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

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

Author
Discussion

Zwitter

6 posts

151 months

Monday 4th June 2012
quotequote all
that's good news thanks!

That was the one thing that would have meant my Oz dream would have to be dropped.

Only other problems with it is it's a long way from Le Mans and there aren't enough Spitfires (the other two loves of my life) but that's about it.

Cheers guys

DavedXB

6 posts

141 months

Friday 15th June 2012
quotequote all
vetrof said:
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.
I have 2 cars, 1 is a '72 Dodge Challenger & the other is a '05 Supercharged RR Sport... So does that mean that I could import both at the same time, one under the pre 89 classic car scheme & my daily driver modern car at the same time?

NBTBRV8

2,061 posts

207 months

Saturday 16th June 2012
quotequote all
DavedXB said:
I have 2 cars, 1 is a '72 Dodge Challenger & the other is a '05 Supercharged RR Sport... So does that mean that I could import both at the same time, one under the pre 89 classic car scheme & my daily driver modern car at the same time?
Yes you should be able to so long as you meet all the other requirements.

pikey

7,698 posts

283 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
p ikey on 26th May said:
I sent my application yesterday.
..and received approval back today. So a couple of days under 4 weeks

(No questions / queries / request for further info. )

DavedXB

6 posts

141 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
said:
..and received approval back today. So a couple of days under 4 weeks

(No questions / queries / request for further info. )
Cool, did you get anything from them to say that they where working on it? All I got was an automated email to say that they received mine the other week when I emailed mine in

pikey

7,698 posts

283 months

Thursday 21st June 2012
quotequote all
DavedXB said:
Cool, did you get anything from them to say that they where working on it? All I got was an automated email to say that they received mine the other week when I emailed mine in
Nope, not a sausage. They said 4-6 weeks so I wasn't going to chase until after that had elapsed.

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th June 2012
quotequote all
I only read the first page so things may have been answered but here goes.

I used to work in the import / export business and I have now imported a number of personal imports into Australia.

Firstly - I wouldnt worry about a container. Book with a modern car transport vessel. these are custom designed and how the dealerships import. vehicle is below deck, strapped to the deck and extremely secure and weather tight.
in a container it can still be exposed to the elements (most have holes) and thrown around. i have also dealt with claims where the container has gone over the side of the vessel in extreme weather.
By doing it this way - it becomes a roll on/ roll off. That more than halves the cost. There is no need to load a container, no need to pay for a container hire and no need to have it removed to a customs approved shed for unpacking.

Anyone who advises you to use a container doesnt know what they are talking about or just out to make more cash!
I would personally recommend any of the specialist Hoegh vessels such as America etc.

I also wouldnt just ring up an importer and ask them to arrange it all for you- they just add on what they think up. Its far cheaper to sort the legs yourself and only takes half an hour of emailing to get quotes. you can book most online.

I have just imported a Porsche 911 (pre-89)

these are my costs from Southampton to Melbourne

Import approval $50
freight $1704.14
custom clearance $178
p&p $21
quarantine application $156
Quarantine inspection $240
cargo management fee $37
Steam cleaning and movement to appropriate facility $550
marine insurance $443.40

Total $3379.54
on top is Duty 5% of purchase price, GST 10% of total price including freight so just over another $2k in my case. Then transport to my destination but you can collect yourself so wouldnt worry about that.

You can easily import a pre-89 for less than 7k all in if the purchase price is under 10K sterling.

if its a personal import then you need to add most costs as listed by OP, however most seem a little over the top and I am not sure why you have paid for a mechanic AQIS inspection- this is not necessary for a personal Import only a shipment under the SEVS scheme or some of the others.

Also the advice on valuation this end??? god no it will double your tax. Value in UK where prices are a fraction

example my Porsche

Here $45k (agreed valuation with Shannons done post arrival)
UK 10k GBP = $15,500 plus freight of $3k = $18,500.

Thats less than half the Tax, GST and the stamp duty when you register it!!!

As long as you have a receipt and you purchased the vehicle less than six years ago you can use you original receipt and they deduct wear and tear. i would personally get it revalued.

if anyone needs help doing it properly I might be tempted to set up a side business lol

I have imported several cars. I caught the first import company adding nearly 2k worth of un-necessary charges. After a brief conversation they were credited.

anyone needs any proper advice by someone not out to rip you off who worked in the trade- PM me


Edited by james280779 on Thursday 28th June 06:34

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th June 2012
quotequote all
Zwitter said:
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.
not the case mate

beetle would be personal import - camper would be a pre-89 so no restrictions. Also heaps cheaper!

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Friday 29th June 2012
quotequote all
Mattt said:
Car dropped at the shippers today, fingers crossed!
Matt, which TVR are you shipping?? Hopefully its a personal import or pre-1989 or it will never get in this side of 100k.

Also I have had dealings with three agents, two of which tried to rip me off. If you need advice just PM me.

madazrx7

4,857 posts

216 months

Saturday 30th June 2012
quotequote all
Is fitting a remote isolator switch an option?

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
I’m thinking about shipping my XK8 to Australia, will get more for it if I (eventually) sell it. Costing me money sitting in the garage in London not being used and selling it is not an option as the prices right now are censored t.

Having checked-out everything, as an Aussie returning home to live and having owned this car for more than 6 years, I do not have to pay any Duties, Taxes, etc.

My only question – and sticking point – is establishing if it complies with ADR. If so, easy. If not, could be a little more money to spend and more hassles.

Reading these threads I see some people have mentioned inspections, etc., no-one has flagged ADR compliance as an issue. Any pointers as to how I can definitively check if the car complies with ADR’s?

Mc F

407 posts

262 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
http://www.ironchefimports.com

ask for Kristian.

He is assisting me with a few vehicles at the moment & may be able to answer your queries.

Mc F

407 posts

262 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Mattt said:
TVR T350c, on a Personal Import. Believe there's only one other in the country, also in Brisbane.

Intending to get it ADR'd & Registered through 'Prestige New World' (Kevin London) who seems to have decent reviews.

Currently having issues over shipping with battery connected, as it makes it a 'hazardous load' container - but without the battery you cannot open doors etc. Removing battery involves jacking the car & removing wheels. Waiting on John Masons to explore options & get back to me.
I think there is more than one, there are a few speed sixes that I know of (I have owned a few TVR's myself).
Personal import is the only way to get one in due to TVR not fitting export plates to domestic vehicles.

Seriously Matt, your going to struggle either way- trust me when I say the battery will not still have charge this end. You'll put it in the container if you can still ship it like that and this end will be the same issue getting the car open and it will cost you a fortune and you will have to employ a specialist mechanic to do it. You will also have to pay for the vehicle as a non mover which is nearly double.

My advice as before, speak to the shipping company, do away with the container.
Roll on / Roll off, save yourself a fortune. No hazardous goods charge/ issue.

They can disconnect the battery and leave the door ajar somehow. It might get a little dusty but it will save a whole heap of issues, although on all my shipments the battery has remained connected with no issues whatsoever!! - apart from being flat
If yours wont do it, I can give you details of a decent agent in the same port. (I presume southampton), it would be easy enough to change agents as they are just that and they dont actually have the car themselves.

Edit to add

I have been perusing and I have already found three T-350's in Oz.
I thought there were only a couple of Tuscans but it seems there are nearly 30!!!


Edited by james280779 on Monday 2nd July 01:19


Edited by james280779 on Monday 2nd July 06:18

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Mattt said:
TVR T350c, .

Intending to get it ADR'd & Registered through 'Prestige New World' (Kevin London) who seems to have decent reviews.

.
why?

Not necessary for a personal import!

you rock up to the MVR,they inspect.
you send the results to the plate address supplied (nriddie numberplates I think) and they send you back an import plate.
you take said plate back to the MVR and then fit it with them present.
in the interim your vehicle is registered under your UK plates for a period of three months and you can use it. If the MVR find anything that needs work then that needs to be done- It should be ok though.
Its worth writing down the compliance stamps on

seatbelts / clasps
glass
brakes/ brake lines


its as simple as that- I have seen loads of people paying companies a small fortune to do it.
If you import aa vehicle under the SEVS scheme then you need full compliance testing as this is a scheme used alot by dealers. This costs alot of money.
Personal import are just as the title implies. The Gov are not out to hit personal importers.

If you need any help at all I will give you my mobile.

I will give you the address to send the beer to wink

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Likes Fast Cars said:
I’m thinking about shipping my XK8 to Australia, will get more for it if I (eventually) sell it. Costing me money sitting in the garage in London not being used and selling it is not an option as the prices right now are censored t.

Having checked-out everything, as an Aussie returning home to live and having owned this car for more than 6 years, I do not have to pay any Duties, Taxes, etc.

My only question – and sticking point – is establishing if it complies with ADR. If so, easy. If not, could be a little more money to spend and more hassles.

Reading these threads I see some people have mentioned inspections, etc., no-one has flagged ADR compliance as an issue. Any pointers as to how I can definitively check if the car complies with ADR’s?
its a personal import. not an issue as the only test is MVR Rego and a check on glass etc.
Due to the Jag being sold in Aus previously it will be fully Aus compliant.

onny

324 posts

261 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Likes Fast Cars said:
Having checked-out everything, as an Aussie returning home to live and having owned this car for more than 6 years, I do not have to pay any Duties, Taxes, etc.
Are you sure? If its an import then you'll have to pay the normal 5% duty and 10% GST. I didn't think you can get away with not paying that.

james280779

1,931 posts

228 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
onny said:
Are you sure? If its an import then you'll have to pay the normal 5% duty and 10% GST. I didn't think you can get away with not paying that.
correct, doesnt matter as you have to pay the same as everyone else...... in fact you have to pay more as you have to get it valued and pay for the honour.

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Monday 2nd July 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all the advise, much appreciated. Will let you know how I get on.

ariddell

440 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2012
quotequote all
Keep in mind the regulations vary state to state, in Vic a personal import needs to go through ADR compliance with an engineer from a specific list before Vicroads will register it.

I suspect going by your posts above James that the Northern Territory is rather less stringent in their requirements than the other states, so alas I fear your experience is not representative for most.

Edited by ariddell on Tuesday 3rd July 01:01