Imported with a structural damage

I *think* they have to be repaired to the standard required by an engineer before they can be registered. (like insurance write-offs)

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I imported a car with a bent bonnet and bent upper radiator support, it was flagged as imported damaged had to be repaired and checked independently.
Very stringent checks done, chassis alignment etc
It was in better condition than all of the non damaged ones I've driven.
On the other hand if a car that's already reg'd here is crashed there is no flag in system to say so. Any repairs don't have to be checked.
It may put off some people so keep in mind resale.

There plenty of bent New Zealand cars around, I wouldnt worry too much about it, if it complys and ticks all your boxes so be it. Good luck.

I imported a 48 coupe with a bit of rust the size of a 20c piece at the end of the drain channel,common with this model, it was flagged as structural damage by MAF, Another 48 coupe that was half finished in a dissasembled state,flagged as structural damage by MAF,a 67 Mustang, flagged for possibly unknownstructural damage. I had to strip the front off and present it to be photographed to prove it had no structural damage, it had none but I had to prove it. All these processes involved a $125.00 fee to "unflag" them. Says it all really does it not.

Thats what annoying for sure.

2 things can happen here. Firstly a car can be marked as a damaged vehicle in Japan, and arrive here pre marked. Meaning the importer knew it was damaged.

Secondly, the importer doesnt know, and finds out later. I'll explain. When a car comes into the country it is required to go through what is called compliance. For the sake of writing, think of compliance as a very strict AA Check on the vehicle.

Part of compliance is that a cars interior is completely removed, and all seems and welds are checked for damage, previous damage and rust.

If a car is found to have been previously damaged and repaired, and these repairs look as if they may have been structural or badly repaired, the compliance officer will require the car to under go what is called a repair certificate.

This is carried out by a qualified engineer who determines the vehicle has been repaired properly, and that the integrity of the vehicle is intact (basically he makes sure the repairs are of a good standard). Determined on what they find, they may require the car to be repaired again, have rust removed, or just sign it off. A repair cert costs the importer up to $500 plus the cost of repairs. Therefore dealers dont like bringing in damaged vehicles as the costs are just too high comapred to a normal vehicle.

If a car is flagged at the border, or later flagged at compliance, a RMVT is required to declare on the CIN Notice that the vehicle was "Imported as a damaged vehicle". Now this effects the vehicles value, and makes it harder to sell, which is another reason dealers avoid them.

Its also the same for you, however as a private seller, you dont have to declare anything to the purchaser. So the only way the purchaser will find out is if they do a motorcheck on the vehicle, and as we know, most dont.

So in a nutshell. Imported as damaged means the car was previously damaged or rusty when it came into NZ. It means also that it has been checked out and that the repairs are of a good standard. It does mean though for the rest of its life the car carries the stigma of being registered as an accident damaged vehicle.

On a $25,000 import, thats important, on a $2,000 import, not so much.

Sorry to be long winded, just thought I would explain it properly for you.

Advantage are you cut n pasting my posts from 3 years ago!
Basicly folks what is posted above is correct.
The exception is that a vehicle can be "flagged" at the border ( wharfin NZ) for rust/accident damage.
In theory that is a fantastic idea. In reality it's a joke.
Unfortunately the staff involved in these inspections have NO panel repair training not are they even trained to the level of a WOF.inspector.
To dealers this means a car with NO damage whatsoever can (and has) been flagged/deeped damaged and others with actual structural damage are missed.
An example has to be nissan marches. I had several flagged for damage repairs in the rear. These were high grade cars so I was really worried I and my agent had missed major damage.Aftter stripping one out down to bare steel there was not a mark on the car It turned out the monkey had in factseen the factory applied overspray in the rear wheel arches and assumed it was from an accident repair.

I agree with you.I've seen and heard of some shockers getting flagged. Well everything except me copying you.Ha ha.Have a good one.

Thats real, not to mention the amount of damage they cause pulling panels off without finding hidden clips on otherwise perfect cars. Through plain stupidity, when I bought my car I ended up having to a wrecker to get missing clips etc even for the plastic around the wheel arches.

Hi elvis. I agree with you that in fact thats what they need to see BUT in order to remove the parts that NEED to be removed you end up removing the rest.Ie to remove the pillar covers you have to remove the sill covers.etc.