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

[ariddell]

The rules around air conditioning degassing look to be a bit of a nightmare for pre-1996 cars with CFC or HCFC (R12/R134a) gassed systems.

(http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/licences/vehicle-import.html)

Has anyone actually ever had to apply for an EQPL license/had the system degassed and provided a certificate, or have customs generally accepted a letter declaring that the system has been degassed? Or indeed if they won't accept a letter, how much has the inspection cost?

Suspecting the Dec-1988 Bentley I am bringing in will have been R12 originally so it'll need to be empty and with the system disconnected for if they decide to do an inspection going from those rules.

Edited by ariddell on Thursday 15th November 23:26

[whatzpoppin]

Hi,

Thanks to past posters for the wealth of useful info here.

I've read every post but if anyone could shed light on the following (I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere) I'd be appreciative as the viability of importing cars is influencing my choice on buying/renting a place here in the UK with a garage:

1. How stringent are they on the 'returning permanently to Australia' in the application process - do they ask for proof/what proof? I am an AUS citizen living in the UK and don't plan on returning permanently yet and would be keen on bringing 2 cars back (wifey) every 12-15 months. Would a plane ticket home suffice or could I get away without having anything concrete back in AUS?

2. The OP seemed to have agents take care of the process/paperwork - if that's the case do I even need to be in AUS to receive the car (if I have a point of contact in AUS - eg my Dad)

3. If I do need to be present in AUS, is there any reason that I couldn't be there for the car landing in AUS under the guise of a permanent return, then head back straight after its cleared?

4. If the above is possible I applied to do this again 12-15 months later would I likely be refused by DOTARS second+ time around?

Cheers in advance

[pikey]

whatzpoppin said:

1. How stringent are they on the 'returning permanently to Australia' in the application process - do they ask for proof/what proof? I am an AUS citizen living in the UK and don't plan on returning permanently yet and would be keen on bringing 2 cars back (wifey) every 12-15 months. Would a plane ticket home suffice or could I get away without having anything concrete back in AUS?

2. The OP seemed to have agents take care of the process/paperwork - if that's the case do I even need to be in AUS to receive the car (if I have a point of contact in AUS - eg my Dad)

3. If I do need to be present in AUS, is there any reason that I couldn't be there for the car landing in AUS under the guise of a permanent return, then head back straight after its cleared?

4. If the above is possible I applied to do this again 12-15 months later would I likely be refused by DOTARS second+ time around?

Cheers in advance

1. I would say pretty stringent as my Aussie friend who was living in London for 6 years had to jump through a few hoops to bring his car back. He had to provide a letter from his employer, show proof that he had sold his house and proof that he had shipped all his stuff over.

As for "every 12 months", you obviously missed the "every five years" that goes along with it! Ie. You can bring a car that you've owned AND USED for at least 12 months, but then can't repeat it for another 5 years. You can do it and your wife can do it (as long as the car and details are registered in separate names), but then have to wait 5 years before having another go.

2. Can't see why you would need to be in Aus. An agent did everything for me.

3. n/a

4. Yes, you would be refused as you can only do it every 5 years.

They have the process very well sown up to stop people making money from it. Bear in mind they have other checks as well - like you couldn't buy a car, own it for 12 months, not use it and then try to bring it in. Ie. If you were living in Aus and the car was in the UK for 12 months.

[StefanVXR8]

Does anyone know if there is any reason why I couldn't bring my 2008 Vauxhall VXR8 to WA? It's of course an Oz built car (HSV Clubsport R8) and has an LPG conversion.

It's just that the price of the equivalent R8 in Oz is about £25k and if I can bring mine in with the container of all our household stuff it seems more cost effective to do it that way.

I'm sure someone said they wouldn't accept the VXR8 in to Oz.

Stef

[ariddell]

Fine as a personal import so long as you've owned it over a year in the UK and can prove continuous usage.

[vetrof]

ariddell said:

Fine as a personal import so long as you've owned it over a year in the UK and can prove continuous usage.

Not quite correct. There is no necessity for continued (or even any) usage. It should only be 'available to be driven' by the importer.

OzGovWebsite said:

Use of the vehicle

The vehicle should have been available to you for use as transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. Evidence to establish availability would include that the vehicle is registered (in your name) and garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could, if needed, drive the vehicle. In addition, evidence that you must have held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas would assist in confirming that the vehicle was available for use.

[custardtart]

vetrof said:

ariddell said:

Fine as a personal import so long as you've owned it over a year in the UK and can prove continuous usage.

Not quite correct. There is no necessity for continued (or even any) usage. It should only be 'available to be driven' by the importer.

OzGovWebsite said:

Use of the vehicle

The vehicle should have been available to you for use as transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. Evidence to establish availability would include that the vehicle is registered (in your name) and garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could, if needed, drive the vehicle. In addition, evidence that you must have held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas would assist in confirming that the vehicle was available for use.

That's a pretty big change, any idea when that happened?

[vetrof]

Not sure, but it's been the case since I first looked into it a couple of years ago.

[StefanVXR8]

Thanks for the answers guys. I have owned the car over 12 months anyway. I could swear that someone said as the car originated from Oz they wouldn't allow it back.

It would be nice to have the use of LPG, but it's not the be all and end all if it had to be removed. HSV Clubsport R8's seem pretty highly priced over there at the moment, would be nice to keep it but I guess there's plenty of other V8 Commodore VE derivatives that would be cheaper.

I need to weigh up the cost of import Vs selling mine in the UK and buying one in Perth (should my desire to move there materialise).

Stef

[vetrof]

Drop them an email regarding the LPG.

[e-mail]

I have found the people replying very helpful. There may be state specific requirement, so you may need to also contact the local authority of the state where you will register it.

[StefanVXR8]

vetrof said:

Drop them an email regarding the LPG.

[e-mail]

I have found the people replying very helpful. There may be state specific requirement, so you may need to also contact the local authority of the state where you will register it.

Thanks, will drop them an email.

Stef

[motomk]

StefanVXR8 said:

Thanks for the answers guys. I have owned the car over 12 months anyway. I could swear that someone said as the car originated from Oz they wouldn't allow it back.

Stef

I don't know anything about importing, but a Monaro VXR came back to Oz a year or two ago as the owner posted a thread on it.

[ariddell]

custardtart said:

vetrof said:

ariddell said:

Fine as a personal import so long as you've owned it over a year in the UK and can prove continuous usage.

Not quite correct. There is no necessity for continued (or even any) usage. It should only be 'available to be driven' by the importer.

OzGovWebsite said:

Use of the vehicle

The vehicle should have been available to you for use as transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. Evidence to establish availability would include that the vehicle is registered (in your name) and garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could, if needed, drive the vehicle. In addition, evidence that you must have held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas would assist in confirming that the vehicle was available for use.

That's a pretty big change, any idea when that happened?

Looks like a change to the wording indeed but alas it is still locked down so you can't just buy a car in the UK register it in your name, wait a year and then bring it out if you're already in Australia. Main one is they've also changed the wording of the "qualifying period" to be specifically the 12mths before you moved permanently to Australia.

Used to be a whole load of grief sending off paperwork to show continuous usage and justify any time you were out of the UK, but suspect that was as much grief for them to administer and check so they've relaxed it slightly to just showing the car was available for use.

[randomwalk]

I am Australian, been living in UK for 3yrs, returning permanently to Oz in June/July.
I intend to apply for personal import of current car in May (since car acquired May 2012)ie 12mths ownership.
However, in past year I have made a number of trips to Australia for some weeks at a time would this be a problem with my application since I have not been continuously living in UK over the period of ownership.

[randomwalk]

Thx Matt for the info, hopefully that will be ok, that puts my mind at rest I might give the dept in Canberra a call on Monday and see what they say. The car will be MOT'd taxed and insured for 12months from next month at my UK address so I can prove that.

[verify]

Hi - sorry if this has been asked before but does anyone know the rules on "the age of tyres" on an import?

My car has just passed an MOT in the UK, and although the tread depths are fine, I understand that there are more stringent requirements on the age of tyres when importing.

Does anyone know if this is true, and if so, what is the cut-off?

Also, are tyres generally much more expensive in Oz (therefore making it worthwhile replacing all four before I migrate anyway)?

[pikey]

I didn't come across this in my research. The only thing I found is it had to have "a roadworthiness test", so if you've had an MOT I would have thought you'd be fine.

Yes, tyres are very expensive here though - have you considered putting 4 new ones in the car for when you need them? I regretted not doing this.

[verify]

Thanks p-ikey. Do you know if i'd have to pay additional duty on the tyres if I carry them in the car?

Edited by verify on Monday 15th April 22:44

[pikey]

verify said:

Thanks p-ikey. Do you know if i'd have to pay additional duty on the tyres if I carry them in the car?

$225 charge for customs to clear anything in the car that's not the car (last year's price).

Then there's a duty % charge (can't remember the amount) for anything that's new and over $1,000. We had a load of stuff in the car, but the new things only added up to $600 so there wasn't anything to pay there.

Out of interest I need two extra tyres about now (Cayenne) so I'm exploring options of buying them and having them couriered over from the UK / US.

By the way, that $225 charge is to process one item or a car full - so if you're intending to ship your car empty, make sure there isn't so much as a rag in it! (They extract "everything" that moves from the vehicle, lay it out, check your itemisation against it and put it on a pallet, plastic-wrapping it. I had the odd kids toy under a seat that I hadn't itemised (because I didn't know it was there), but they were thorough in finding everything, down to a cleaning rag.)

[pikey]

Mattt said:

I had a few tools in the boot, which they didn't say anything about.

They were probably too gobsmacked walking around it, wondering what the car was!