Foreign-registered cars: how to choose one and avoid penalties
What to know before you search
A car on foreign registration often costs less than one already cleared, because the buyer takes on the paperwork. But this is not free savings: customs clearance, duty and the later registration cost money too, and deadlines and rules change. So before comparing prices, decide what you will do with the car: use it under temporary import, or clear it through customs.
The rules for bringing in and using a car on foreign registration are set by law, which changes, so check the current rules with customs or a lawyer. Through BlaBlaPrice you simply describe the car, and sellers reply in chat with the price, photos and the status the car is in right now. Your phone number stays hidden.
What to look at in a car with foreign registration
Papers first: the sale agreement, the registration certificate of the country, the keys and, above all, the car’s history by chassis number. Check that the car has no restrictions, pledges or lease, because then it may not be eligible for clearance. The country of registration matters too: cars from different countries have their own specifics of mileage and servicing.
Judge the technical condition as for any used car, but remember that you will have to repair it without the “home” service network. Mileage on such cars is sometimes wound back, so check it against the service history and the readings of the control units.
What to put in your request
- Model — for example Audi A4 B8.
- Year — say 2010–2014.
- Registration — the country, and whether clearance is possible.
- Engine — diesel 2.0 or petrol.
- Gearbox — manual or automatic.
- Kilometres — up to what figure.
- Technical condition — running, no repairs needed.
- Budget — including the paperwork, if you wish.
- City — where it can be inspected.
Example: “I am looking for an Audi A4 B8 2010–2014, diesel 2.0, manual, on foreign registration with the possibility of customs clearance. Up to 150,000 km, running, no repairs needed. Hamilton, budget up to NZ$8,400.”
How to compare offers
Count the full cost: the price of the car plus customs clearance, taxes, re-registration, insurance and the first service. Two offers with the same price can end up very different in the final sum. Ask who handles the paperwork, how long it takes, whether there is an agreement, and what happens if the car does not pass clearance. Look at the feedback on the seller.
If you want to avoid the hassle, look at used cars already in New Zealand, and for comparison with an import, cars from the USA, Korea and Europe.
If you are not in a hurry, mention flexible timing in your request: it is easier for sellers to offer better terms.
Common mistakes
Buying without checking the papers and any restrictions. Leaving the paperwork out of the budget. Trusting verbal promises of “we will clear it later”. Ignoring the temporary import deadlines as well. To see how the service works, go to the “How it works” page.
