Registering an imported vehicle

[Guest]

Just curious as to who has first hand experience with importing, or specifically registering an imported car on NZ roads fresh from Japan.

What are the rules & regulations around it?

What is the process & is it a difficult one?

I\'m looking at a \'95 RX7 if it makes any difference. Isn\'t there some kind of 20 year old rule?

I\'ve heard it can be a tough one due to compliance places failing on things like not all 4 tyres being same brand, brake pad material etc, as well as minor modifications.

Would love to hear from someone who\'s been through the process and to fill me in on what to expect.

Cheers

[Bugle]

Will have to be a race car at that age

I just drove my Leggy from the wharf to VTNZ (not overly legal granted lol) and handed over the Jap de reg papers and MAF (in those days) paperwork. Picked it up a few hours later

[Guest]

 Bugle said:

Will have to be a race car at that age

I just drove my Leggy from the wharf to VTNZ (not overly legal granted lol) and handed over the Jap de reg papers and MAF (in those days) paperwork. Picked it up a few hours later

From what I can find, as soon as a car hits the 20 year old mark, it\'s automatically void from the frontal impact standards, which is what would cause a possible issue with an RX7.

I just need to ensure that when I do get it all registered/licensed etc, that I\'m not going to have any issues doing so. Are there any services or people that would do such a check before I purchase it and put it in storage for a year?

[Joker]

ring vinz/VTNZ ask?

[rskikn]

20 year rule does not void frontal impact and its the standards they fail it on. the tyres have to have standards ie dot4 jis etc. brake pads are the same deal they need standards. compliance is the same for 20 year old car as it is for a new one there is no difference its just more likely to fail because its old.. like rust or accident damge or repairs done in japan then like a new car u will need repair cert and if its modified u will need lvv cert the same as a new car.. the closer it is to standard the better.. find a broker who knows what there doing to find one for u or go over yr self or u will get a lemon.. u can take it before compliance and do brakes tyres etc but do not do any rust repairs it needs to fail first as inspector needs to see before and after repairs are done say if surface rust and u paint over it it will have to be stripped off so he can see for him self it was only surface rust then u will have to redo it.. lvv u can do before compliance..

[gotasuby]

We do compliance at work. I can ask any questions you want. Pretty muchI car has to be in great shape. No repairs. Or repair Cert need. 3mm on all pads. All lights and tyres and brakes meet standards and good tyres etc. Just a very tough wof

[Hikari]

I also work for a compliance center.

New rule to exhaust is that imported cars must all have cats.

Older cars seem to fail quite a lot on emissions test.

Like the guy above said, no repairs been done from crash or else itll have to be repair certified, rust etc.

Very rarely older cars pass with our vinz inspectors.. unless its in immaculate form all around