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HI there, I am looking at buying an imported car from Australia (Written off for minor damage that I will have AA to check beforehand anyway e.g. imported from Australia with minimal hail damage and repaired paint free to appropriate New Zealand compliance standards. It comes with a brand new two year NZ warrant of fitness. It had never been registered in Australia and as mentioned sustained minimum hail damage and NO structural / paint or water damage. The car was located on a Hyundai dealers yard. It has been complied and meets all current LTSA requirements for registration. The car however hasn't been registered in New Zealand yet. Is that a problem? The private vendor who bought it (Confirmed in writing as non stolen in Australia) apparently doesn't want to register it because he is now selling it and this would trigger to many questions otherwise. Looking forward to your legal advice. Many thanks. Segolene
P.S. See weblinks below
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2296634618
https://www.motorweb.co.nz/pub/vehicle/1930708246/render/138afed9

Hi there,
The fact it has NZ wof, means that all the criteria (and repair certification) for getting the car on the road have been completed and the MR2A licensing form issued. So the vehicle can be registered and plates issued, but like most car dealers also do, they don't want to register the vehicle until it sells, so 1 they are not paying for rego while a vehicle is waiting to sell on a yard, and 2, it can be more economical for the new owner to register the vehicle in their name and obtain plates when they buy so it doesn't show one owner (the seller) for only a few weeks and then the new one.