Route rate sheet · Sea freight · USA to New Zealand
Ship a car from the USA to New Zealand
Los Angeles, Newark/Elizabeth to Port of Auckland in a sealed container. One price covers ocean freight, export handling in the USA and marine insurance; destination port charges, duty and VAT are shown separately below.
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
10,470 km great circle · 18-30 days
Rates verified 9 Nov 2026 · page refreshed 10 Nov 2026
At a glance
USA to New Zealand car shipping: cost, time and rules
Shipping a car from the USA to New Zealand with IPAS Express costs from $4,178 port to port for one car in its own 20ft container, with live rates from our shipping desk. Duty and VAT in New Zealand are quoted separately in the landed-cost examples below.
Cars from the USA are usually LHD; New Zealand registers RHD vehicles as standard — check eligibility before shipping.
- Ocean freight · 20ft
- $2,000–2,500
- Los Angeles / Newark/Elizabeth → Port of Auckland
- Ocean freight · 40ft
- $3,100–3,650
- Two cars, or one large SUV plus parts
- Port to port, 1 car
- from $4,178
- Ocean freight + export handling + insurance
- Sea transit
- 18-30 days
- Port to port
- Import Duty
- 0%
- Zero customs duty on all passenger vehicles under HS 8703
- VAT/GST
- 15% GST
- Charged on CIF value plus any duty and landing charges
- Steering
- RHD only
- Left-hand drive vehicles cannot be registered for normal road use
- Age Limit
- ~2006+ practical cap
- Frontal-impact standards block most pre-2006 imports; 20-year classic exemption applies
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Rate sheet · Port of Los Angeles → Port of Auckland
What it costs, line by line
Insurance is figured on a declared value of $44,700 (reference vehicle: 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser 250). Every line comes from the same tables the calculator reads, so the quote you get matches this sheet.
1 car · own 20ft container
Any car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available
$4,178per car $4,178- Ocean freight
- $2,350
- Export handling
- $1,728
- Insurance
- $100
- Destination est. (at port)
- $1,880
2 cars · 40ft high-cube
Two cars you ship together, or a group booking
$6,578per car $3,289- Ocean freight
- $3,400
- Export handling
- $2,978
- Insurance
- $200
- Destination est. (at port)
- $1,880
3–4 cars · racked 40ft HC
Compact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking
Quoteper car from ~$2,200- Ocean freight
- $3,400
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- per value
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
RoRo · per car
Oversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars
On requestper car —- Ocean freight
- on request
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- —
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
Air freight
Fastest option, 3–7 days; quoted per aircraft load
Quoteper car —- Ocean freight
- on request
- Export handling
- on request
- Insurance
- per value
- Destination est. (at port)
- —
Scroll for line-by-line costs →
| Shipping option | Total · IPAS price | Per car | Ocean freight | Export handling (USA) | Insurance 0.2% | Destination charges · est., payable at port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 car · own 20ft containerAny car up to 5.6 m, sealed; door-to-door available | $4,178 | $4,178 | $2,350 | $1,728packaging $1,250 · THC $33 · clearance $30 | $100 | $1,880THC $380 · customs handling $1,500 |
| 2 cars · 40ft high-cubeTwo cars you ship together, or a group booking | $6,578 | $3,289 | $3,400 | $2,978packaging 2×$1,250 · THC $33 · clearance $30 | $200 | $1,880THC $380 · customs handling $1,500 |
| 3–4 cars · racked 40ft HCCompact cars on a rack system; racking quoted per booking | Quote | from ~$2,200 | $3,400 | on request | per value | — |
| RoRo · per carOversize vehicles only; not offered for passenger cars | On request | — | on request | on request | — | — |
| Air freightFastest option, 3–7 days; quoted per aircraft load | Quote | — | on request | on request | per value | — |
Door pick-up within the port's standard radius adds about $970 per car. Insurance is 0.2% of the declared vehicle value, with a per-car minimum. Destination charges are paid at Port of Auckland on arrival and are not part of the total. Duty and VAT are not in this table either: see the landed-cost examples below or run CarImport.AI. Ocean figures are our current route rates and update when the rate table changes.
Included in the IPAS price
- Included: Export packaging, chocking and lashing inside the container
- Included: Export customs clearance in USA
- Included: Terminal handling at Port of Los Angeles
- Included: Ocean freight Port of Los Angeles → Port of Auckland
- Included: Marine insurance at 0.2% of the declared value
- Included: Bill of Lading, packing list and tracking
Not included
- Not included: Destination port charges (shown per row; paid at Port of Auckland on arrival)
- Not included: New Zealand customs duty and VAT
- Not included: Conformity certification and registration inspection
- Not included: Inland collection unless door pick-up is selected
- Not included: Storage or demurrage after the port's free days
- Not included: Personal effects: the car ships empty
Ports & inland reach
Where your car leaves and arrives
Load ports · USA
USA
Port of Los Angeles
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal
Discharge ports · New Zealand
New Zealand
Port of Auckland
Landed-cost examples · New Zealand
Cars worth importing to New Zealand
Landed-cost examples for New Zealand, from other origins.
Available now in USA
Export-ready units from USA
Steering differs from New Zealand's standard: confirm registration eligibility or conversion before shipping
Importing to New Zealand
Registering a car from the USA in New Zealand
What buyers shipping from the USA need to know about New Zealand's import duties, steering rules and registration.
New Zealand applies 0% import duty on passenger vehicles and a flat 15% GST on CIF value plus duty, one of the simplest tax structures globally. Imports must be right-hand drive and pass entry certification at a VINZ or VTNZ inspection station. Every vehicle also requires an MPI biosecurity cleaning certificate before release from the wharf.
Import Process: New Zealand
- 1
Pre-shipment biosecurity clean
Steam-clean the vehicle underbody, engine bay, and interior to remove soil, seeds, and organic matter; obtain an MPI-accepted cleaning certificate from the origin port.
- 2
NZ Customs entry and GST payment
Lodge an import entry with NZ Customs, pay 15% GST on CIF plus duty, and clear the vehicle at the port of arrival (Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, or Lyttelton).
- 3
MPI Frontline biosecurity inspection
MPI inspects the vehicle at the wharf; if contamination is found the vehicle is sent for re-cleaning at owner cost before release.
- 4
Entry certification (VINZ or VTNZ)
Book an inspection at a NZTA-approved entry certifier (VINZ, VTNZ, or AA) to verify frontal-impact compliance, odometer accuracy, and safety standards.
- 5
LTA compliance plate and WoF
Once certified, the vehicle is issued a low-volume or compliance plate and a Warrant of Fitness, confirming it meets New Zealand in-service standards.
- 6
First registration and plates
Register the vehicle with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, pay the first-registration fee and RUC (diesel), and receive number plates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Shipping without a proper biosecurity clean
Fix
Professional steam-clean at origin and obtain a compliant cleaning certificate; MPI failure means re-export, destruction, or expensive onshore re-cleaning.
Buying a left-hand drive vehicle
Fix
Only right-hand drive vehicles can be registered for normal road use in New Zealand; LHD conversions or import permits apply only to narrow exemptions.
Importing a pre-2006 vehicle without checking frontal-impact rules
Fix
Verify the vehicle meets NZTA frontal-impact standards or qualifies for the 20-year classic exemption before purchasing overseas.
FAQ
USA to New Zealand shipping questions
With IPAS Express, shipping one car from the USA to New Zealand costs from $4,178 port to port in its own 20ft container, with sea transit of 18-30 days. Import duty and VAT in New Zealand are quoted separately in the landed-cost examples on this page.
MPI requires every imported vehicle to be free of soil, seeds, and organic matter to protect New Zealand agriculture; contaminated vehicles are held at the port until re-cleaned at owner cost.
Passenger cars face 0% import duty and 15% GST on CIF value plus duty; there is no excise, environmental levy, or luxury tax on the import itself.
Entry certification is a safety and compliance inspection required before registration, performed by NZTA-approved providers including VINZ, VTNZ, and AA stations.
No. Only right-hand drive vehicles can be registered for normal road use; LHD is permitted only for specific classics over 20 years old or special-interest exemptions.
The import tax is identical at 15% GST, but battery electric vehicles are exempt from Road User Charges until June 30, 2027, cutting ongoing running costs significantly.
Keep exploring
Related routes and guides
Other origins → New Zealand
USA → other destinations
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