Importing and modifying heavy vehicles
Vehicles that you bring into New Zealand from overseas may need modification to meet New Zealand standards. You can make these modifications after you've imported the vehicle. In most cases, you'll need to have your vehicle certified by a heavy vehicle specialist certifier before you can use them on New Zealand roads.
Before you can register your vehicle for use on New Zealand roads
Your vehicle must have a chassis rating. Contact an entry certifier for the chassis rating application forms and procedure.
Heavy-vehicle brake standards requirements
Certain classes of buses and trucks (MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC) first registered on or after 1 July 2008 must meet the brake standard set out in the Heavy Vehicle Brakes Rule (PDF, 1,28 MB, 72 pages). In addition, if you intend using NB and NC vehicles to tow heavy trailers, you'll most likely need to fit ABS, EBS or LSV.
To import a vehicle of classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB or NC - whatever the manufacture date - you must check that it complies with one of the approved brake standards.
Heavy trailers must also meet requirements set out in the Heavy Vehicle Brake Rule. In most cases, classes TC or TD first registered on or after 1 July 2008 will need to have ABS, EBS or LSV.
Other requirements
You may need to make other modifications to your heavy vehicle to meet New Zealand requirements, such as:
- load anchorage standards
- drawbeam/drawbar standards
- log bolster attachments
- chassis modifications
- stability and rollover.
For class NB and NC vehicles manufactured after 1 October 2003, you also need to check with an entry certifier whether the safety belt anchorages meet standards.
See the detailed requirements you need to meet for heavy vehicles in the Land Transport Rule: Heavy Vehicles 2004 (PDF, 760 KB, 54 pages) and Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 (PDF, 2.08 MB, 126 pages).
Find out more on importing a heavy vehicle into New Zealand.
