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

[astonmartinv8]

Steve-B said:

1 car per person is the rule, and you have to have lived in the previous country for 12 months (or more) and owned the vehicle for 12 months (or more) is all that DOTARS is interested in, and your passport pages to prove it.

Does this mean that if someone who has emigrated from the UK to Australia (like me in late 2008) and lives here now (like me) can buy a car in the UK, leave it there for 12 months, go back use it for a day or two and then export it to Australia?

[aussiebeano]

astonmartinv8 said:

Steve-B said:

1 car per person is the rule, and you have to have lived in the previous country for 12 months (or more) and owned the vehicle for 12 months (or more) is all that DOTARS is interested in, and your passport pages to prove it.

Does this mean that if someone who has emigrated from the UK to Australia (like me in late 2008) and lives here now (like me) can buy a car in the UK, leave it there for 12 months, go back use it for a day or two and then export it to Australia?

no! You need to show genuine continuous ownership. As Mr Astonmatinv8 says - your passport pages will show DOTARS if you have been in the UK or not. Do not try to be cute or bend the rules with DOTARS - it's not worth it. They will reject an application if they see any funny business.

[astonmartinv8]

aussiebeano said:

astonmartinv8 said:

Steve-B said:

1 car per person is the rule, and you have to have lived in the previous country for 12 months (or more) and owned the vehicle for 12 months (or more) is all that DOTARS is interested in, and your passport pages to prove it.

Does this mean that if someone who has emigrated from the UK to Australia (like me in late 2008) and lives here now (like me) can buy a car in the UK, leave it there for 12 months, go back use it for a day or two and then export it to Australia?

no! You need to show genuine continuous ownership. As Mr Astonmatinv8 says - your passport pages will show DOTARS if you have been in the UK or not. Do not try to be cute or bend the rules with DOTARS - it's not worth it. They will reject an application if they see any funny business.

I would have owned the car, but I would not have continuously used it.

[deviant]

astonmartinv8 said:

aussiebeano said:

astonmartinv8 said:

Steve-B said:

1 car per person is the rule, and you have to have lived in the previous country for 12 months (or more) and owned the vehicle for 12 months (or more) is all that DOTARS is interested in, and your passport pages to prove it.

Does this mean that if someone who has emigrated from the UK to Australia (like me in late 2008) and lives here now (like me) can buy a car in the UK, leave it there for 12 months, go back use it for a day or two and then export it to Australia?

no! You need to show genuine continuous ownership. As Mr Astonmatinv8 says - your passport pages will show DOTARS if you have been in the UK or not. Do not try to be cute or bend the rules with DOTARS - it's not worth it. They will reject an application if they see any funny business.

I would have owned the car, but I would not have continuously used it.

Its a no unfortunately, you have to have been in the country the car is living in and be able to show use / ownership for that 12 months. Personally I would make sure I have owned it for more than 12 months as I have heard that holidays abroad are taken away from the 12 month time period.

Hmmm are you actually suggesting keeping a car in the UK and using it for a few weeks a year until you have 12 months of use built up and then briining it over? Slow process but I think it might work?!

[custardtart]

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

[deviant]

custardtart said:

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

Look for the pre-1989 scheme. Its a bit misleading to call it pre-1989 as (iirc) that cut off date is 1st January 1989.

Anyway basically anything older than 01/01/89 can be brought in and will only need minimal mods to be road legal....when I did one it was stuff like seat belts and side impact beams welded in to the doors.
The car can be modified unlike in the RAWS scheme but note it will still need to be capable of getting over the pits.

[rorys]

deviant said:

custardtart said:

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

Look for the pre-1989 scheme. Its a bit misleading to call it pre-1989 as (iirc) that cut off date is 1st January 1989.

Anyway basically anything older than 01/01/89 can be brought in and will only need minimal mods to be road legal....when I did one it was stuff like seat belts and side impact beams welded in to the doors.
The car can be modified unlike in the RAWS scheme but note it will still need to be capable of getting over the pits.

Does that mean I can bring in a pre 89 Caterham without any problems?

[deviant]

rorys said:

deviant said:

custardtart said:

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

Look for the pre-1989 scheme. Its a bit misleading to call it pre-1989 as (iirc) that cut off date is 1st January 1989.

Anyway basically anything older than 01/01/89 can be brought in and will only need minimal mods to be road legal....when I did one it was stuff like seat belts and side impact beams welded in to the doors.
The car can be modified unlike in the RAWS scheme but note it will still need to be capable of getting over the pits.

Does that mean I can bring in a pre 89 Caterham without any problems?

I think you can but I would talk to a specialist before comitting.

[MCFADDEN]

Back again!

Is it possible to bring a left hand drive motor in & get it converted on Arrival?

There are plenty of LHD Mustangs etc that have being converted in Oz to RHD, so maybe I can convert my LHD F150 on arrival, as really struggling to find any LHD to RHD conversion specialists here in the UK?

Any leads/advice appreciated from either side of the pond.

[ariddell]

MCFADDEN said:

Back again!

Is it possible to bring a left hand drive motor in & get it converted on Arrival?

There are plenty of LHD Mustangs etc that have being converted in Oz to RHD, so maybe I can convert my LHD F150 on arrival, as really struggling to find any LHD to RHD conversion specialists here in the UK?

Any leads/advice appreciated from either side of the pond.

Google is your friend..

These guys in Queensland for example look like they could do the conversion & compliancing on an F150:

http://www.maracoonda.com/

Edited by ariddell on Thursday 18th February 23:23

[robm3]

deviant said:

custardtart said:

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

Look for the pre-1989 scheme. Its a bit misleading to call it pre-1989 as (iirc) that cut off date is 1st January 1989.

Anyway basically anything older than 01/01/89 can be brought in and will only need minimal mods to be road legal....when I did one it was stuff like seat belts and side impact beams welded in to the doors.
The car can be modified unlike in the RAWS scheme but note it will still need to be capable of getting over the pits.

Deviant, do you still use up your 'one per person' personal import bringing in a pre 89?
e.g could I bring in my GTR and a 84' Audi UR Quattro?

[deviant]

robm3 said:

deviant said:

custardtart said:

Is there anyway of importing classic cars?

I ask because otherwise the classic car scene here is dying slowly.

There must be wealthy people who want to own a rare ferrari or other make but under the rules i can't see how they can bring them in.

I can kinda understand how the government want to protect the car dealers here buy not flooding themarket with 2nd hand imports but classics seem to a different proposition.

Am I missing something here?

Look for the pre-1989 scheme. Its a bit misleading to call it pre-1989 as (iirc) that cut off date is 1st January 1989.

Anyway basically anything older than 01/01/89 can be brought in and will only need minimal mods to be road legal....when I did one it was stuff like seat belts and side impact beams welded in to the doors.
The car can be modified unlike in the RAWS scheme but note it will still need to be capable of getting over the pits.

Deviant, do you still use up your 'one per person' personal import bringing in a pre 89?
e.g could I bring in my GTR and a 84' Audi UR Quattro?

I think you can... http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_reg...

There is no mention there of a 1 per year criteria such as listed under the personal import scheme. It even says "without restriction" in the first line.

A little OT for the question but this bit under Race / Rally cars pisses me off: "if the vehicle is a model available in the Australian vehicle market, justification for the need to import the vehicle (cost of the vehicle in the domestic market will not generally be considered an acceptable justification)."

Its a flipping race car for gods sake!! Who cares where you sourced it from or who built it!!

[Steve-B]

deviant said:

Its a flipping race car for gods sake!! Who cares where you sourced it from or who built it!!

OOHH OOHH Can I answer that one please matey?

WHO cares -- some pointy headed freak of nature @ DOTARS wanting more of your wamba in his pocket -- that's who

Edited by Steve-B on Sunday 21st February 12:53

[TVP993]

Hi All,

We currently live in Manchester UK but are planning on moving to Melbourne in July-September this year. My wife is Australian so we will be starting the application for a spouse visa for myself in the next couple of weeks when she gets back her new Australian passport.

I am hoping to take the Porsche over with us. Can anyone tell me will DOTARS even talk to me at the moment or is it a waste of time until my spouse visa comes through. If I have to wait how long will the necessary paperwork take once I get my visa.

I know maybe in hindsight I should have started this a few months ago but obviously do not want this to delay us moving.

I hear that a spouse visa application can take 2-4 months. Is there any way of speeding this up?

I also contemplated using an agent to do the paperwork for us but the wife has said that it's a waste of money so it looks like we will be doing the application ourselves. it all looks rather long winded and complicated. Tried calling the embassy but you can never get anyone on the phone.

Any help with the above and also recommendations as to shipping companies to use would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[deviant]

Hi TVP993,

I came out here on a spouse visa..

There is no way of speeding up or tracking visa applications, its a case of just sending it off and sitting on your hands until you hear back from them. I was told when I did mine that immigration will be happy enough to confirm that they have received your correspondance but will not go beyond that. They are there purely to process applications and not to hold your hand through the process.

The embassy and department of immigration will not help you with your application. They can give you some general advice but thats about it.

We used an agent to handle our application. The agent is not allowed to fill out forms for you but the peace of mind they give in going through everything with a fine tooth comb is priceless. Our agent did flag a few things that would have seen delays or rejection of the application...nothing serious but as I said immigration will not hold your hand so if there is a mistake that stops the process they will just send the lot back. It was also worth seeing an agent just to make sure we were eligable in the first place!

I agree it is quite long winded form and making sure you have enough evidence can be a bit hard, I think reviewing the evidence part was where the agent was really worth the money.

If you have any more questions please feel free to send me an email and I will try and help you.

[robm3]

Hi TVP, we're currently doing the Spouse Visa for my wife and children now.
We've one long checklist that's for sure but seems to be coming together.

So many things to consider as well, my wife is particuarly stressed about schools whereas all I can think about it shall I take the GTR or M5....

[TVP993]

robm3 said:

Hi TVP, we're currently doing the Spouse Visa for my wife and children now.
We've one long checklist that's for sure but seems to be coming together.

So many things to consider as well, my wife is particuarly stressed about schools whereas all I can think about it shall I take the GTR or M5....

Hi Robm3,

I think you should take both!

Would love to chat to you about this spouse Visa. If you are ok with this can you drop me an e-mail?

Regards

TVP

[TVP993]

5) Get your vehicle valued in Australia not in the UK… it much easier this way and they take into consideration the shipping costs for the vehicle & subtract it from the value they put on the car


I'm still in the UK but hopefully will be moving in the next 4-5 months and will be taking the Porsche so how do I do the above from the UK?

Also how long does the paperwork take from DOTARS?

Many thanks.

[Bob the Planner]

TVP993 said:

5) Get your vehicle valued in Australia not in the UK… it much easier this way and they take into consideration the shipping costs for the vehicle & subtract it from the value they put on the car


I'm still in the UK but hopefully will be moving in the next 4-5 months and will be taking the Porsche so how do I do the above from the UK?

Also how long does the paperwork take from DOTARS?

Many thanks.

I got the forms from the internet and filled everything in. forms here. Took about 4 weeks IIRC but I would allow a little longer to allow for queries. I got an email back with the approval documents and they arrived in the post about a week later. The shipping company will probably need the approval docs before they ship, they accepted the email versions however you need the originals to get the car out of the port.

I found the web site useful and they are helpful on the phone if you need to clarify somethign before you send off the forms.

[TVP993]

Bob the Planner said:

TVP993 said:

5) Get your vehicle valued in Australia not in the UK… it much easier this way and they take into consideration the shipping costs for the vehicle & subtract it from the value they put on the car


I'm still in the UK but hopefully will be moving in the next 4-5 months and will be taking the Porsche so how do I do the above from the UK?

Also how long does the paperwork take from DOTARS?

Many thanks.

I got the forms from the internet and filled everything in. forms here. Took about 4 weeks IIRC but I would allow a little longer to allow for queries. I got an email back with the approval documents and they arrived in the post about a week later. The shipping company will probably need the approval docs before they ship, they accepted the email versions however you need the originals to get the car out of the port.

I found the web site useful and they are helpful on the phone if you need to clarify somethign before you send off the forms.

Thanks Bob. Did you also get your car valued in Australia or in the UK?