🛂 Temporary Importing a Vehicle with a Carnet (CPD)

If you're planning to take your vehicle to New Zealand or Australia for a short-to-medium-term stay, a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) might be a great option. It allows you to temporarily import your vehicle without paying import duties or going through full compliance and registration processes.

📘 What is a Carnet?

A Carnet is like a passport for your car — it allows temporary entry into participating countries without being subject to normal import taxes or registration requirements.

Issued by authorised motoring organisations (such as the AAA in Australia or AA NZ in New Zealand), a Carnet guarantees that your vehicle will be re-exported within a specific timeframe — usually up to 12 months.

🚙 When Should You Use a Carnet?

A Carnet is most useful if you're:

• Touring New Zealand or Australia for several months
• Taking part in a motorsport event, car rally, or show
• Importing a specialist or non-compliant vehicle that won’t pass local standards
• Looking to avoid paying import GST, duties, or registration
• Intending to take the vehicle back home after your trip

⚠️ When a Carnet Doesn't Make Sense

We often get enquiries from people wanting to take a car over for a couple of weeks or a short holiday. While possible, it's usually not cost-effective for short stays.

That’s because:

• You’ll still need to pay international shipping both ways
• You’ll pay Carnet fees and a refundable security bond
• Biosecurity cleaning, port charges, and documentation still apply
• Temporary insurance and admin work are still required

👉 Unless you're staying 3–4 months or longer, it's often cheaper and easier to simply rent a similar vehicle in New Zealand or Australia.

✅ What You Avoid with a Carnet

• ❌ No import GST or duty
• ❌ No NZTA compliance or safety inspection
• ❌ No registration or Clean Car fees
• ✅ Ideal for unique, classic, or performance vehicles
• ✅ Minimal red tape if staying temporarily

📋 Key Conditions

To be eligible for a Carnet:

• 🚘 Your vehicle must be registered in the country of origin
• 📄 You must apply before shipping
• ⏱️ The vehicle must be re-exported within 12 months
• 🧼 The vehicle must meet biosecurity cleaning standards
• 🚫 The vehicle cannot be sold, transferred, or abandoned

📍 What You’ll Still Need to Do

• Present the Carnet to Customs on arrival
• Ensure the vehicle is thoroughly cleaned for MPI inspection
• Maintain your home country registration
• Arrange insurance valid for local roads
• Present the Carnet again when exporting the vehicle

🌐 Where to Apply

You can apply for a Carnet through your national motoring authority:

• 🇦🇺 Australia – Apply through AAA (Australian Automobile Association)
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand – Apply through AA New Zealand

A security deposit or bond is typically required — based on the value of the vehicle and the countries you intend to visit.

🧭 Summary: Is a Carnet Right for You?

If you're:

• Planning a 3–12 month visit
• Bringing a unique, high-value, or classic vehicle
• Hoping to avoid import taxes or compliance testing
• Intending to return the car to its country of origin

...then a Carnet might be the perfect solution.

However, for short trips (under 3 months), it's generally not worth the cost — renting locally will almost always be simpler and cheaper.

If you’re not sure what’s best for your trip, we’re happy to talk it through with you and explain your options.

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