration must be witnessed by an entry certifier, who sends the application and evidence to NZTA. Approval is required before entry certification and registration.
DIY IMPORT ROUTE
If you are not using an all-in-one stock and export service, you can source or purchase the vehicle yourself and use a freight company for the export, shipping, border clearance and NZ delivery stages. There are more providers available, but these are the ones we have used ourselves or heard good things about.
Vehicle logistics, export processing, shipping and door-to-door options between Japan and New Zealand.
Visit AUTOHUB ↗ LOGISTICSRORO and container vehicle shipping, Customs brokerage, NZ transport and compliance-centre delivery options.
Visit Dolphin ↗ LOGISTICSJapan-to-NZ vehicle shipping with door-to-door, biosecurity, insurance and port-processing services.
Visit Moana Blue ↗AUTHORITATIVE CHECKS
Rules, forms, fees and eligibility can change. Treat these government pages as the final source before purchasing or shipping.
NZTA’s official start-to-finish importing pathway.
Open NZTA ↗ NZTARequired safety and emissions standards and acceptable evidence.
Open NZTA ↗ NZTACurrent SIV eligibility, application form, evidence and quota information.
Open SIV guidance ↗ NZ CUSTOMSGST is generally calculated on the goods value plus applicable duty, freight and insurance. Imports over NZ$1,000 require a Customs Number.
Open Customs ↗ MPI / BIOSECURITY NZCleaning, inspection and biosecurity requirements for imported vehicles and parts.
Open MPI ↗ EECACheck the vehicle’s available emissions data and current importer information.
Open Fuelsaver ↗