Importing a car to Australia - All the facts... Hopefully!

[Stv]

Yeah - I see your point.

I would give the authorities a call to be sure, as I found them very thorough in our case. Looking forward to a photo of it on Aussie soil.

[pikey]

Just to join in with this thread..

Am emigrating (Sydney) soon and am going through the motions to take a 2010 Porsche Cayenne out with me.

So far I have all the forms, am aware of a lot of the problems (but not all, clearly!), know how much duty I will pay and have ensured any strange items with the car (ie. child seat anchor points) are covered. Porsche in Sydney have been helpful, which has been making it easier. I also have a very large dose of paitence bagged up and waiting for use!

Unfortunately I'm still waiting for Porsche to produce a certificate of compliance, and until I get that I can't apply for an import certificate. But I couldn't anyway because I haven't sufficient documents to meet the points based criteria until I get over there (please supply electricity bill / nursery enrolement / house sale in UK / enrolement in medicare / etc..)! All seems a chicken & egg situation


Paitence, paitence, paitence!



PS. Anyone want to buy some winter tyres?

[Freckles]

Hey, I'm after some advice that will hopefully get the Mrs off my back and convince her to let me spend some money ;o)

We are planing to move from the uk to Perth September 2013, we have a 175 skilled migration visa and i am looking at buying a car in the next few weeks and then shipping it out there when we go (after 12 months ownership).

i'm looking at either a 2007 Audi RS4 or a 2007 M3. Do any of you PHs that are in Perth know which would be the best buy?
We want to use for it some weekends here and then for a bit once we arrive in Perth and then sell to on for a bit of profit.

Does anyone know the average resale for these cars when imported or can advise what may be a better purchase? I know shipping charges are up to 10k so I've got to make a bit of money back or the wife will give me the red light!

Cheers.....
Danny

[Bob the Planner]

said:

.... But I couldn't anyway because I haven't sufficient documents to meet the points based criteria until I get over there (please supply electricity bill / nursery enrolement / house sale in UK / enrolement in medicare / etc..)! All seems a chicken & egg situation

I will have a look at how I got to the points, I must have a copy of the form somewhere but certainly managed to get it sorted in the UK.

[edit]Looked at the 2008 form and there was no 100pt requirement. If you need an Aus address we could be of assistance.[/edit]

Edited by Bob the Planner on Monday 2nd April 22:44

[ezakimak]

Freckles said:

Hey, I'm after some advice that will hopefully get the Mrs off my back and convince her to let me spend some money ;o)

We are planing to move from the uk to Perth September 2013, we have a 175 skilled migration visa and i am looking at buying a car in the next few weeks and then shipping it out there when we go (after 12 months ownership).

i'm looking at either a 2007 Audi RS4 or a 2007 M3. Do any of you PHs that are in Perth know which would be the best buy?
We want to use for it some weekends here and then for a bit once we arrive in Perth and then sell to on for a bit of profit.

Does anyone know the average resale for these cars when imported or can advise what may be a better purchase? I know shipping charges are up to 10k so I've got to make a bit of money back or the wife will give me the red light!

Cheers.....
Danny

http://www.carsales.com.au/

http://www.drive.com.au/

there are a few others as well, traiding post and the like, you might find that there is a 5% reduction in the price for a private import as people might perseive it as a lesser product for some reason.

if it was me id test drive both and then get the one you like driving the best. My brother has an A4 1.8t quatro and i find that very front heavy and understeery, i quite liked the balance of the current m3 in comparison however it wasent a standard 1 i drove. I wonder if the estate version of the RS4 would be better balanced. Always had a soft spot for them.

[NSNO]

Just submitted my application for apporval to import my car, so fingers crossed!

[Freckles]

ezakimak said:

Freckles said:

Hey, I'm after some advice that will hopefully get the Mrs off my back and convince her to let me spend some money ;o)

We are planing to move from the uk to Perth September 2013, we have a 175 skilled migration visa and i am looking at buying a car in the next few weeks and then shipping it out there when we go (after 12 months ownership).

i'm looking at either a 2007 Audi RS4 or a 2007 M3. Do any of you PHs that are in Perth know which would be the best buy?
We want to use for it some weekends here and then for a bit once we arrive in Perth and then sell to on for a bit of profit.

Does anyone know the average resale for these cars when imported or can advise what may be a better purchase? I know shipping charges are up to 10k so I've got to make a bit of money back or the wife will give me the red light!

Cheers.....
Danny

http://www.carsales.com.au/

http://www.drive.com.au/

there are a few others as well, traiding post and the like, you might find that there is a 5% reduction in the price for a private import as people might perseive it as a lesser product for some reason.

if it was me id test drive both and then get the one you like driving the best. My brother has an A4 1.8t quatro and i find that very front heavy and understeery, i quite liked the balance of the current m3 in comparison however it wasent a standard 1 i drove. I wonder if the estate version of the RS4 would be better balanced. Always had a soft spot for them.

Thanks for the reply,

I was swaying more towards the RS4 estate due to the extra space for the 2 kids and all their stuff that we will need to ship about once we arrive, but the M3 would be nice for the odd track day here and there!

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on a couple of other questions that I have.

Are imports more expensive to insure?
Are there any track days that take place around Perth?
I was also wondering if there is there much of a karting scene in or around Perth?

Thanks again,

Danny

[mikeyb13]

I take it a 97 Honda'd Elise is a no? No matter how immaculate it is. Have owned it for over a year but theres hardly an original part on it so returning it to standard is more or less impossible.

[sensible]

MikeyB13

As a personal import I think you will be ok. Fill in the paperwork and all they can do is knock you back, all you have lost is a few hours for your time

Danny

We have a sprint and hillclimb series here http://www.speedeventseries.com/ or most car clubs have there own days
Karting is quite big here with 2 tracks in the local area and 2 others within a 2 hour drive of the local area

[mikeyb13]

Thanks for the answer.
Not actually in Oz yet but its really the deciding factor as to wether we move or not(sad I know) Been discussing it with the Wife and the only thing thats stopping me is that I cant take my car.
Just thought that highly modified cars were a no no, been reading threads about putting standard parts back on cars so they would pass inspection and mine has a different engine in it???

Looking at Western Australia good to see theres a thriving trackday/hillclimb scene

[sensible]

I think you might be able to get it under a ICV ( individual constructed vehicle ) Like how people get clubmans in
There is no harm in trying

[pikey]

I'm waiting for a few Aussie resident docs and numbers before applying to bring mine over.

Have decided to use www.karmanshipping.com to move it as they've been recommended by quite few people I know who've used them.

[pikey]

We don't have anything as simple. I worked for myself in a Ltd. company..

Should have the required points proof soon though.

[S4simon]

Just for reference. I couriered my import approval paperwork to Canberra from London on a Friday and the approval came through the following Friday. Must have been a good week. This was back in 2006 though.

[NBTBRV8]

Mattt said:

Any idea on current processing times for permits?

Sorry no, but when I was doing it regularly in the early to mid 2000s it always took between 3 and 4 weeks. You'd get the faxed approval then the original came in the mail. One other point too, on more than one occasion the FOoRS made a typographical error when entering the VIN. If you don't check this BEFORE you do the customs entry then the car will not be released until you get the amended certificate, no matter what.

Edited by NBTBRV8 on Tuesday 22 May 11:05

[Bob the Planner]

Mine was emailed with PDF copies and the originals posted (to my UK address despite informing them I was now in Aus). IIRC it was about 6 weeks in 2009.

[pikey]

Now having all the docs I need, I sent my application yesterday.

Not expecting a reply for 4 weeks mind. Anything earlier is a bonus!

[Zwitter]

I've got a 64 VW Camper and a 53 Beetle (had them since the mid 90s and both are keepers for life). From reading the posts this thread I'm getting the vibe that I would only be able to bring ONE of them with me? If I was to register one of them to the wife, it would have to be 12 months before we moved and brought that one with us in addition to the one registered to me?

Also in the (hopefully) long term I stand to inherit a 52 Beetle from a much older friend (he trusts me and want's me to be the next owner) - If I was resident in Oz would I be unable to import it due to my not being the registered user/owner of the car?

Thanks for any advice.

[Zwitter]

Thanks Mattt

[vetrof]

Zwitter,

You are permitted to import any number of pre 89, vehicles under the 'Pre89' scheme. I'm pretty sure the 12 month ownership rule doesn't apply in those cases.

It may be a bit more paperwork and/or taxes and charges, but it is allowed.

Jut to add, the vehicle needs to be unmodified or significant mods must have been carried out pre 89.