You've been thinking about heading to UK/Europe for that trip of a lifetime, so it makes sense to buy yourself a VAT-free vehicle

You love New Zealand, but you keep thinking it's time to take that dream holiday around Europe

Castle European are have extensive experience when it comes to helping you buy a VAT-free vehicle and making your travel dreams come true.

Ready, set, go...!

So, maybe you've seen a motorhome in the UK and think it would be a good idea to import it directly to New Zealand, or maybe you've been thinking about buying a new motorhome to travel around UK/Europe on your much dreamed-of holiday and then import it back to New Zealand (so you can continue with your travelling adventures back at home!)

Or, maybe you're a returning New Zealand resident and would like to bring a motorhome back with you.

It doesn't matter what your reason's are, Castle European are available to help you buy a VAT-free campervan of your choice.

Castle European makes it easy for you

We can:
  • Source the model of your choice at a good price and from a reputable UK supplier
  • Organise the paperwork to purchase the vehicle for export and avoid UK tax (new vehicles only)
  • Arrange shipping and transit insurance
  • Organise insurance in the UK while you are travelling and/or when you travel in New Zealand
  • Organise vehicle insurance once the vehicle has been handed over to you
  • Gain Customs and MAF (MPI) biosecurity clearance
  • Obtain all necessary Specification documents for the compliance procedure
  • Submit the vehicle to a compliance certification centre for certification
  • Organise electrical, gas and self-containment modification and certification.

An added bonus

Touring around in your VAT-free motorhome effectively pays for your travel accommodation!

Take that first step

If your first step is sourcing a vehicle, please contact Castle European.  Or, if you already have something in mind, drop us an email so we can check out your vehicle to see if it's compliant in New Zealand.

If you buy a new motorhome in the UK to use before importing it home, the vehicle must leave the UK within 12 months of purchase.

Or if you intend to travel for a longer than 12 months (of purchasing the vehicle) you'll still be required to pay the VAT, but you will be eligible for depreciation on the vehicle.

Castle European are intermediaries and we will work for you

Sourcing a new vehicle on your behalf is no problem - either for you to use in Europe before shipping home or for direct export to New Zealand.  We're here to make things easy for you.

Your best interests are our only concern

Castle European's buying power means that even with our fee you’re still likely to pay less in total than if you simply purchased the vehicle directly yourself – and you’ll have a lot less worry!

We'll help you find the model of your choice at the best possible price, organise it’s tax-free purchase in the UK and arrange it’s export and shipping back home to New Zealand.

Castle European are service providers, which means we'll work for you, acting on your behalf and your best interests are our only concern.

How we can help bring your own vehicle home

If you already own a vehicle in the UK, or have bought one ready to export, or you simply prefer to source one yourself, Castle European can still assist with the procedure and organise everything that's required - from drop-off in the UK to the on-road procedure back in New Zealand. The electrical warrant will be done and the self containment sorted.

Castle European's fee for assisting with the importation of your own vehicle is charged in two stages as the transaction progresses. The first payment of 50% is due when the vehicle is ready for shipping in the UK, the remaining 50% is due when everything is completed in New Zealand.

A substantial purchase like this, coming from the other side of the world, should only be made through known and trustworthy sources.  Over the years, Castle European has built relationships with several long established and reliable motorhome suppliers in the UK, and because we’re independent we can shop around to source your chosen model at the best possible price.

Working independently means we can source many makes and models of vehicles and have no vested interest in any particular marque.  Being free from bias, Casle European will never try to influence you to buy one type of vehicle ahead of another.

Comprehensive service

Castle European's aim is to remove all the hassle from the importation procedure and present you with the vehicle when it’s ready for use in New Zealand.

In most cases we hand over a motorhome which is not only on the road, but also has a four year Electrical Warrant of Fitness, all the gas appliances certified and a four year Self Containment Certificate.

Electrical and gas compliance, and self containment to New Zealand standards

It’s not just getting your vehicle on the road that requires certification to New Zealand standards.

If you ever want to plug into the mains then the 240v electrical system must be compliant and issued with a certificate after inspection.

Gas appliances also require certification which meets the Ministry of Energy’s requirements, too. This isn’t about looking at the colour of the flame on the stove top to see if it’s burning okay, it’s about providing a paper-trail of documentation right back to the testing laboratory that first approved the appliance on behalf of the manufacturer. (Note: Since 2013 it is illegal to sell any gas appliance in New Zealand which has not been certified. This includes gas appliances fitted in motorhomes sold privately).

Castle European can take care of all of this for you and ensure your vehicle is ready for use when you collect it.

In addition to gas and electrical certification we can carry out whatever modifications are required to meet the New Zealand Self Containment requirements and have your vehicle inspected and a Certificate issued.

Costs for these services vary from one vehicle to the next as they all tend to be different, and we’re happy to provide a quote once we understand what is required for your particular motorhome.
"Thank you for the very professional work you have undertaken on our behalf. I had no idea of the amount of work that had to be done to import a new vehicle."
John and Diane Flowers
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