A damage flag is recorded against an imported vehicle when the Border Inspector has found corrosion, damage, and/or previous repairs, or the vehicle is subject to an airbag recall.
An Entry Certifier can request removal of a damage flag if they determine that the vehicle repairs are cosmetic only.
A Repair Certifier can request removal of a damage flag if the vehicle has been repaired in accordance with the requirements of the Repair VIRM, and meets the criteria for border damage flag removal.
Types of repairs not eligible for border damage flag removal:
Structural Repairs
- any repair has affected the chassis alignment of a vehicle and requires 3D chassis alignment.
Multiple Panel Repairs/Replacement
- damage has occurred to multiple panels whether the structural integrity and/or chassis alignment of the vehicle has been affected or not (excluding purely cosmetic damage such as hail or vandalism).
Corrosion Damage
- any perforated corrosion is found in a structural area where the metal is corroded to the extent that it has holes, or holes are exposed when rust scale is removed, or if metal is badly pitted causing a loss of metal thickness (this must also be treated as perforated corrosion).
- any rust heave or swelling is found that will require removal of any original panel or part of panel in order for an area to be patched.
Water or Fire Damage
- the vehicle has sustained water or fire damage.
SRS Components
- an SRS component has been deployed.
Click here to view the NZTA threshold for removing a border damage flag.