Frequently
Asked
Questions

The cost to import a car from the USA depends greatly on where you are buying the car in the USA, generally purchasing closer to the 2 Major Centres of New York or Los Angeles will reduce the cost of shipping. Los Angeles is generally the most economical as it is geographically closer to NZ offering faster transit times. Taxes are a large consideration to cost i.e. a depot to depot import of a 1969 Ford Mustang from Los Angeles to Auckland maybe as little as USD$2985.00 for shipping and arrival fees however depending on your situation and what value you bought the vehicle for you could be up for thousands more in taxes. You also need to be sure that the vehicle has the original title or you will not be able to comply it in New Zealand. Its important to engage with a freight forwarder like rocket freight before buying a vehicle from the USA to ensure you meet all necessary requirements for import.

The cost to import a car depends greatly on where you are buying the car in the world and what services they have to new Zealand, however most times taxes are the most costly thing to consider i.e. a port to port import of a 2020 Toyota Hilux from Brisbane to Auckland maybe as little as $1850.00 for shipping however depending on your situation and what value you bought the vehicle for you could be up for thousands more in taxes. Its important to engage with a freight forwarder like rocket freight before buying anything overseas so you can obtain a true cost of the whole undertaking.

Goods can be put inside your car for shipping but only if you ship your vehicle inside a shipping container. Everything you put inside must be declared to NZ customs & MPI on arrival or at the destination country’s relevant authority. If you are shipping by Roll on Roll off, then vehicles with personal effects loaded in them are not accepted by the shipping lines. Contact Rocket Freight if you have any queries regarding what you can load.

This depends on which port you are shipping from and to. The time on the water can be as little as 3 days on the roll on roll off service. Normally people like to know how long they will be without the car for so from when you are ready to ship in Australia till when it is warranted registered and ready to drive in NZ can take from 3-4 weeks depending on when you book and when the next sailing is available

Importing a car from Australia to NZ is one of the simplest Import and Export processes in the world due to the strong relationship between Australia and new Zealand. the first thing to do is find the right car, get all the details together ie year make model and location and then contact a freight company like rocket freight they will be able to assist you in obtaining a landed price in NZ

Shipping a Car to New Zealand can be a daunting process and your first questions should be is it worth shipping. To answer that you need to decide on a few things each of which may make it worthwhile does it have special significance to you? is it rare or not obtainable from within NZ? does is have sentimental value? or simply in most cases what is it worth overseas versus what it is worth in NZ. Talk to rocket freight today we can work out for you the total landed cost in NZ so you can compare that directly to what the sales price in new Zealand is
then you can discover if the endeavour is profitable and if you should go ahead.

All goods imported into NZ are Subject to GST and many will have duty payable also, however a lot of factors will determine this, such as where you purchased the goods from or if existing concessions apply. There are also other things to take into consideration such as free trade agreements or depreciation on personal goods. Rocket freight can guide you depending on what your goods are and the circumstances around importing them are. Get in touch to discuss this further.

Obtaining a NZ import licence can be very simple but depends on the commodity type that you wish to ship i.e. food for example would require you to register as a food importer with MPI however if you wished to simply ship in a pallet of toys you would only need to fill out NZCS224 form and obtain a Customs Registration number. The team at Rocket freight can help you with getting you setup just get in touch to discuss

First you need to identify a product that you can sell locally for a great price
Then you need to identify a supplier where you can source the goods from overseas
Then you need to ask for a quote from that supplier
After that you can talk to Rocket freight to supply the rest of the costs associated to the shipping process. Once you have all the costs together you can decide if it’s a viable business and then you can start the process of import

All goods imported into NZ are Subject to GST and many will have duty payable also, however a lot of factors will determine this, such as where you purchased the goods from or if existing concessions apply. There are also other things to take into consideration such as free trade agreements or depreciation on personal goods. Rocket freight can guide you depending on what your goods are and the circumstances around importing them are. Get in touch to discuss this further.

Yes, in most cases Rocket Freight can offer a shared container services. We have regular services to and from Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Canada or South Africa. Shared containers are a great way to save money however it can incur some wait time whilst we gather enough cargo together from customers. Contact Rocket Freight for all your shared container queries.

Yes, Rocket freight offers a full door to door service for both air and sea freight to hundreds of destinations around the world. We can also arrange Customs & Quarantine clearance prior to delivery. Get in touch with Rocket Freight for all your door to door requirements.

If you’re moving internationally then Yes you can purchase cartons and materials from us directly or source you own through the likes of Bunnings, Mitre 10 or most storage facilities. Just get in touch with Rocket Freight and we will help you.

Yes, we can provide a full professional packing service for your international move. Our fully trained packing teams use high quality and environmentally sustainable packing materials for your removal. Call rocket freight today for your international moving needs.

Once you have decided what type of product you want to import and from where then the best place to start is to give a freight forwarder a call. Here at Rocket freight we can guide you through the set up and avoid any pitfalls. We have helped many a company start up import businesses.

Depending on the product you wish to import there are various steps and licences needed however for basic non controlled goods all you need is a NZCS224 form. Once this is completed you can obtain your customs client registration code. Rocket freight can assist you with your application.

In New Zealand an export container can be delivered to your house as long is it is fully on private property and there are no covenants restricting the activity. In New Zealand an Import Container must Transit through a MPI process at an ATF (Approved Transitional Facility) where it must be unpacked cleared repacked and then can be delivered to your house. Most side loaders will not swing containers down onto grass, so a hardstand area is recommended. Contact rocket Freight for all your container delivery queries.

A Freight Forwarder is a company that undertakes the transport of goods on your behalf from one spot on the planet to another. A good forwarder can advise you on all aspects of transport including taxes, government requirements and documentation. Rocket freight would be happy to advise on any requirements you might have.

A Customs Broker is highly skilled in tariff classification and in most cases they have spent years determining the Duty and GST payable on goods. Having a knowledgeable broker can save you duty and gst helping your bottom line and your cashflow by ensuring what you pay is the absolute minimum. Rocket Freight has brokers in house that can help you with any queries you may have around clearances.

You need a customs broker to import goods into New Zealand if they are valued over $1000.00 or if you are importing in a commercial capacity. Also, you may choose to use a customs broker on a personal effects shipment instead of trying to deal with NZ Customs yourself which can be time consuming and is now fully electronic so if you don’t have access to all the technology rocket freight would be happy to assist you

If you import goods in a commercial capacity or the value of the goods are over $1000.00 then you need to have a customs broker as NZ customs will not deal with you directly. A Customs Broker is highly skilled in tariff classification and in most cases they have spent years determining the Duty and GST payable on goods. Having a broker in most cases can save you money on duty and GST. Rocket freight would help your bottom line and your cashflow by ensuring what you pay is the absolute minimum possible.

Marine Transit Insurance is always recommended for all Vehicles and Cargo. If any loss or damage occurs then in most cases the goods are then fixed less the excess payable. Let Rocket Freight help you with getting a great insurance deal on your freight.

The transit time for your goods depends on where you are sending the goods from and to i.e., a shipment from Brisbane to Auckland can take as little as 3 days on the water, a shipment from los Angeles to Auckland as little as 15 days, a shipment from London to Auckland as little 36 days. It also depends on which service you book as cheaper services normally have more stops and transhipments along the way making for longer transits. Rocket freight can assist you with choosing the best option to suit you so get in touch with us.

The Documentation required to bring a personal vehicle back with you to NZ varies depending on your circumstances however the most common documents are:
1. A Copy of your Purchase Invoice
2. A Copy of Your registration Certificate (Original will be needed to Comply, Warrant & Register)
3. A Completed NZCS224A Form
4. A copy of your passport
Depending on your circumstances you maybe eligible for and exemption from GST under concession 80. Additional documentation would be required to claim this exemption. Contact rocket freight today, we are experts in assisting you to legally get your vehicle into New Zealand free of GST and DUTY.

MPI officers are not issued with Cameras to take photos of your goods or potential issues found with your goods. The Bio-Security ACT which is available online for anyone to read does not make this a requirement of an MPI officer, so much like a Police Officer issuing you with a speeding ticket, if an MPI officer orders the cleaning then you must comply with their request or face return of your goods.

The arrival Process once the goods reach the final destination noted on the bill of lading takes between 5 – 10 Working days in most cases however this can be extended if there are any delays on rail or unloading. You can contact us at rocket freight should you wish to know more about the time it may take for your goods to clear.

NZ Customs has the right to stop any cargo coming through the border and inspect it. There could be a number of reasons that customs stop your vehicle and some are random inspections. Most of the time customs do not provide a reason your goods where stopped and inspected, they just instruct us to present the goods for inspection. Rocket Freight always notifies you in the unlikely instance your shipment is stopped by NZ customs. Contact us if you have more questions about customs inspections.

Goods can be put inside your car for shipping but only if you ship your vehicle inside a shipping container. Everything you put inside must be declared to NZ customs & MPI on arrival or at the destination country’s relevant authority. If you are shipping by Roll on Roll off, then vehicles with personal effects loaded in them are not accepted by the shipping lines. Contact Rocket Freight if you have any queries regarding what you can load.

Pricing for shipping changes regularly with the cost of fuel and congestion at ports the container ships call along the way. Occasionally security issues around the world will increase pricing like the Aden gulf surcharge and piracy levies around transiting off the coast of Ethiopia. Peak season surcharges also increase freight charges. Covid19 had one of the most effects on freight and surcharges for congestion and GRI’s or General Rate Increases are occurring on a weekly basis. Contact Rocket freight today for up to date shipping prices.

There are many different types of documents that you may need depending on the type of goods you are trying to Import. Rocket Freight can help you determine this, however the main documents needed for a simple customs clearance is
A bill of lading
Purchase invoice
NZ Customs Client Registration Number (for goods over NZ$1000.00)
Container Quarantine Declaration (for full containers)
Some goods will require a fumigation certificate, a phytosanitary certificate, or a certificate of origin. Contact Rocket Freight today for help with your import documentation.

Most goods will require some type of packaging for international Transport. The better the packaging the less chance of any damage happening, but this does depend on your commodity type i.e. clothes are normally just boxed, boxes of soft drink are palletised as they are heavy all together and need a forklift to pick up, expensive artwork is usually crated for better protection against dampness and other goods loaded in the same container. Give rocket freight a call to discuss what you need

All goods over a value of NZD 1000 imported into NZ are subject to GST. The current rate is 15% of the CIF value (meaning the cost of your goods, + freight + insurance) some goods have exemptions such as personal effects and vehicles but only under certain conditions. Contact rocket freight to find out if a concession applies to your situation.

In most cases insurance is not included in the freight price quoted however your freight forwarder like us a rocket freight will be able to help you insure the goods for transit, it pays to check your Inco terms / Purchase terms as this may be arranged with your supplier. Contact rocket freight today if you have any more questions about insurance

MPI Decontamination Processes, also known as cleaning, is not just a simple clean like you may experience from a valet service. MPI strictly control the decontamination facilities that undertake the decontamination processes for them. They are highly skilled and trained in all bio-security aspects and the number one goal is that once identified by an officer from MPI the potential hazard is contained effectively and removed or destroyed in a certified way which all adds to the cost. It is not being washed down the drain into the harbour to wreak havoc on the New Zealand environment, it is destroyed in a certified facility under strict controls. Contact rocket freight today if you have any more questions

The best incoterm to purchase under depends greatly on were in the world you are purchasing goods from. Buying on FOB or EXW basis is normally the best as then you, the purchaser, is in control of the goods and there are no nasty surprises with expensive port fees on arrival which is what normally occurs when buying under CIF or CFR terms. Contact Rocket Freight today if you have any more questions regarding Incoterms.

MPI is looking for anything that might be a threat to New Zealand’s Biosecurity. This can be insects such as the fruit fly which would devastate crops and farmers lively hoods if allowed access to new Zealand unchecked by MPI, also microscopic natural threats like PSA kiwifruit disease which likely came through the border. Seeds, dirt, grass and basically anything that is alive or was alive at some stage could potentially be a threat and is taken very seriously by MPI. We highly recommend to save additional fees anything you send to NZ is of the highest standard of cleanliness. Contact rocket freight today if you have any more questions