the cheapest way is to get a container and pack it yourself and then you
just deal with standard shipping rates. a 40' is not much more than a
20', and you can even put a van and trailer in it as well (you will have
to have a narrow trailer or mod yours).

If you get an ATA CARNET (not an FIA CARNET) you dont have to worry about
customs and any clearance. Only stipulation is you have to send the stuff
back within 2 years. You leave the US plates on the car.

If you get an FIA CARNET it only really covers the car - but it is
cheaper. "Proper" way is to get an ATA CARNET.

Beware that inbound cars and such in NZ are subject to a ministry of
agriculture inspection and if your car is not COMPLETELY SPOTLESS (i.e.
any dirt at all) they will fumigate it and spray it inside and out and it
will take longer to clear.

Once in NZ you get a local registration (leave the US plates on the car).
This is a sticker that goes on the car. Same for your VAN. For the
sticker, the car and/or van and/or trailer needs a simple checklist of
stuff (i.e. that it has lights, etc.) and almost any shop can do this.
Then you take the checklist to the registry, pay for the local road
registration, and you are ready to go.

Finally, if you want insurance (liability and road) for when in NZ, you
can also get that as well.

Total inbound costs should be around ~200 / car (inspection, reg sticker
and temp insurance).

-Pat

...........................................................

Fesco (http://www.fesco.com/fanal.htm) have ships that regularly ply the
pacific ocean between the east coast of Australia, New Zealand and the
west coast of the US (including Seattle).

I recall a 20' costing me something like $1800 from Australia to US. Pat
is correct, the packing, vanning, devanning, unpacking, customs agents
etc really add up (almost double the raw shipping cost), you can do a lot
of it yourself and save.

> Beware that inbound cars and such in NZ are subject to a ministry of
> agriculture inspection and if your car is not COMPLETELY SPOTLESS (i.e.
> any dirt at all) they will fumigate it and spray it inside and out and
> it will take longer to clear.

Don't forget the USDA check for anything heading back into the US too.

Glenn

...........................................................

I took a mountain bike to NZ once. The inspection was complete, the bike
could not have any dirt anywhere - I would not even try and bring used
rally tires, put new ones on right before loading the car into the
container. Unless you like cliening the tread with a tooth brush.

Derek