Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Determine your preferred method of transport. Car can ship in a container, which is called container shipping, or by Roll On Roll Off, called RORO. Container shipping enables having a car is put into a container at a port which is then lifted onto a ship. With container shipping, you can load the car with personal effects as it will be locked in the container. RORO is when a car is driven onto a ship and then driven off at the destination. You cannot have personal effects in the car when you ship RORO. RORO is the cheaper option but containers ship more often. RORO ships typically ships every 10 days from major ports in New Zealand where container ships typically leave every 7 days.
Request a quote from international shipping companies in New Zealand. The Auto Car Shippers website (see Resources) will give you quotes from their international shipping partners when you use their quote form. Or you can go directly to the site of a shipping company, such as Taurus Logistics Ltd. (see Resources), and fill out a quote request form. You will need to supply the car make and model as well as the shipping origin and destination for the quote.
Make your booking at least 2 weeks in advance. The shipping transport company will need to prepare the customs paperwork before it can take your car on the ship to the USA. You will need to have a bill of sale or other proof of ownership to go with your customs forms. You will also need to provide the shipping company with copies of your passport and driver's license.
Clean your vehicle or pay extra for the shipping company to take care of it for you. Cars have to be cleaned and vacuumed before they can be shipped. Most shipping companies offer this service for an additional fee.
Get a Warrant of Fitness, or WOF, if you are shipping by RORO method. A WOF is a safety check of the vehicle of things like tires, brakes and structural condition. The NZ Transport Agency handles the WOF inspections. Their website urges the use of the Yellow Pages to locate an inspection office near you.
Pay for your shipping fee and schedule a ship-date. You will need to pay for the entire shipping cost upfront. The cost can vary based on the size of the vehicle and the method of transport. Keep in mind that duties and taxes will not be included in the cost you will be quoted as those are to be paid directly to the destination port. The 2009 average cost for a mid-size car to ship from New Zealand to the USA is $4000. You can arrange to have the shipping company pick up your car to ship it or you can drive it to the port. There is an additional fee if they pick it up. Once the car is on the ship, you will be given a date that it will reach the port in the USA.