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Left-hand drive vehicles

5-2 Document requirements

Technical information

Table 5-2-1 details the documentation requirements for each left-hand drive category. The documentation must be sighted by the entry certifier processing the left-hand drive vehicle.

Table 5-2-1. Documentation requirements for left-hand drive vehicles

Category	Required documentation
A	See Technical bulletin 33
B	Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title), and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name).
C	Category 1 Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title) or a manufacturer’s completion certificate, and, evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name). Category 2 Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title) or a manufacturer’s completion certificate, and, evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name), and written confirmation from the Transport Agency that it is satisfied the operation of the vehicle requires it to be a left-hand drive vehicle or that the vehicle is only available as a left-hand drive vehicle. Category 3 Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title) or a manufacturer’s completion certificate, and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name), and written confirmation from the Transport Agency writing that it is satisfied that the vehicle has special characteristics, or is equipped for special operational purposes, such that conversion to right-hand drive is impractical. Category 4 Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title) or a manufacturer’s completion certificate, and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name), and written confirmation from the original vehicle manufacturer (eg Ford, General Motors) that the vehicle was manufactured as a hearse. Category 5 Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title) or a manufacturer’s completion certificate, and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg a purchase receipt, bill of sale, or similar in the owner’s name).
D	Overseas registration papers (pink slip or certificate of title), and a recent letter of accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stating that the importer has been posted to New Zealand.
E	Written evidence from the Transport Agency that the vehicle is exempt from registration and licencing requirements, and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg purchase receipt, bill of sale).
F	Written evidence from a governemnt department that the vehicle was formerly owned by the crown, and evidence of vehicle ownership (eg purchase receipt, bill of sale)..
G	Evidence of vehicle ownership (eg purchase receipt, bill of sale)

Note 1

All documents supplied in support of an application to register a left-hand drive vehicle must be original.

Note 2

If the owner is unable to supply the required documents, the vehicle must not be certified.

Note 3

Entry certifiers must retain copies of all documentation in their original form for a minimum of two years. If the vehicle owner requests that original documents be returned to them, verified copies must be retained in the vehicle file. The recipient’s name and the reason for return must be recorded in the LANDATA notes.

Note 4

Left-hand drive vehicles that were entry certified into New Zealand before 1 April 2010 are also able to be continued to be registered, and so are vehicles temporarily imported into New Zealand.

Note 5

LHD vehicles imported temporarily must be cleared through the New Zealand Customs Service with the appropriate documents – Carnet de Passage en Douanes, Triptyque or the relevant New Zealand Customs Service import declaration form.

The vehicle will then need to be registered as an overseas vehicle and pass a warrant of fitness inspection. This will allow you to operate the vehicle on overseas plates for up to 12 months.