Carmakers are expected to tell New Zealanders if they want new cars, they have little time left before prices go up.
The industry has been hit by the weaker New Zealand dollar after months of absorbing higher prices for commodities such as steel.
Some models are likely to rise by as much as 7% over the next few months.
Japan's Honda and Mitsubishi, hit by the dollar's plunge against the yen, have already raised prices by about 5%.
Korean carmaker Kia has done the same.
Holden and Ford are also expected to move, while Toyota is looking at increases of between 2% and 5%.
"We are doing the sums at the moment," Toyota managing director Alistair Davis said.
"We will have a decision in a week or so."
European companies are also planning price rises.
Volkswagen is expected to add $1000 to some of its models in the new year.
Its luxury stablemate Audi will look at the situation in January, general manager Glynn Tulloch said. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus are expected to do the same.
The increases come after a buoyant October market, when sales of new cars were up 12% on September at 7477.
Commercial sales were also up on the previous month at 1863 units.
The market for new vehicles is down 2.6% in the year to date from total sales of 102,000 units in 2007.
The best-selling car this year is the Toyota Corolla, ahead of the Holden Commodore, Suzuki Swift and Ford Falcon.
