Importing a car from Australia?

[slammedvanman]

Apologies in advance as this is slightly off topic and not solely dedicated to Holden but I'm guessing you guys would be the obvious/experienced people to ask? Can anyone tell me kow difficult and expensive it is to import a car from down under?

I'm looking for a split screen VW van and have seen a few on e-bay Australia. With the current exchange rate and the climate out there it could be a viable option if the shipping costs aren't extortionate? Lots of vans are coming in from the USA, South America and South Africa at present but I haven't heard of anyone scouring Australia? I have friends there and am due to visit later this year so thought i could combine the trip with sourcing a rust free van?

Thanks.

[skinnyboy]

speaking from experience lol, last year i sold a lovely 1962 Beetle to a young english gal, she and her dad came here specifically to buy a beetle and a split window bus and a couple of cars for spares. They put it all in a container and it cost them something like A$6,000 to do it.

[slammedvanman]

cheers skinnyboy, don't suppose you can point me in the right direction for the oz equivalent of autotrader and any air-cooled vw sites/specialists?

[motomk]

These are the main car selling websites over here.
www.carsales.com.au
www.carpoint.com.au
www.drive.com.au
www.autotrader.com.au
www.carsguide.com.au

The 3 main printed media are
The Trading Post (related to www.autotrader.com.au)
Unique cars (related to www.carpoint.com.au)
Just cars (not sure they have a website but would proabbly be the first magazine I would look in for what you are after)

motomk

Edited by motomk on Friday 21st July 18:27

[motomk]

And another rather oddly called
http://kombisales.com/mambo/index.htm


Might be an idea to get hold of someone at a Volkswagen club over here.

Ebay.
http://cars.search.ebay.com.au/kombi_

Edited by motomk on Friday 21st July 17:44

[phrich]

Maybe you should be bringing back some V8's as the price of fuel is scaring the Aussie's... $1.50 is £0.60

www.smh.com.au/news/national/value-of-guzzlers-slips/2006/07/21/1153166591393.html

[monkfish1]

There are a couple of traders here in the UK doing aussie imports of VW vans/campers.

Dont forget to add import duty and VAT to your calcs. If its a van, not a bus/camper you will get done for 22% duty, then the VAT too! And thats on the cost of the vehicle and shipping too.

[BO55 VXR]

Hey, another subject that comes around often... & would make for good info on FAQ page.

Anyone got any good, hard facts on the process

[bovered79]

Hello mate dont know about the combie thing but i know all about the importations of cars as i have just recently done it my self i have all the doucments you will nedd to fill out as well as contacts you can call here and the Oz just let me know and i will send you them by email and maybe you could give me a call or something and i will explain what you have to do and costs.

cheers

[BO55 VXR]

bovered79 said:

Hello mate dont know about the combie thing but i know all about the importations of cars as i have just recently done it my self i have all the doucments you will nedd to fill out as well as contacts you can call here and the Oz just let me know and i will send you them by email and maybe you could give me a call or something and i will explain what you have to do and costs.

cheers

Y H M

[bovered79]

Chris what is YHM

[GSI_Daz]

bovered79 said:

Chris what is YHM

YHM = You Have Mail

[bovered79]

cheers thanks for that

[slammedvanman]

motomk - thanks for the links, really useful.

monkfish - I'm looking for a couple of split screens, probably restoration projects. Would the tax still apply?

[maxslo]

I guess I have a similar question but it is HSV related. I'm working in Australia and am very close to buying a 2005 HSV R8 Maloo UTE (Australian specification). My plan is to import it back into the UK when I return in 2 years time. I am trying to find out what needs to be changed on the car to meet the UK regulations. I have contact TWG Ltd in the UK who import the Maloo and they told me to go to HSV Australia. HSV Australia has just responded telling me they will not modify the car in Austarlia and will not tell me what needs to be done to the car to meet the UK requirements????

Can anyone give me any help on this one or who I can talk to in the UK or Australia. Also can anyone recommend an insurance company in the UK where I can get an idea of the cost of insurance as I'm sure the phrase Import and 404BHP,V8 will light up the dollar signs.

Cheers

[ringram]

Fog light and speedo in MPH are the main things.
Best thing is you wont get hit with duty or vat as its your own car and you are relocating. I think as long as you have owned it for 6months plus. Just keep receipts for insurance etc to prove this. As for insurance they are all imports here so the prices in threads on this forum will be relevant and directly related to what you can expect to pay.

[maxslo]

Thanks for the info ringram, it helps alot.