Left Hand Drive /Right Hand Drive 

(If you have arrived at this page looking for Left to Right hand drive conversion companies; go here)

An opportunity has arisen to influence the debate surrounding potential changes to the NZ Law which states that newly imported LHD cars must be converted to RHD if less than 20 years old. LHD cars older than 20 years do not need to be converted to RHD, so this debate currently effects only cars made between 1987 and now.

Feedback opinion on this topic can be viewed here 

Question:

What is the difference between these two left-hand drive 2003 Mach 1 Mustangs? Look identical, don’t they, apart from the obvious colour difference? Well, look again - there is a big difference!

Clue: Look at what is being pointed to on the blue car’s windscreen. Answer: a registration sticker!

The blue car on the left is registered in New Zealand and can drive anywhere, anytime, because the owner of this vehicle had business interests in the United States, and therefore found himself able to “own and operate the vehicle outside New Zealand for a period of more than 90 consecutive days”. In doing so, he complied with the LTNZ requirements, and so was permitted to register his vehicle.

The owner of the Red car on the right, however, could not afford to be away from the country for 90 days, and instead stayed in New Zealand and purchased his car, through an importer. There was a window of opportunity which has now closed, to purchase one of these limited production cars new. This vehicle in the specifications ordered, is not available brand new anymore. Only 6,500 units were reported to be produced.

As things stand, in order to register the Red Mustang, he must either:

1. have the Mustang converted to right-hand drive; or
2. re-export it, operate it in another country for 90 consecutive days, and then re-import it; or
3. store it until it is 20 years old, export it briefly and re-import it. Twenty-year-old LHD cars can be imported and registered, virtually without restriction; and since the LTNZ requirements say “twenty years old at date of importation”, the car will need to leave the country and come back in again.

Can anyone explain how road safety is enhanced by such a situation? If the blue car is deemed safe enough to use our roads, why is the red car not?

Current Review

The LTNZ is reviewing the rule regarding importing left hand drive cars into New Zealand that are less than 20 years old with regard to the Steering Systems Rule Regulation 70(1) and 70 (2). The fact that the rule is on the agenda for review is in itself a wonderful opportunity that may not come around again for some time. The timeframe on this is of relative urgency.

Here is a link to the LTNZ FACT sheet 12 stating all the current rules for which vehicles must be converted and which are exempt. http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/12.html.

The current rule does allow for a left hand drive vehicle to be imported in to New Zealand and registered if you have owned and operated it overseas for at least 90 consecutive days. If this is the case, you do not need to convert it to Right Hand Drive.

A bit of Background to the Current 90 Day Rule. 

In the days when there were import restrictions, one of the methods by which a person could buy a new car was through the "tourist delivery scheme". How it worked was; you bought and paid for a car, which you picked up at the factory in Munich, Detroit, or wherever, and drove it around on your holiday. You then shipped the vehicle home, and registered it for use in NZ. There was, however, a minimum time you had to be overseas to qualify for the scheme, and I understand you were not allowed to sell it before a certain amount of time - to stop people "trafficking" cars. Then there is the case of NZ citizens who go overseas to work or study. If the country they're in is left-hand drive, the car they buy is likely to be LHD as well. Due to the aforementioned difficulty of getting cars in NZ, a large percentage of returning expatriates chose to bring their car with them - and still do. That was considered to be OK, but a minimum period of time spent overseas was stipulated.

Well, things are certainly different today...... Who would have thought that anybody with enough credit on his or her credit card could buy a car, any car, and have it delivered to their home town, over the Net? You can, and it's legal. There's not even any tax or duty, apart from the GST. Virtually no restrictions at all. You can even parallel-import a brand-new car - we're one of the few countries that allows this. Why? There's no local car-building industry to protect any more; and somehow NZers have weathered the effects of the Rogernomics freemarket economy - you could even say the place is booming. So; the "trafficking" of cars cannot be an important issue, can it? There is no restriction to the number of cars a person can import, except for the number a person can sell without being a licensed dealer. OK; so what's the issue? Safety standards compliance? Nope - the major LHD countries, the US and Europe, have safety standards that are accepted in this country; which means that, provided the vehicle met these standards, it should be OK to register in NZ on that score. In fact, the US had Frontal Impact testing years before the rest of the world saw the need to... All that's left, then, is the fact that the vehicle is LHD!!! Let's have a think about that. Now, we know that Aussie is pretty tough on LHD, but then they're tough on imports as a whole. They do have a vehicle manufacturing industry to protect, after all (if you call making Falcodores an industry that deserves to be protected..). But what about the two biggest RHD countries - Japan and the UK? There is no restriction on LHD sales in either of these countries. You can buy brand-new LHD Camaros in Japan, complete with left-dipping headlamps and Japanese-language labels; and I'm told that, at any one time in the UK, about 30% of the vehicles on the road are LHD; mostly Continental visitors and long-distance trucks (or "lorries").

Do either of these countries have accident statistics that show that LHD is disproportionally a factor in road accidents? Does NZ? Quite the opposite - I'm told that there is virtually no data in this country of LHD accidents - in fact, it could be proved, I believe, that LHD accident rates are much lower than RHD, even allowing for the small number of LHD vehicles currently on the roads here.

I don't think anybody wants to see boatloads of used-import Hyundais and Kias arriving here from Korea (which is a LHD country), but, if there is a real reason why a genuine enthusiast cannot register his or her prized vehicle just because it's LHD, can we please be told what it is? How about it, LTNZ?  How about an answer?

Here is a left hand drive Army LAV filling up at BP on SH1, Waioru. Registered for road use in NZ.
Obviously LHD can't be too much of an issue if the Govt buys millions of dollars worth of LHD vehicles weighing a substantial number of tonnes and lets them loose on public roads!
 

Discussion Points 

1. We don't want to modify our cars

As enthusiasts and collectors we do not wish our cars to be modified. We can import a vehicle over 20 years of age and not have it converted to right hand drive to be registered for use. Why then can we not have a late model specialist and enthusiast vehicle imported without having it converted to right hand drive? The type of vehicles generally imported have a mark with a pedigree racing history or long time enthusiast following. To own such a vehicle brings prestige, personal satisfaction and a huge thrill to drive and show it off to the general public who have a real interest in viewing these rare vehicles. To many people, they are seen as a status symbol and/or ownership brings an achievement for many which has been a long term goal.

2. Destruction of Originality and Market Value

Converting a car to right hand drive destroys its originality and collectible value. No matter how good a conversion is made, it still ends up as a radically modified vehicle which severely impacts on the vehicles collectability, value and pure enjoyment of owning a special vehicle.

3. Specialist Register

A proposed Specialist and Enthusiasts vehicle register could be started by the LTNZ whereby if a vehicle qualifies for inclusion on this register, it could be registered for road use in NZ in its as-built form. Criteria for inclusion on a special register could include such special features such as particular performance characteristics, special body features or badging or has been written about in specialist motoring magazines in its as-built form. Also, perhaps a mileage limiter per year be imposed say 5,000 kilometres or 3,000 miles per year in line with most classic and specialist vehicle insurance policies. Perhaps membership to an appropriate enthusiast Car Club should also be considered as part of any exemption? In other words these vehicles are usually not daily runners. This would make it easier for the LTNZ to keep track of these vehicles.

4. Not Hoons!

As enthusiasts, we use our cars for recreational use such as club runs, special events such as conventions and car shows.

At our main conventions we raise funds for charity and are often asked to participate at school galas to help raise funds for schools and other charitable organizations. We attract a wide range of interest from the public at our club displays. In other words we are law abiding citizens and not a bunch of street racing hoons.

5. We more than Pay our Way

As a large group of enthusiasts we take our hobby seriously and collectively as a group we pay a lot of taxes via vehicle registrations and petrol taxes to the government. There is a lot of work generated for the motor service industries in the upkeep and servicing of our vehicles. We require our opinions to be taken into consideration and taken seriously.

6. Destruction of Integrated Vehicle Safety Systems

The current law dates back to a time when cars were simpler and conversions relatively straightforward. Times have dramatically changed however. Modern cars that meet the Frontal Impact Standard FMVSS208 should not have their frontal impact systems tampered with - just because they can be. All motor cars manufactured in the United States for example meet strict Federal laws. These standards are recognised in New Zealand. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards meet NZ specifications. Would Ford, Chrysler or General motors agree that a vehicle changed in New Zealand to right hand drive, using parts manufactured in NZ and/or non factory parts, including perhaps moving the motor from its original chassis position, would maintain its frontal impact integrity, and continue to uphold all the standards? How does this affect passengers safety?

Warranty issues are also of major concern. What if there was a recall on say Ford Mustangs world wide, where would a converted vehicle stand in relation to warranty and potential law suits? The Car manufacturers spend millions on testing safety and design. By comparison, right hand drive conversions done in NZ, by small engineering firms come under the low volume frontal impact standard and require no frontal impact testing. Is this a standard an American or European manufacturer would agree to? The day someone may be fatally injured in a converted vehicle may open a can of worms and could put the spotlight on the rule makers.

7. No Body Count

There are no accident statistics to show left hand drive operated vehicles pose any greater threat on NZ roads. After being on many club outings in my classic mustang over the last 6 years, it is fair to say these vehicles are driven more safely than the average daily runner car, because of their value, respect for the vehicles and generally the age and experience of the vehicle owners.

94 RHD and 98 LHD Corvettes: Both are registered for driving in NZ..

What YOU Can Do

A collective effort is needed here by interested parties/people to make a change for the better happen, otherwise this rule will no doubt be rolled over in its "as- is" form, and an ideal opportunity for change will be lost. Anyone interested can register their interest with THE RULES TEAM, LTNZ, PO BOX 2840, WELLINGTON, should they wish to be involved in the consultation process.

Make a contribution to the campaign fighting fund... See update # 5, 6 and 7