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

[ukdennis]

Which State do you live in? I'm a little surprised that you had to pay stamp duty if you were the owner of the car in the UK and you registered it in your own name in Oz. In WA, there was no stamp duty payable on my DB7 Vantage when I imported it a year ago.

[ajg31]

Thats odd, i was told there would be stamp to pay if i imported into WA. One of the many reasons i left the Noble in the uk..
I also thought you couldn't legally sell for 12 months after bringing it here. For modified cars be real wary of taking it over a pit for inspection. They can be ruthless.

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:01

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:04

[ukdennis]

In WA at least, stamp duty is only payable when an asset changes ownership. The new owner of the asset pays the stamp duty (house, car, shares etc).

There is no restriction (in WA, as of a year ago) on how long you must keep a Personal Import before selling it.

[Colonial]

ajg31 said:

Thats odd, i was told there would be stamp to pay if i imported into WA. One of the many reasons i left the Noble in the uk..
I also thought you couldn't legally sell for 12 months after bringing it here. For modified cars be real wary of taking it over a pit for inspection. They can be ruthless.

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:01

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:04

I'm in NSW so it's a matter of getting a blueslip from what I've been led to believe.

And I know a great place for that. Dodgy as hell but I'm not going to have an unroadworthy car. Just maybe a little different than stock

[deviant]

Colonial said:

ajg31 said:

Thats odd, i was told there would be stamp to pay if i imported into WA. One of the many reasons i left the Noble in the uk..
I also thought you couldn't legally sell for 12 months after bringing it here. For modified cars be real wary of taking it over a pit for inspection. They can be ruthless.

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:01

Edited by ajg31 on Sunday 23 November 14:04

I'm in NSW so it's a matter of getting a blueslip from what I've been led to believe.

And I know a great place for that. Dodgy as hell but I'm not going to have an unroadworthy car. Just maybe a little different than stock

Well your car wont be dodgy or unsafe..it just technically wont quite meet those rather silly ADR rules.

[Colonial]

Bloody ADRs.

Nah, talking more about general modifications that cuase no end of problems

[astonmartinv8]

I am going back to the UK for a couple of weeks every 4-6 months or so for the next couple of years. If I buy a car and store it there when not used, then use it when I am back, will I be able to import after 12 months ownership and use?

Cheers,

Marcus.

[deviant]

astonmartinv8 said:

I am going back to the UK for a couple of weeks every 4-6 months or so for the next couple of years. If I buy a car and store it there when not used, then use it when I am back, will I be able to import after 12 months ownership and use?

Cheers,

Marcus.

Very dodgy ground. You have to be able to prove 12 months of use...so insurance, registration in your name, MOT and service bills would be the ideal evidence.

I seem to remember some time back a PH'er that had his application rejected because he had been abroad on holiday during the 12 month period...not entirely sure how DOTARS found out though.

If you can get away with it...Ariel Atom please...the top spec one with the supercharged motor...no...Exige...wait...TVR...Actually Ultima GTR with 700BHP

[Colonial]

I think a speeding fine would be the most appropriate way of proving use and ownership

[ukdennis]

astonmartinv8 said:

I am going back to the UK for a couple of weeks every 4-6 months or so for the next couple of years. If I buy a car and store it there when not used, then use it when I am back, will I be able to import after 12 months ownership and use?

Cheers,

Marcus.

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

[deviant]

Its cheaper and easier to destroy the car here than to send it back to the UK and deal with off loading it remotely. Customs will want to watch to make sure it does get destroyed though!

[Vanya]

ukdennis said:

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

That is just bks... typical effing bureaucratic bullst!!!

Not you Dennis, them.

I've owned my car in the UK since 97 but for certain (justifiable and explicable) reasons this cannot be supported with paperwork evidence.
So I guess I'm stuffed then!
Bureaucratic feckers... I hate them!

[Fiddlemesticks]

Vanya said:

ukdennis said:

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

That is just bks... typical effing bureaucratic bullst!!!

Not you Dennis, them.

I've owned my car in the UK since 97 but for certain (justifiable and explicable) reasons this cannot be supported with paperwork evidence.
So I guess I'm stuffed then!
Bureaucratic feckers... I hate them!

Still have Insurance proof (if not am sure company will provide a letter) or SORN notice etc?

[deviant]

Vanya said:

ukdennis said:

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

That is just bks... typical effing bureaucratic bullst!!!

Not you Dennis, them.

I've owned my car in the UK since 97 but for certain (justifiable and explicable) reasons this cannot be supported with paperwork evidence.
So I guess I'm stuffed then!
Bureaucratic feckers... I hate them!

Welcome to Australia.

Better reach for the box of Vino Collapso...If your 'vette was a pre 1989 car you could bring it in freely.

It will be worth investigating if there is a RAWS workshop that does your particular car. Might be able to get it in that way BUT it will have to be returned to stock standard to come in under that import scheme!

[ajg31]

12 month rule cleared up, thanks....
deviant, Ariel not allowed here as street car, but they are still working on it as a manufacturer.

[deviant]

But if said Ariel came in as a personal import. As long as it meets the minimal requirements for a personal import it should be road legal....lights, mirrors, seat belts etc.

They have been talking about an official Ariel Aus dealer for an age now..

[Vanya]

Fiddlemesticks said:

Vanya said:

ukdennis said:

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

That is just bks... typical effing bureaucratic bullst!!!
Not you Dennis, them.
I've owned my car in the UK since 97 but for certain (justifiable and explicable) reasons this cannot be supported with paperwork evidence.
So I guess I'm stuffed then!
Bureaucratic feckers... I hate them!

Still have Insurance proof (if not am sure company will provide a letter) or SORN notice etc?

Nope, as alluded to but not specifically explained above, I cannot provide proof of insurance or as registered keeper after around 2001.
Yes, I know registered keeper is not proof of ownership, and certainly true in this case, but the V5 would help in the paperwork department.

[Vanya]

deviant said:

Vanya said:

ukdennis said:

You need to be able to demonstrate (i.e. have documentary evidence) that you have had a minimum of 12 months' use of the car in the UK. Also, your DOTARS Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle must be accompanied by a letter from you stating the periods that you were out of the UK since you purchased the car. DOTARS *may* ask to see your passport to confirm what you say. If you've been telling porkies, your application will be rejected and your card will be marked. If they decide to ask for evidence/passport when the car has arrived in Oz, you'd be up for the expense of sending it back. Clearly not worth the risk.

That is just bks... typical effing bureaucratic bullst!!!
Not you Dennis, them.
I've owned my car in the UK since 97 but for certain (justifiable and explicable) reasons this cannot be supported with paperwork evidence.
So I guess I'm stuffed then!
Bureaucratic feckers... I hate them!

deviant said:

Welcome to Australia.!

Well thanks!

deviant said:

Better reach for the box of Vino Collapso...!

Like I need THAT advice.

deviant said:

If your 'vette was a pre 1989 car you could bring it in freely.!

This an interesting point as the ZR-1 was a 1990 to 1995 MY production car and mine being a 90 makes me suspect it was an 89 build car.
In fact, I have a factory print out somewhere (courtesy of a good friend) that identifies my car coming down the production line.
Needs further investigation maybe.

deviant said:

It will be worth investigating if there is a RAWS workshop that does your particular car. Might be able to get it in that way BUT it will have to be returned to stock standard to come in under that import scheme!

RAWS etc?

Returned to stock...

I have had the car quite extensively modified, so not an option.

[deviant]

Actually I should have expanded on pre 1989 a bit more...its pre Jan 1st 1989.

Back in the day there used to be the '15 year old rule' which meant that as soon as a car became 15 years old it was eligable for import even if there was already a production run in aus. The local manufacturers put a stop to that.

SEVS is the 'Specialist and enthusiasts vehicle scheme' and RAW's is 'Registered automotive workshop'

SEVS cars are cars approved to be eligible for import by DOTARS. There is a list here: http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/ (Note that if a car is on the list it just means it is eligable and not that you can import one!)

For a car to be brought in as a SEVS import you need to find a RAWS workshop with the approval to comply that particular model.
It costs a workshop something like $50K to get approval for a particular model which is why all the import shops bring in Skylines and Evo's that they can chop out for $30K a go.

One of the requirements for a car to come in as a SEVS import is that it is stock standard and accident free. If there is accident history it can NEVER be road registered.
Although you can bring a modifed car in it will need to be returned to stock to go over the pits for its inspection and registration....easy if your bringing a common car like an Evo in because the workshops tend to hold a warehouse of stocks bits to swap over for rego.

Your best bet would probably be to talk to someone that specialises in importing american cars and go from there...the cost may end up rather silly when you factor in the labour of returning it to stock and then rebuilding it!

[Vanya]

Cheers James, even if it does not only drop the portcullis but also raises the drawbridge on my fantasy of bringing the corvette over.
This reverting to stock business is way beyond the realms of what I'm prepared to do... I don't even want to tell you the cost of the mods and mod-work that's in the car.
Suffice it to say it's a keeper... question is: Where?