Importing New Cars from UK - Has anybody done it.

[Milo]

So how much does it cost to import? Can someone break down the costs for me?

Thanks.

[S4simon]

basically it will cost around 25% of the original purchase price of the car.

ie. If the car cost £20000 to buy, then import / shipping costs will be in the range of Au$12,500.

[Milo]

Thanks, just the answer I wanted.

[Steve-B]

there's a lot of folks looking with their hands extended when your pride and joy comes out of the container with your goods. whilst the costs outlined are fairly typical, they love to hit you with extras like steam-cleaning (lord knows the UK is a pest infested nightmare...NOT), towing to/from said cleaning.

you will have a 50%/50% chance of having to fight your valuation, so you are WELL ADVISED to get it valued in the UK first. then get a local appraisal if needed to lower the value before you insure it.

figure AU$1,500 to get it onto the road with the various inspections, compliance (although Personal Import (PI) cars have almost none except smoke-test) in addition.

insurance for our Caterham SV at least is basically the same price here....

[S4simon]

Ensure you are on site (with tool box) when customs check over the car. they are meticulous with their bendy inspection mirrors. They found 1 leaf tucked way back in the darkness behind the intake grills. Choice was to disassemble the front of the car including light pods, or pay to get the car steam cleaned ($200+). It didn't matter that I spent 6 months cleaning the car beforehand. The actual drive into london (on a day of sleet and slush) to the shipping agent was hell.

[mgbond]

S4simon said:

basically it will cost around 25% of the original purchase price of the car.

ie. If the car cost £20000 to buy, then import / shipping costs will be in the range of Au$12,500.

I thought as a PI the value is as landed (so UK market value + shippings costs)?

Bondy

[NBTBRV8]

No, it is the value of the car, plus the shipping. then this figure is used as a landed cost and 15% import duty goes on to that and then 10% GST.

Contary to what has been said above I'd get it valued here which is what customs generally want any way. As the value of an import is generally less than the value of a locally delivered car.

[mgbond]

NBTBRV8 said:

No, it is the value of the car, plus the shipping. then this figure is used as a landed cost and 15% import duty goes on to that and then 10% GST...

I thought that was what I said, the previous post said it was the original purchase price.

I was saying its the UK value + shipping costs. As you have said.

Who would you get to value it here, does it need to be anyone in particular. I have herd of people getting the car seriously under valued when in OZ to get the costs down.

Bondy

[ariddell]

The valuer needs to be on the approved list, there are quite a few around and some will do the valuation sight unseen based on you declaring the condition of the vehicle and providing photographs.

The valuation i had done locally on my Chimaera whilst it was in transit worked out much lower than its UK value and a huge amount lower than its actual potential sale price n Australia so was definately worthwhile.

The only time the UK purchase price is used as the value i believe is if a car has been purchased in the UK with the specific purpose of bringing it to Australia immediately. If it's done under the personal import 12mth+ ownership method then i believe it is only an Australian local valuation that is accepted.

[mgbond]

ariddell said:

The valuer needs to be on the approved list, there are quite a few around and some will do the valuation sight unseen based on you declaring the condition of the vehicle and providing photographs.

The valuation i had done locally on my Chimaera whilst it was in transit worked out much lower than its UK value and a huge amount lower than its actual potential sale price n Australia so was definately worthwhile.

The only time the UK purchase price is used as the value i believe is if a car has been purchased in the UK with the specific purpose of bringing it to Australia immediately. If it's done under the personal import 12mth+ ownership method then i believe it is only an Australian local valuation that is accepted.

Ok, so as I thought I'll get it valued out in OZ. Maybe worth taking some photos now as the wheels are curbed and I have a chip in the wheel arch and a few marks from people reversing into it and buggering off.

I will be getting all that done but it may help for getting the value down if its done on Photos.

Bondy

[S4simon]

Check the Australian Red Book value of the car. That's the value they'll take if your price is out of whack.

[mgbond]

S4simon said:

Check the Australian Red Book value of the car. That's the value they'll take if your price is out of whack.

Do you think they will have the Noble in there?

If so will i find this on the web?

Cheers

Bondy

[deviant]

Apparantly there is 2-4 'official' Nobles in Australia. They were sold at auction for approx $250,000 each...even working that back in to pounds puts the Austrlian value way above the UK value.

[mgbond]

deviant said:

Apparantly there is 2-4 'official' Nobles in Australia. They were sold at auction for approx $250,000 each...even working that back in to pounds puts the Austrlian value way above the UK value.

I've been talking to one guy who took his out last year.

Any idea when that was and what model and year the cars were?

Half that would be lovely.

Bondy

[ariddell]

I recall hearing about the batch of cars brought over back in maybe 2000/2001.

I don't think they were able to get compliance on them however so they were sold off as not being able to be registered/driven on the road.

I don't think all of them were sold due to this restriction though so some ended up being shipped back to the UK.

This wouldn't be a problem for any coming in as personal imports however.

Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 12th March 03:11

[ariddell]

Actually, doesn't say what year it was but here's the auction catalog from when they were sold off... There were 3 of the apparently, sold when the importers went under.

http://www.mgcars.com.au/catalogue.pdf

Amazing what you can find on the net..

[edit]

http://www.countrycars.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDet...

According to this it was 2005 and the Nobles didn't have compliance.

Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 12th March 03:18

Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 12th March 03:22

[deviant]

I think 2004/2005 would be about right? M12's I believe. And now it is mentioned I do remember that they couldnt be road registered...as far as I know they have not shown up on any race tracks so god knows why they were purchased for such a silly amount of money.

I remember reading about the auction the cars were sold in because the same auction also sold off the remains of the Australian wing of Rover/MG.

[ariddell]

I wonder where the supercharged V8 ZT ended up too.

Would be rather nice to have the only one of those in Australia by the looks of it.

Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 12th March 03:46

[Colonial]

One of the Nobel's has been used in a couple of Tarmac rallies that I am aware of. Victorian Duttons/Grand Prix rally from memory. Have the owners name somewhere as well.

[deviant]

ariddell said:

I wonder where the supercharged V8 ZT ended up too.

Would be rather nice to have the only one of those in Australia by the looks of it.

Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 12th March 03:46

There is one on my street. I see it most days driving around.

There is also a 3 door Sierra Cossie on my street that was up for sale not long back...$45,000-ish if I remember correctly.