Planning to move your car from Auckland to Invercargill? There are faster ways to get your vehicle from A to B than doing the drive yourself. Professional car transport is the safest and most reliable way to get your vehicle delivered to your door, no matter where you live.
The big question is: How much will transporting your car cost? Well, it may end up saving you in the long run.
In this guide, we’ll break down the cost of transporting your vehicle in New Zealand and explore the types of car carriers and transport options for a more tailored experience.
Car transport services open up a range of possibilities when it comes to relocating cities or purchasing a vehicle. Oftentimes, booking car transportation just makes sense.
You can use it to:
If you live outside of a main centre, your options for purchasing a car, whether new or second-hand, are a lot more limited. A car carrier (or professional driver) allows you to buy the car you want, regardless of where it’s located.
Kiwis love a road trip, but it’s not always possible to have the time to drive from one end of the country to the other. A car transporter allows you to move regions, get set up, and simply pick up your vehicle on the other side.
While professional car transport can save you time, it can also save you money. The second-hand car market is a lot cheaper in Auckland than in other parts of the country, and short distances can be surprisingly affordable.
If you have a vintage or classic car, transporting your vehicle yourself may be fraught with issues. A car carrier can reduce exposure to the elements and prevent adding hundreds of kilometres to the speedometer.
When you’re gathering quotes for transporting your car in New Zealand, it’s helpful to understand the pricing logic behind the numbers.
Car carriers don’t charge a flat fee. There are a lot of variables that go into your rate.
Here are the key considerations:
Not surprisingly, the biggest driver of cost is how far your vehicle needs to travel. Short trips require less petrol and time, while longer drives eat up more kilometres.
Moving a car between islands adds another layer of cost. If your car is going across the Cook Strait on the Interislander or BlueBridge ferries, fees and scheduling logistics get baked into your quote.
Size and weight matter. Smaller cars are cheaper to move than larger SUVs, utes, or trucks because they take up less space (plus, the heavier the car, the more fuel the carrier uses). Oversized or unusually heavy vehicles may attract a surcharge.
Most car transport in New Zealand happens on open carriers, from open-air big rigs that can transport 10 vehicles to a single small truck that can transport one car. Open carriers are a cost-effective option for everyday vehicles but aren’t ideal for classic, luxury, or show cars.
Enclosed transport is less common in New Zealand, but it can add an extra 20–50% more to the price of car transport.
Demand spikes in peak moving seasons (summer months, December–January, and long weekends). When carriers are busy, prices can go up. Being flexible with dates can save you money.
Door-to-door delivery, rural pickups, weekend service, and insurance add-ons all influence the final quote. Remote locations or difficult access (steep, unsealed roads) can also mean extra fees.
Learn more about the nitty-gritty details of car transport in New Zealand in our complete guide.
While every car transport journey will be different, it’s helpful to have an idea of what you might pay – whether you’re moving a hatchback from Auckland to Invercargill or your ute from Queenstown to Christchurch.
We’ve broken down a few real-life examples from Wise Move carriers for you.
Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from NZ$140–NZ$600 for a car carrier going 100–350 km.
Short routes under 2–3 hours’ drive are generally the most budget-friendly, especially if you’re flexible with timing.
These are the most common bookings for most car carriers, and the type of vehicle you drive will start to matter more here. If you have a van, ute or heavier vehicles, you can expect to pay more towards the higher end.
The typical range is NZ$500–NZ$1,100.
When vehicles move between the North and South Island, ferry costs and long-haul logistics increase the total. Keep in mind that even if you were to drive yourself, you would still have to pay for the ferry crossing.
The typical range is NZ$1,400–NZ$2,400+ for a long-distance journey with cross-island transport.
Bigger vehicles or specialty jobs can push the cost up of your journey due to their size, weight, and handling requirements.
Depending on the journey and size of your vehicle, you can expect to pay anywhere from NZ$1,500–NZ$3,200+.
Classic and performance vehicles will generally fall into mid-to-high pricing if they’re being transported on an open carrier. This is the most popular option in New Zealand.
While it’s possible to transport your vehicle in a closed carrier, it’ll add 20–50% to the total car transport cost.
Car transport can be an affordable way to get your vehicle across New Zealand, but what you drive and how far you want to go will ultimately impact the price.
Still, there are a few clever ways you can save money, no matter the journey you’re taking.
Wise Move makes it easy to compare car transport options for your journey by allowing you to compare quotes from multiple carriers, so you can choose the best one for you.
Before you press go on your quote, there are a few things that you should ask your chosen carrier. These can help you save money, skip any surprise fees, and ensure you’ve got the proper protections in place before your journey begins!
Make sure you confirm the level of cover and excess included, or that your own car insurance covers this type of vehicle transport.
Find out more about vehicle in transit insurance, what it covers, and what it doesn’t here.
Larger car carriers tend to stick to depot-to-depot deliveries, which will reduce costs, but these depots could be further from home, increasing your own travel costs.
While it’s possible for a carrier to deliver vehicles within a 24–72 hour timeframe, don’t assume that this is the norm. Your delivery window will depend on the type of carrier, time of year, and any other bookings.
Vans, utes, high-top, and commercial vehicles often cost more due to their size and weight. Check whether there are any outstanding fees for oversized vehicles before you book.
We all know that New Zealand’s weather can be unpredictable at the best of times (hello summer storms!). The interislander ferry is regularly delayed due to big waves or high winds, so make sure you understand what happens if your delivery is late.
Whether you're transporting a sports car from Wellington to Auckland or a new ute from Gisborne to Tauranga, Wise Move makes finding a car transport carrier easy.
With one enquiry, you can book professional and affordable car transport services, allowing you to easily compare quotes from carriers across the country and read reviews from other customers.
Wise Move is New Zealand’s leading moving service, helping thousands of customers with home moves, furniture removals, car and motorcycle transport, and more. Since 2017, we’ve been delivering reliable, affordable, and well-reviewed moving services in just a few simple steps. Our focus has always been on making moving as simple and effortless as possible for our customers.
