Importing a Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Series from Japan to NZ became considerably more attractive in 2026. From 1 January 2026, the charge applying to eligible used imports dropped significantly, with the cost for the 4.7 V8 and 4.2 turbo diesel falling from around NZ$8,500 to approximately NZ$1,500, a saving of about NZ$7,000. The 20-year age threshold also means Land Cruiser 100 Series vehicles built in 2006 or earlier can qualify under simpler New Zealand entry requirements. Before bidding, we check the exact build date and eligibility of each vehicle.

Japanese auctions offer several Land Cruiser 100 specifications, including the VX, VX Limited, VX Limited G Selection and Cygnus. The VX Limited adds features such as cruise control and eight-seat capacity, while the G Selection includes Toyota’s AHC height-adjustable suspension. The luxury Cygnus sits at the top of the Japanese range with a significantly higher level of equipment and leather upholstery. Because these vehicles are now around 20 to 28 years old, some light surface corrosion underneath is common. Japanese auction inspectors record condition issues on the auction sheet, which we translate before you decide whether to bid.

Prices depend heavily on year, mileage, condition and auction grade. As a guide, a 2000 to 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser 100 V8 at auction grade 4 can start from around NZ$35,000 landed in New Zealand. A 2005 Land Cruiser VX Limited with auction grade 4.5 recently landed in Christchurch for NZ$46,467. We provide an estimated total landed price before you bid so you know the expected cost in advance.

We can also source the Lexus LX 470 from Japan, the luxury Lexus version based on the Land Cruiser 100 platform, as well as later Toyota Land Cruiser Prado models including the TZ-G. With thousands of vehicles passing through Japan’s auction network, we can search for the right year, grade, mileage and specification rather than limiting you to vehicles already available for sale in New Zealand. The typical Japan-to-New Zealand import process takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 months.

Every Land Cruiser at a Japanese auction is inspected before the sale and given an overall grade from 0 to 5, with the interior and the exterior lettered A to E. On a car built in 2006 or earlier we look for grade 4 and above, and a 4.5 is a car somebody has looked after. This part also covers how you pay, the steps from registration to the keys, the 4.7 V8 against the 4.2 turbo diesel, and what separates the VX, VX Limited, G Selection and Cygnus.

Light surface rust under a Japanese 4WD of this age is the usual picture. The auction inspector writes down where it is and how far it goes, and we translate that line for you before you bid. If the compliance centre asks for rust work, it is done there under a certified repair engineer, and the cost usually starts from around $2,000. 

Land Cruisers in Japan often come to auction with well under the distance a local car of the same year has done, and an odometer certificate comes with every car we land. In this part you will find two real lists from JU Gifu translated line by line, the way we pick a car from the week's entries, why the same car costs different money on different days, a customer who waited six months, and how the full-time 4WD with its centre diff lock and low range actually works.

Towing a boat or a horse float, farm and trade work, hunting and fishing trips, South Island touring and the school run in between: the 100 Series does all of it on one set of keys. This last part is about living with one here, fuel and servicing, who the car suits and who it doesn't, the questions we hear most often, a few newer alternatives, and the free registration that starts the whole process.