Shipping to and using Aust reg'd vehicle & c'van in NZ

Submitted: Monday, Jan 12, 2015 at 17:58
ThreadID: 110702 Views:2597 Replies:5 FollowUps:5
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G'day all,

Has anyone investigated shipping or actually shipped, their Australian registered vehicle and c'van to NZ to use for a period of say, 3 to 6 months?.

We were over there recently and got a quote for a medium sized motorhomes for a period of 3 months. We were blown away by the cost (admittedly during the peak season), which was around the $18-20,000 mark.

Before I go to much further into the research, I thought I would see if any forumites have actually done it.

Also appreciated would be any info on legality of using and towing the vehicles in NZ. I assume there may be a period of time wherein the Aust reg'n was valid in NZ.

I don't think my Aust insurance would cover me for the transit or when in NZ, but I have emailed my insurers to confirm. Vehicle is with Toyota insurance and c'van with CIL.

Appreciate any advice.

Regards,

Ian

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Reply By: Crusader - Monday, Jan 12, 2015 at 20:02

Monday, Jan 12, 2015 at 20:02
Ian,
Have a look here.

NZ RTA

Cheers
AnswerID: 544147

Follow Up By: TomH - Monday, Jan 12, 2015 at 20:29

Monday, Jan 12, 2015 at 20:29
http://cars2nz.com/shipping-services/car-shipping/

Different page More info
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FollowupID: 831244

Reply By: Ron N - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 17:54

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 17:54
I have never seriously considered shipping anything between NZ and Australia for the following reason.
Quite a few years ago, I was looking at purchasing equipment and trucks (prime movers) from NZ and shipping them to Australia, due to the good exchange rate at the time, and the ready supply of used heavy-duty (8-wheeler) prime movers there.

However, that idea was promptly canned when I found out the cost of shipping between us and NZ!
At the time, the going rate for shipping between the U.S. and Australia was $50 a cubic metre - but between here and NZ, it was $175 a cubic metre!

I nearly flipped when the shipping agent gave me the figures, and I asked him why it was so expensive.
He basically replied it was the most expensive shipping (for the distance) of anywhere in the world - and it was all largely due to the "closed shop" setup of NZ and Australian shipping and stevedoring.

I'm not sure if anything has changed in the last 15 yrs with regard to to this freight route, but it certainly would want to, to bring it into line with other shipping/freighting charges.
Perhaps the advent of large RO-RO ships has improved the situation, but I think it would still probably be uneconomic.

Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID: 544185

Follow Up By: Ron N - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 18:18

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 18:18
I might add, the attractive shipping figures quoted in the links above are only half the story.
You are likely to be hit with a raft of additional charges, as well as the actual shipping costs.

Typically, these extra charges are likely to be;

1. Customs Import duties or GST
2. Port service charge
3. Sea cargo automation fee
4. CMR (Cargo Management Re-engineering) cost recovery fee
5. Terminal handling fee
6. Terminal (Marine) Security fee
7. Administration fee/s
8. Customs recording fee
9. Customs clearance fee
10. Compile fee (don't even ask me what this is!)
11. Quarantine inspection charges
12. Shipping agent/Brokers fee/s

All these fees and charges have been taken from my last importation bill, from the U.S. in 2009.
Some of the charges may have altered, some may have been dropped - but they will still have hidden "extra" charges.
Customs and Quarantine do not work cheap, they charge by the half-hour, they charge call-out fees for weekend jobs, and they make car dealership workshop charges look positively cheap.

And don't even ask what demurrage costs if there's a stuff-up or argument, and your item sits on the wharf for a few days while it's sorted.
I imported a big forklift from a U.S. military base in Japan in 1999, and ended up having a huge "barney" over final shipping costs, that were ramped up 150% over the original quote.
Original shipping quote was $US6000, the final bill presented was $US15,000!
At that time, the demurrage cost was $500 a day, for anything that sat on the wharf, that wasn't immediately removed, while a dispute was settled!

Cheers, Ron.
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FollowupID: 831296

Reply By: barry22 - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 19:56

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 19:56
Hi Ian,

I am a bit like you. Absolutely amased at the cost of motorhome rental in NZ. In my case I am looking at a mid size home with shower and toilet etc...the cost for 30 days is approaching $10,000, and I haven't yet sorted out if this covers insurance costs etc. There is also diesel tax to be added, plus others I don't know about yet !!!

I don't think us Ozzies are really welcome over there. Not sure what we do, other than cough it up.

Maybe buy and sell :)

I will be very interested to see what you flush out.

Best of luck, Barry
AnswerID: 544197

Follow Up By: TomH - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 23:43

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 23:43
You are looking at the wrong companies or an expensive time of the year
The links I have provided below will give you the option to change the selection to what you want and when

Looking at the two links a 4 berth for a month from 7th April is only a bit over $5000 including all the freebies and excess reduced to $250

Diesel tax is included in the addon pack and isnt all that expensive anyway and diesel is cheaper than here as you pay the tax on kilometers travelled. Travel insurance for thefts etc is advisable. Medical costs are reciprocal between Aus & .NZ.
Which is better than the $900 it cost me just to walk in the door of a US hospital for a throat problem.

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FollowupID: 831325

Reply By: TomH - Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 20:39

Tuesday, Jan 13, 2015 at 20:39
Looked up this one is $9478 including Premium pack for 92 days Is $103 a day
That if you consider a motel each night and a rental car is not expensive

Start 7 April to 7 July for an indication

http://www.motorhomerepublic.com/resultsod.html?search_uuid=christchurch-airport|christchurch-airport|20150407|20150707|AU|49|Z|en


A Maui Luxury van that would sleep 6 is $10337 plus the Premium pack that reduces your insurance to zero and gives you picnic stuff, road user taxes and other goodies adds $5200

That is $165 a day Christchurch unlimited mileage return to CH Ch. Dates i put in were APr 4 -Jul4 which includes Easter weekend Would be cheaper after Easter and more so if you hire a manual vehicle
http://www.motorhomerepublic.com/maui_platinum_river_motorhome_284643_worldwide_motorhome_rental.html?pickup_country=NZ&pickup_location=Christchurch+Airport&dropoff_location=Christchurch+Airport&category=¤cy=&age=49&country=AU&pickup_date=2015-04-04+12%3A00&dropoff_date=2015-07-04+12%3A00&IsMysteryDeal=No&search_uuid=christchurch-airport|christchurch-airport|20150404|20150704|AU|49|Z|en

We recently considered doing the same in the USA and it worked out about the same rate.

We hired cars long term and stayed in Hotels for 66 days and the hotel and rentals cost $14827 AU for 2 of us That was $224 a day We were really happy with both the vehicles and the Hotels
AnswerID: 544200

Reply By: Member - Ian G (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 at 21:40

Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 at 21:40
G'day all,

Many thanks to all who took the time to reply. We are now much more aware of what we need to consider.

We have contacted a couple of shipping agents and are awaiting their replies.

Regards,

Ian
AnswerID: 544342

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