Shipping of Commodore from Brisbane to th UK what is needed
Discussion
Take some tips from one who has done it....
Woteva mods you do (ie MPH & foglight) get them done in Oz before shipping. Will save you $$$$! Chuck a voltage ratio box in behind the speedo assembly to convert existing kph reading to mph & get a holden garage to chuck a MPH label over your kph one. (I got a small adhesive sticker engraved at Mr Minit)Fog light must be 150mm away from brake/tail light & on or drivers side of centerline & 150mm off the deck. I put a temp one on a bracket to pass the SVA (UK conformity)test & then flicked it after that. For MOT you can simply have a red lamp in your RHS reverse light but obviously an auto elec will have to wire a switch & wiring to turn it on. (I got my local Melb auto elec to do this & the speedo - $320 total). As mentioned below, you don't want to do this at all unless you qualify as a "personal import" ie depends how long you have owned it. Also, you can't sell it here until 1 year has elapsed from the day it arrived.
The experience can be a bit frustrating at times - read headhoons thread from last week - but if you want to enjoy driving a unique car in the UK press on! On the cynical side, watch a couple of episodes of Little britan & get used to the expression "Computer Says NO!"
Woteva mods you do (ie MPH & foglight) get them done in Oz before shipping. Will save you $$$$! Chuck a voltage ratio box in behind the speedo assembly to convert existing kph reading to mph & get a holden garage to chuck a MPH label over your kph one. (I got a small adhesive sticker engraved at Mr Minit)Fog light must be 150mm away from brake/tail light & on or drivers side of centerline & 150mm off the deck. I put a temp one on a bracket to pass the SVA (UK conformity)test & then flicked it after that. For MOT you can simply have a red lamp in your RHS reverse light but obviously an auto elec will have to wire a switch & wiring to turn it on. (I got my local Melb auto elec to do this & the speedo - $320 total). As mentioned below, you don't want to do this at all unless you qualify as a "personal import" ie depends how long you have owned it. Also, you can't sell it here until 1 year has elapsed from the day it arrived.
The experience can be a bit frustrating at times - read headhoons thread from last week - but if you want to enjoy driving a unique car in the UK press on! On the cynical side, watch a couple of episodes of Little britan & get used to the expression "Computer Says NO!"
Is it worth it.... yup! As julian said, get those things done and you will be sweet. Put a real bbq in the back as well, cause they use charcol over here.
Haven't done the SVA myself yet, as running around on my QLD plates still. Think it was the dodgy mexican plates he was running around on that caught the attention of the boys in blue.
Just make sure you qualify for the Personal Import, otherwise it is going to be a very frustrating and painful process. Ah yeah, if you expect to keep up with these boys, make sure you have a v8, and not a v6 like mine.
Haven't done the SVA myself yet, as running around on my QLD plates still. Think it was the dodgy mexican plates he was running around on that caught the attention of the boys in blue.
Just make sure you qualify for the Personal Import, otherwise it is going to be a very frustrating and painful process. Ah yeah, if you expect to keep up with these boys, make sure you have a v8, and not a v6 like mine.
Despite wot many traffic cops will tell you (and the insurance co's don't like it either but will insure on your VIN alone if pushed) you can drive in the UK on foriegn plates as long as you like (in theory) - ie no UK tax required (plus nice immunity to cameras & parking fines!). As Jace says, technically the law says 6 months but a simple journey on Eurostar to France will let your 6 month clock restart! If asked how long has it been in the country you simply always answer "less than 6 months". I only tinned my Vic plates & got UK reg because I wanted to sell my car rather than return it to Oz. Resale would be nigh on impossible with Oz rego & no SVA etc. Best bit is that I actually removed my rego sticker & de-registered my car b4 leaving melb. Justr stickin the plates on was enough to keep it legit over here - after all, stax they know anything about Aussie rego ID system! Make sure you bring proof of when you bought the car, proof of insurance history & all the customs import/export dox. cheers, Julian.
that is wicked do you know what happens once i get it here and it clears customs can you just drivce away thats it and also a quick question when you book it in for shipping do you have to prove there is no finance owing on the car and when you get it here do you have to pay import tax if so how much.
Cheers
Cheers
If u qualify as personal import, no import duty to pay. I just have a mental blank if it's 6 or 12 months ownership to qualify. Anyway, as long as you have some insurance organised, you can drive it straight off the dock; just make sure u have your Aussie plates. You may have to search around for a insurance co that does not insist on a "thatcham cat 1 or 2" alarm as this is a UK thing & no Aussie cars have it. Dunno if Jace has had one installed on his Commy but I certainly didnt want some shitbox £100 alarm to stuff up my very expensive Oz unit, just to satisfy some insurance company box ticker. If it helps, you can get a letter written by Mark at Linden Special Vehicles (they used to import HSV's & still do CAPA Holdens) that explains in techo speak why you shouldn't 
with the alarm. Beat cops in their Astras will generally ignore you or stare with curiosity but ded set mate, every time I was spotted by a traffic plod (the ones who drive Omeba's - sorry Omegas!) , I got pulled over - most were just curious about the car & the B&W personalised Vic plates stood out like black nads on a white mutt. If you got regulation QLD plates like Jace, you wont get as much attention; half pied look like Belguim plates n e way. Some Johnny Law try to tell u "you cant drive on those" but once they realise you ain't some boy racer trying to hide your cars identity, and that you know your shit about the import process, they should let ya be.
with the alarm. Beat cops in their Astras will generally ignore you or stare with curiosity but ded set mate, every time I was spotted by a traffic plod (the ones who drive Omeba's - sorry Omegas!) , I got pulled over - most were just curious about the car & the B&W personalised Vic plates stood out like black nads on a white mutt. If you got regulation QLD plates like Jace, you wont get as much attention; half pied look like Belguim plates n e way. Some Johnny Law try to tell u "you cant drive on those" but once they realise you ain't some boy racer trying to hide your cars identity, and that you know your shit about the import process, they should let ya be. do you know how i would prove ownership because all of my stuuf is locked in a container in oz so there is no way i can get to it i have rego papers here though i have a little bit of finance owing on it but i wanted o get the car here so atleast i can drive it seeing i am paying for it my only concern is that after i have paid all that money out they will say i cant export the car......... who did you get insurance with? also how do you know if i qulaify for not paying import tax how did you use to ship yours with?
cHEERS
cHEERS
I still had money owing on mine before i brought it over. No problems at all.
I used Four Winds International, - would never use them again out of brisbane, big time rip off once they had the car at their depot. Price changed.
Seaway would be who i would use next from brisbane. A guy called Tony was awseome help.
I used Four Winds International, - would never use them again out of brisbane, big time rip off once they had the car at their depot. Price changed.
Seaway would be who i would use next from brisbane. A guy called Tony was awseome help.
My car was financed (still is!) but do not mention to the finance mob cos they won't be happy... Import & export process made no request for finance info at all.
Rego docs in your name should be fine as proof of ownership since a particular date as long as they have your name, the car details & a date that is earlier than the ownership requirement. (me thinks its 6 months). Insurance policies with same on them are also useful. I gave both to the shipping agent who handled all my paperwork for me.
There is a little blue book called P15 that is produced by Dept of Transport that is an absolute bible on the issue. I think you can get it from any DVLA office or maybe download it off the web??
Rego docs in your name should be fine as proof of ownership since a particular date as long as they have your name, the car details & a date that is earlier than the ownership requirement. (me thinks its 6 months). Insurance policies with same on them are also useful. I gave both to the shipping agent who handled all my paperwork for me.
There is a little blue book called P15 that is produced by Dept of Transport that is an absolute bible on the issue. I think you can get it from any DVLA office or maybe download it off the web??
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