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Used vehicles from the United States

Updated: 14 September 2011

If you're importing a used vehicle from the United States you must provide evidence that it meets a range of approved standards for the type of vehicle before it can be registered for use on New Zealand roads. Here you can find out what proof you need to show your vehicle meets the required standards.

Evidence you must collect

You must collect the following documents as evidence that your vehicle meets the approved standards:

Proof of ownership

You need to provide evidence that you're legally entitled to your vehicle. This includes:

  • the original documents showing the ownership history to the last registered owner in the United States (eg deregistration or change of ownership papers or a USA certificate of origin) plus
  • an invoice, bill of sale or receipt, etc.

Evidence of compliance with emissions standards

For both used and parallel-imported new vehicles, an EPA label or statement of compliance that includes an approved emissions standard is acceptable proof your vehicle meets New Zealand requirements.

US statements of compliance often refer to emissions standards using the terms 'EPA Federal Tier 1' or 'EPA Federal Tier 2' or similar. However, the vehicle industry does not use these terms in the Vehicle Emissions Rule for US standards ('US2001', 'US2004', etc). Use the following table to match the different terms:

US Federal/EPA Tier 1 US 96
US 98D/98P
US Federal/EPA Tier 2 US 2001
US 2004

Evidence of compliance with frontal impact standards

For cars (Class MA)

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.

Example of an FMVSS (US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) plate.

Example of an FMVSS (US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) plate

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:

  • it is more than 20 years old
  • it is a 'special interest' vehicle
  • you're emigrating or returning to New Zealand and seeking to take your vehicle with you.

Find out more about these exceptions.

For 4x4, SUV and forward-control vans (Classes MB and MC)

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 seeking to bring 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.

Before you import a vehicle from the United States

We recommend that you talk with an entry certifier to determine 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.

Evidence of compliance with fuel consumption information requirements

You can use our online tool to provide the fuel consumption compliance information. You simply need to enter the vehicle data off the FMVSS plate and documentation. You'll then receive a fuel consumption certificate, which you take to the entry certifier.

Your fuel consumption certificate says consumption is 'unknown'? This is still acceptable as compliance evidence - you can provide this to the entry certifier.

Evidence of compliance with heavy-vehicle brake standards

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:

Evidence of overall standards compliance

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:

  • original documentation confirming that it was first registered in the USA
  • for a new vehicle, documentation confirming that it was manufactured for the US market and would be permitted for use on public roads in the USA, eg a USA certificate of origin.

Collected all the evidence you need?

You can move onto step three of the importing process - preparing to import.

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