RoRo freight between NZ & Australia

For those like me & wondering what is a Carnet de Passages en Douane

Google is your friend

The Carnet can be thought of as a passport for your car. It offers a guarantee to a foreign government that the vehicle identified in the Carnet, if granted temporary importation status, will be removed from the country within the time limit imposed by the respective jurisdiction. In the event that the vehicle is not removed within the imposed timeframe, the country may claim from CAA all duties and taxes that would be required to permanently import the vehicle to that country. Using the Carnet is an alternative to leaving a cash security deposit with a foreign government. It allows free movement and unencumbered access between foreign countries. Most countries, but not all, allow this option. A Carnet is valid for one year from the date of issue. The carnet is available to CAA and AAA Members and non- members resident in Canada or the U.S. and to others who have a car registered in either Canada or the U.S. Others must apply to the auto club or carnet issuer in their country of residence.

Hi Terry.
I have done this twice with my Landcruiser. Once Auckland to Melbourne and once Tauranga to Perth. Return shipping out of Perth each time.

At all times I used a 20ft container for maximum security, though it is the most expensive method, about NZ$4000 each way, including customs and bio-security. Stuffed all my camping gear into the container as well. I’ve always used Allied Pickfords as the agent, both directions. Though there are other companies offering the service now, so prices could vary.

It’s still a lot cheaper than buying, setting up then reselling a vehicle over there, both in time and money. With your own vehicle you know what you’ve got.

Melbourne is the best port to enter as Vic roads will accept a recent NZ safety inspection certificate (WOF print out), where WA is a lottery. You must pay for a compulsory third party cover from transport authorities in the state you enter the vehicle.

There in lies a problem.
Victoria is the best as you can just buy the insurance component, Qld makes you buy the whole annual rego. WA is again a lottery. Nobody in WA seems to know how it works, so it depends who you get on the day. NSW? Don’t even think about it, unless of course they’ve got their act together in recent times. Someone else may comment on whether all this is still the case.


Trap 1: WA does not recognise the compulsory 3rd party insurance on temporary vehicles that has been paid in another State. You have to pay again if you enter WA. It’s on their website.

Trap 2: Yes you can apply to extend the Carnet for an extra year now, but the price of that was the enforcement of the “no leave the country” rule. Which means that you can’t come home to NZ, even for the weekend, without bringing the vehicle with you. Loss of bond a real possibility. I’ve heard you can apply in writing for permission to leave the country, which is just great in the case of an emergency. This is the reason I’ve stopped using the Carnet system.

On road insurance is always tricky, with RACV one of the better bets. But arrange it first before shipping. A “good guy” letter from your own NZ insurer helps.

The vehicle must be super, super clean underneath and radiator, or they will send it for their own clean (expensive). I always water blasted the under side. Same coming back to NZ, possibly even more so.

Cheers. Clive.