Entry certification

All vehicles entering New Zealand must be checked, certified, registered and licensed before you can use them on the road. This process is called entry certification.

What’s involved

Only approved testing stations can carry out entry certification inspections. 

 The process involves an entry certifier:

• verifying that the vehicle met the required safety emissions and frontal impact standards when manufactured

• carrying out a vehicle inspection to verify it is still in good condition

• deciding whether the vehicle needs any repairs and/or specialist certification to meet legal safety requirements

• certifying that the vehicle meets safety and emissions requirements

• verifying who legally owns the vehicle.

• verifying the vehicle's identity and that it has a valid VIN assigned and affixed.

Where the vehicle meets requirements, the certifier issues:

• a registration application form (form MR2A),which verifies that it has passed these checks and is safe for you to drive, and

• a warrant of fitness or certificate of fitness, depending on the vehicle’s size.

Find an approved testing station

Contact the organisations below to locate an approved testing station:

• Automobile Association(external link) (AA), phone 0800 500 333 option 2 (for vehicle import advice), email aatech@aa.co.nz.

• Vehicle Inspection New Zealand(external link) (VINZ), phone 0800 GO VINZ, email enquiries@vinz.co.nz.

• Vehicle Testing New Zealand(external link) (VTNZ), phone +64 4 495 2500, fax +64 4 495 2530, email technical@vtnz.co.nz.

• Drivesure Vehicle Testing Ltd(external link), phone 0800 220 240, email admin@drivesure.net.nz.

• Nelson Vehicle Testing Centre Ltd(external link), phone +64 3 539 1223, email office@nvtc.co.nz.

Importing a used light vehicle?

Find out more about importing vehicles.