Importing a Car from the USA to New Zealand
Many US export cars come straight from damage auctions. Enter the VIN below for a free preview of its US record — salvage-auction sale records with damage photos, theft records, an odometer timeline, and available US listing and price records back to 2015 (coverage varies by VIN) — before you bid at a US auction or wire money to an exporter. Border inspection, entry certification, and frontal-impact and emissions standards apply, plus 15% GST; left-hand-drive vehicles face extra restrictions and generally must be 20+ years old or specially approved.
The $12.99 Used Car Report — works worldwide
One-time purchase (billed in USD): salvage-auction records with damage photos where published, reported salvage records, theft records, odometer timeline, and available US listing & price records back to 2015 (coverage varies by VIN). See a sample report
Need the federal record instead (recalls, complaints, original window sticker)? That's the $9.99 Full VIN Report.
FAQ
What should I check before importing a US car to New Zealand?
What happened to the car in America: salvage-auction sale records with damage photos where the auction published them, reported salvage records, theft records, an odometer timeline, and the VIN's full US listing and price history — plus the federal record (recalls, owner complaints, service bulletins) and the original window sticker (for 12 brands) proving factory trim, options, and MSRP. Many US export cars come from damage auctions — verify before bidding, not after shipping. Border inspection, entry certification, and frontal-impact and emissions standards apply, plus 15% GST; left-hand-drive vehicles face extra restrictions and generally must be 20+ years old or specially approved.
Why does the original window sticker matter for an import to New Zealand?
It is federal proof of the exact factory configuration and original MSRP — protection against a base vehicle being sold as a loaded one, and useful documentation for valuation and registration. CarWhere retrieves original manufacturer stickers for GM, Ford, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Genesis brands.
Can I check a US auction car's history from New Zealand?
Yes — the $12.99 CarWhere Used Car Report is a one-time purchase available worldwide (billed in USD): salvage-auction sale records with damage photos where published, reported salvage records, theft records, an odometer timeline with rollback flagging, and the VIN's available US listing and price records back to 2015 (coverage varies by VIN). The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record instead (decode, recalls, complaints, bulletins, window sticker where available). No subscription on either.