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

• verifying that fuel consumption, CO2, gross vehicle mass, and unladen weight information has been provided for the vehicle

• 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 entry certifier

Once you've located an entry certifier in your area, you'll need to contact them to check on their wait times and costs, and to book an appointment. 

Importing a used light vehicle? 

Find out more about importing vehicles