Importing a car to Australia - All the facts... Hopefully!
Discussion
onny said:
Do you mind telling me the ballpark quotes you are getting for the 20' container? Does that include port charges at both end? I'm going to need 2 of these or a 40' one as I have 2 cars to ship back next year.
It was about £1750 18 months ago just for the container, port charges were $705. That's one car, one container.£2960 for a 40ft in Jan 13.
Other costs were in AUD:
AQIS FEES 139.00
SHIPPING CO. DOCUMENTATION FEE 88.00
BSR/PSC/APCA (PORT HANDLING) 806.30
BROKERAGE 159.50
DELIVERY ORDER FEE 82.50
CUSTOMS COMPLIANCE 22.00
QUARANTINE COMPLIANCE 49.50
CARTAGE AND DECONSOLIDATION 940.50
FUEL LEVY 94.05
Plus about $650 in steam cleaning & AQIS inspections. And then of course the duty and GST on top.
All above was for 2 cars in said 40ft container.
Other costs were in AUD:
AQIS FEES 139.00
SHIPPING CO. DOCUMENTATION FEE 88.00
BSR/PSC/APCA (PORT HANDLING) 806.30
BROKERAGE 159.50
DELIVERY ORDER FEE 82.50
CUSTOMS COMPLIANCE 22.00
QUARANTINE COMPLIANCE 49.50
CARTAGE AND DECONSOLIDATION 940.50
FUEL LEVY 94.05
Plus about $650 in steam cleaning & AQIS inspections. And then of course the duty and GST on top.
All above was for 2 cars in said 40ft container.
Edited by ariddell on Wednesday 30th July 01:25
onny said:
Gingerbread Man said:
I've had a few quotes for shipping a 20' container from the UK to Brisbane and we're about to pick on any day now, just waiting for a response or two to come back through. To be honest, it'll mostly be empty!
Do you mind telling me the ballpark quotes you are getting for the 20' container? Does that include port charges at both end? I'm going to need 2 of these or a 40' one as I have 2 cars to ship back next year. The customs duty is to be pain once I arrived. Some include, some don't.
Thanks guys for the costing information. The 40ft container looks promising until the port specific charges when it gets to Aus puts me off.
I took my TVR back 7yrs ago using RORO and had no problem with it and it only cost £750 + about AUD$750 for port charges, AQIS charges and steam clean. I might go down RORO again and send any personal stuff back separately.
I took my TVR back 7yrs ago using RORO and had no problem with it and it only cost £750 + about AUD$750 for port charges, AQIS charges and steam clean. I might go down RORO again and send any personal stuff back separately.
Hi all, I'm just about to initiate the export from the UK of my Porsche 997 Gen II 911.
Wondering if someone can kindly clarify what the best approach is regarding the battery and fluids when the car is being prepped for the container. I've heard 2 different things from different people - some say you need to isolate the battery and drain 95% of the fuel and liquids - others say just to let the battery run flat and jump start it on arrival. My car has PDK transmission so jump-start not an option.
Interested to hear others thoughts/experiences
thanks
- dmq
Wondering if someone can kindly clarify what the best approach is regarding the battery and fluids when the car is being prepped for the container. I've heard 2 different things from different people - some say you need to isolate the battery and drain 95% of the fuel and liquids - others say just to let the battery run flat and jump start it on arrival. My car has PDK transmission so jump-start not an option.
Interested to hear others thoughts/experiences
thanks
- dmq
What he said. Maybe disconnect the battery once the car is secured into the container. This is just to save you the hassles of a flat battery when picking it up at the port in Oz.
There is also absolutely no need to remove the air con gas before coming over, some people will tell you that its a must but its bullS**t.
There is also absolutely no need to remove the air con gas before coming over, some people will tell you that its a must but its bullS**t.
Edited by onny on Tuesday 5th August 23:40
I've shipped in 3 cars and never disconnected batteries or drained any fluids. One of the Bentleys battery went flat in the container so they hooked up a booster pack to get it going, didn't phase the unloading guys at all.
With aircon it's only really an issue on cars that could originally have had old R12 gas in them, then it's worth getting them degassed and having a cert to show it to reduce likely grief even if they have been converted. On R134a era cars you should technically have a license to import the gas in the system, but I haven't heard of people getting grief on this on personal imports.
They like you to ensure the fuel tanks are as empty as possible but that's about it. Don't fancy hearing how it sounded running if you drained 95% of the oil out..
With aircon it's only really an issue on cars that could originally have had old R12 gas in them, then it's worth getting them degassed and having a cert to show it to reduce likely grief even if they have been converted. On R134a era cars you should technically have a license to import the gas in the system, but I haven't heard of people getting grief on this on personal imports.
They like you to ensure the fuel tanks are as empty as possible but that's about it. Don't fancy hearing how it sounded running if you drained 95% of the oil out..
Hi Guys,
Just joined this forum, been part of loads of others discussing similar topics.
I feel i have the right to comment on my experiences as i have sucessfully imported 3 cars from the UK over the past 6 years or so.
I have never done the Personal import scheme as such.
I have applied to the other laws where i have brought them in under sections pre 1989 built vehicles and Race & Rally option.
I can tell you from prior experiences with the Australian Govenment they are the unpleasent buggers to deal with. The UK side were amazing to deal with, no probs there.
I have two very valid points to make regarding this process as previously discussed.
One way of significantly reducing your importing costs is to ship via Roll on-Roll off (RoRo as its known in the industry) This is were you forget using Containerising option, which is increadibly expensive and you have so many other costs involved from this.
The RoRo process generally costs around $1500 USD (costs as of 2012) from Southampton to Sydney, Now Port Kembla, around 100 km south of Sydney.
Unless your bringing in a rare Lamborghini or something of value more than 25,000GBP.
Because most people dont realise that ALL New Imported cars arrive on the Australian shores via this method, these guys know what they are doing. i have been on one of these ships to receive my goods prior to even Customs inspections and i can tell you they are in good hands with these guys.
Second point, Insuring your Seafreight, i use Ramon International in NY, USA. they generally cost around $280 for value up to $40,000 insured.
I have used the services of Seaway Logistics as my Freight Forwarder and also have had no problems with these guys.
Feel free to ask for any personal service relating to you shipment, i'm only to happy to help.
BTW: the question of what to import under the Personal Import scheme??, my advice is do your research & buy a car in the UK that was never offered for sale here in Australia even better if you can buy a car that is on the import exemption list! My Top choice,....
Bring in one of the 271 RHD made BMW E61 M5 V10 Touring/Estate (Wagon to us Aussies) made between 2007-2010. This is a very unique car that deserves to be here and you wont loose value against this car if your choosing to unload when you get here, cover some ownership costs while you at it. I see loads of V10 M5 & M6's coming in from the UK in the same guise as was offered for sale here in Australia from day one, these cars are not worth as much as the ones that can claim Australian Delivery. The first Touring that hits our Aussie shores could fetch $150K for it!
Worth while thinking about
Just joined this forum, been part of loads of others discussing similar topics.
I feel i have the right to comment on my experiences as i have sucessfully imported 3 cars from the UK over the past 6 years or so.
I have never done the Personal import scheme as such.
I have applied to the other laws where i have brought them in under sections pre 1989 built vehicles and Race & Rally option.
I can tell you from prior experiences with the Australian Govenment they are the unpleasent buggers to deal with. The UK side were amazing to deal with, no probs there.
I have two very valid points to make regarding this process as previously discussed.
One way of significantly reducing your importing costs is to ship via Roll on-Roll off (RoRo as its known in the industry) This is were you forget using Containerising option, which is increadibly expensive and you have so many other costs involved from this.
The RoRo process generally costs around $1500 USD (costs as of 2012) from Southampton to Sydney, Now Port Kembla, around 100 km south of Sydney.
Unless your bringing in a rare Lamborghini or something of value more than 25,000GBP.
Because most people dont realise that ALL New Imported cars arrive on the Australian shores via this method, these guys know what they are doing. i have been on one of these ships to receive my goods prior to even Customs inspections and i can tell you they are in good hands with these guys.
Second point, Insuring your Seafreight, i use Ramon International in NY, USA. they generally cost around $280 for value up to $40,000 insured.
I have used the services of Seaway Logistics as my Freight Forwarder and also have had no problems with these guys.
Feel free to ask for any personal service relating to you shipment, i'm only to happy to help.
BTW: the question of what to import under the Personal Import scheme??, my advice is do your research & buy a car in the UK that was never offered for sale here in Australia even better if you can buy a car that is on the import exemption list! My Top choice,....
Bring in one of the 271 RHD made BMW E61 M5 V10 Touring/Estate (Wagon to us Aussies) made between 2007-2010. This is a very unique car that deserves to be here and you wont loose value against this car if your choosing to unload when you get here, cover some ownership costs while you at it. I see loads of V10 M5 & M6's coming in from the UK in the same guise as was offered for sale here in Australia from day one, these cars are not worth as much as the ones that can claim Australian Delivery. The first Touring that hits our Aussie shores could fetch $150K for it!
Worth while thinking about
vspeckid said:
...My Top choice,....
Bring in one of the 271 RHD made BMW E61 M5 V10 Touring/Estate (Wagon to us Aussies) ...
Have there been wagon versions of RS Audis and AMG Mercs available in Australia? RS4, RS6, C63 and E63?Bring in one of the 271 RHD made BMW E61 M5 V10 Touring/Estate (Wagon to us Aussies) ...
Is there any demand for those or does everyone want the saloons?
braddo said:
Have there been wagon versions of RS Audis and AMG Mercs available in Australia? RS4, RS6, C63 and E63?
Is there any demand for those or does everyone want the saloons?
Yes absolutely to both questions!Is there any demand for those or does everyone want the saloons?
The Audi's have been bringing in the RS4's since B5 models (MY00 shape)
Mercs have the W204 model C63 Avants, since MY09.
Audi have delivered the last 2 shapes of RS6 model tourings also.
I suppose one of the reasons why the ML's and the X5's sell so well here cause they are essentially a Touring body & there are more engine options available here for them than the Tourings on sale here in Aus.
I have just had my car come over from the UK to Sydney on a personal import. It was a simple process - More simple than I thought it would be. I did not have to mess around with the Air con, the guys at the dock sorted the battery etc out and it started fine in Sydney. I also had a boot full of car items which they checked and it was all fine
This is more of a post to let you know who I used as I found these companies very good to work with.
Cargoonline.com.au - They shipped the car - picked it up in the UK put it on a container with other cars and handled it when it docked in Sydney and dropped it over to Complete Car Care
The car then went to completecarcare.net.au - From there they sorted everything else out - blue slip,rego, child seat anchor points etc etc. They deal with a lot of UK cars
and they had a few when I went to visit them
The only issue I have had is the car has a decent size dent in the front wing. Its nothing major and its hard to put blame on where it happened but its easy to fix.
This is more of a post to let you know who I used as I found these companies very good to work with.
Cargoonline.com.au - They shipped the car - picked it up in the UK put it on a container with other cars and handled it when it docked in Sydney and dropped it over to Complete Car Care
The car then went to completecarcare.net.au - From there they sorted everything else out - blue slip,rego, child seat anchor points etc etc. They deal with a lot of UK cars
and they had a few when I went to visit them
The only issue I have had is the car has a decent size dent in the front wing. Its nothing major and its hard to put blame on where it happened but its easy to fix.
Very interesting. Thanks for the info,Importing a car to Australia is not a simple thing, it needs some procedures, You must have import approval before bringing it over otherwise you will have to pay for the car and then be destroyed here or you have to pay for the vehicles to be sent back to the UK.
Edited by jeremyc on Wednesday 7th January 07:40
Hi all,
My wife and I shipped a classic car from UK to Au in Feb 2014. It was very simple. The company collected the car, prepare the car for the shipment and provide us duty and tax assistance. There were no issues within the whole process. The name of the company I used is ShipFromUK
http://www.shipfromuk.com/
Hope it can help!
My wife and I shipped a classic car from UK to Au in Feb 2014. It was very simple. The company collected the car, prepare the car for the shipment and provide us duty and tax assistance. There were no issues within the whole process. The name of the company I used is ShipFromUK
http://www.shipfromuk.com/
Hope it can help!
Just an update on cost of importing a car to Aust from the UK.
I've just imported 2 cars from UK (Landed early May 2015). Both cars are now registered in the ACT.
I used RORO for shipping both cars and I chose not to purchase shipping insurance as the premium and excess for any claim is stupid and likely to cost more than the repair itself. It took just over 6 weeks from Southampton to Port Kembla.
Both cars landed without any problem or damage. I prefered using RORO instead of a container because having absolutely no problems shipping my TVR back a number of years ago using RORO. The car is driven onto the ship, tied down and stored in a climatised environment and no chance of it falling of the ship unlike a container. The cost difference for 2 cars between RORO and container is only $2000 (due to extra port and handling charge for container in Aus)
For each of the car, these are the fixed charges (Plus GST).
Quarantine $224
CMR Fee $20
AQIS Fee $50
Aus Port Charges $172
Quarantine doc fees $35
EDI fees $7.50
Border Security Fee $15
Shipping agent fee $250
Cleaning fee $287
RORO shipping UK£900
Shipping car to ACT from Port Kembla ports $455
Variable costs are GST and Customs duty - about 15% of UK purchase price. My shipping agent used my UK purchase price + RORO shipping cost as the Customs landed value and calculated 10% GST and 5% Duty for the GST and Duty I had to pay.
I had quotes for 40ft container at UK£1700 shipped from Southampton, takes 8-10 weeks. Port and handling Charges when the container arrived in Aust is around $2300. You then have to add the fixed cost above. I could ship personal stuff in the same container but you have to load anything you want to be shipped in the container securely packed on a maximum of 2 pallets (you are responsible for pallet and packing, they will just put whatever you have on to the back of the container, not sure if they will tie the pallet down though) or inside your car. If you do, its another $300 added to the unpacking cost.
Cost of compliance in the ACT is $150 if no repairs is required + $100 for compliance plate. You then add stamp duty, registration fee and Insurance just like registering any car.
Hope that helps anyone thinking about shipping a car back from the UK.
I've just imported 2 cars from UK (Landed early May 2015). Both cars are now registered in the ACT.
I used RORO for shipping both cars and I chose not to purchase shipping insurance as the premium and excess for any claim is stupid and likely to cost more than the repair itself. It took just over 6 weeks from Southampton to Port Kembla.
Both cars landed without any problem or damage. I prefered using RORO instead of a container because having absolutely no problems shipping my TVR back a number of years ago using RORO. The car is driven onto the ship, tied down and stored in a climatised environment and no chance of it falling of the ship unlike a container. The cost difference for 2 cars between RORO and container is only $2000 (due to extra port and handling charge for container in Aus)
For each of the car, these are the fixed charges (Plus GST).
Quarantine $224
CMR Fee $20
AQIS Fee $50
Aus Port Charges $172
Quarantine doc fees $35
EDI fees $7.50
Border Security Fee $15
Shipping agent fee $250
Cleaning fee $287
RORO shipping UK£900
Shipping car to ACT from Port Kembla ports $455
Variable costs are GST and Customs duty - about 15% of UK purchase price. My shipping agent used my UK purchase price + RORO shipping cost as the Customs landed value and calculated 10% GST and 5% Duty for the GST and Duty I had to pay.
I had quotes for 40ft container at UK£1700 shipped from Southampton, takes 8-10 weeks. Port and handling Charges when the container arrived in Aust is around $2300. You then have to add the fixed cost above. I could ship personal stuff in the same container but you have to load anything you want to be shipped in the container securely packed on a maximum of 2 pallets (you are responsible for pallet and packing, they will just put whatever you have on to the back of the container, not sure if they will tie the pallet down though) or inside your car. If you do, its another $300 added to the unpacking cost.
Cost of compliance in the ACT is $150 if no repairs is required + $100 for compliance plate. You then add stamp duty, registration fee and Insurance just like registering any car.
Hope that helps anyone thinking about shipping a car back from the UK.
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