Thread: Importing to Aus

In relation to undervaluing the landie by to much, just be carefull as a few years ago there was an auction that had a number of collectible cars that customs had taken as the value the importers where claiming was way below their actual worth.
The example of the windscreen glass and brakes may have to do with standards, as glass needs a stamp to state it meets a set criteria, not sure on brake pads.

We have just recently completed an import of an '85 Porsche 911.

I purchased it virtually on a whim on ebay UK (price was irresistable) and successfully managed the entire UK purchase, AUS Import Approval, freight/shipping/insurance and Customs/AQIS processes myself, although the UK seller was quite helpful with doc's/photo's and delivery to shipping co. at that end.

I am currently seeing it through the AUS compliance process personally...

General comments.
Have no fear, but be well informed. AUS Customs will help you with info and contacts but can not direct you to anyone specific due to having to remain impartial. Stick with referals to service providers from here at AULRO and you will be safe.
Roll On - Roll Off Freight and port to port insurance cost us approx $2,000 GBP (significantly cheaper than container). Don't pay too much more than that or your being stung.

These agents are valuable only if you don't have time or patience with convaluted processes. They are virtually charging you for pushing paper and making phone calls. I saved approx $1,500 AUS by DIY'ing. There was one hefty "sting" style charge (for a portside security escort) that I got hit with by not being/having an agent, but the $200 didn't hurt when I was saving $1,500. In saying all that, if someone else was subsidising the move as part of a relocation, I would probably let an agent manage it.

As with a lot of Gov bodies, Customs/AQIS processes are somewhat cumbersome and completley inflexible. However, the people working there are very helpful and informative and understand the issues. The thing to remember is recent Aus. Gov's in their usual mode of the last 20 years have been pushing the management and running of process across to private industry (agents) in order to reduce taxpayer funded costs - i.e. privatisation. As you would expect, the Customs/AQIS people have been pushed for years to push people toward agents to assist with this transition... knowing that they are ultimately putting themselves out of jobs eventually (one lady told me she had been there in Melb. 16 years and the team had been reduced by around 60% in that time). Given all that, my experience was that they were all still really helpful and mostly nice people doing a really important job of protecting our borders from bad stuff. I reckon they will all be fair if you are so just be honest and roll with it.
Don't expect any shipping or port dates to be met and you will be less likely to be disappointed. Boats rarely arrive at the intended time and public servants and wharfies work to their own peculiar schedules. Have a back up (e.g. hire/loan car) to allow for typical delays of around a month.
Compliancing is turning out to be OK as long as you keep looking and talking to people and don't accept any illogical things like that whole throw out your entire brakes and lights and crap. A lot of Aus. Businesses/Companies managing completing the compliance process are inclined to do the same as others fringing around "luxury" items and just "gouge" your wallet. So far on the Porsche I have purchased all my own parts saving around $1,200 from quote, and am considering hiring the engineer directly to 'plate' the car after I complete the few jobs required and get the car a roadworthy certificate.

All in all, get well informed, stay on your toes, stay on the front foot, be honest, genuine and polite, don't accept the first quote and check everything (and ask plenty of questions) back here at AULRO. I am yet to hear of anyone getting a real bum steer (misdirection) from this forum.

Finally, I kept all my receipts/forms/notes/e-mails from my experience (probably gonna do more over the next few years) so if you want any specific queries answered, I'd be happy to help.

Originally Posted by Ivan

When I imported our two 90's and got the wifes legal over here, all the engineer put on the mod plate (you will need one of these) were user modifications. Other than checking for thinigs like seat belts, glass and lights they did not bother with the rest. My 90 was a Turbo Deisel and now has a 300Tdi fitted (by me and my mates in the UK) and the engineer never mentioned anything about it.

HTH

Ivan

I had the same with my 90

Chap came and looked at the 90 and all he was looking at was the engine number and chassis number matched what he had and the seat belts and the glass was car glass. And that was it nearly $ 300 for about 5 mins work

I was worried about the soft top , rear NAS step and lack of a real roll bar, front a bar and other stuff. But none of them seam to matter

When I put the paper work in and sent to Vic. They told me the bloke that did mine was the strickest in QLD.


Sent from my iPhone

Originally Posted by Mike_S

OK, spoke to my ex-colleague today about his importing experience last year. Didn't go so well for him, ended up costing him about £9000 in the end and he feels he got well stitched up by the company who got it through compliance checks, place called Stensons. Big and very expensive mistake. Don't suppose anyone here has heard of them ?

Before his car left the UK (Discovery 3, 2007 HSE) it had recently had all new brakes fitted along with a new windscreen after the original was cracked. Once this place received it and went through the checks, they told him it needed all new brakes and a new windscreen again and wouldn't release it to him without doing the work, no amount of 'discussions' with them made any difference. Suffice to say he ended up having the work done at a cost of over $2000 just for the brakes & windscreen, paid the overall bill and got the car.

At least I know one place to make sure mine DOESN'T end up at.

He did say to get the car valued before it leaves the UK, he didn't after being advised not to and reckoned it cost him in a big way. Customs wanted to see the valuation, he didn't have one so they valued it and stuck a very high price on it, pretty much full Aus value rather than unregistered import value, citing his lack of an agreed UK value (they said he should've just got a main dealer to give a trade value which would've been acceptable).

All very interesting when added to the information in this thread from others experiences. It doesn't stop me from bringing my car over, I'll just have to get my arse in gear to have everything sorted properly.

I think he was shafted by the agent there

Also the car compliance is nothing to do with customs or aquis. My car got it's compliance plate and inspection on my drive at my house. After it had left customs.


Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for that. He was certainly shafted, that's for sure. He paid the customs bill and was told it had to go from there straight to a 'compliance engineers' to be put through the testing, hence it ending up at this Stensons place (of which I can find no details, only a Stenson Road). Yes, there's a certain amount of naivety on his part here, he admits that, but having just started a new job I'm guessing time was an issue.

If I can take the car away once through the customs checks etc and get it sorted myself, then great.

I'm about to have a new windscreen installed in mine, the last thing I want is for it to then need changing again when it lands in Oz. The problem with new windscreens in the UK when paid for by insurance companies (as mine will be) is they're never the OEM part so it wont have the Land Rover logo on. It's still made by Pilkingtons with the same numbers, it just doesn't have the LR logo on and from what my mate said, that was the point laboured on by the 'engineer' as the reason for the screen needing to be changed.

G'day Mike_S

As long as the windscreen manufacturer's numbers match then it should be no problem, but for peace of mind take a photo of the original windscreen's markings and if quieried, you can show that it is the same and to standard as the original but without the LR oval badging

Almost all the windscreens sourced from aftermarket outlets/fitters are sourced from China and most Aust car manufacturers also source from China so I am told.


cheers

Originally Posted by Mike_S

Thanks for that. He was certainly shafted, that's for sure. He paid the customs bill and was told it had to go from there straight to a 'compliance engineers' to be put through the testing, hence it ending up at this Stensons place (of which I can find no details, only a Stenson Road). Yes, there's a certain amount of naivety on his part here, he admits that, but having just started a new job I'm guessing time was an issue.

If I can take the car away once through the customs checks etc and get it sorted myself, then great.

I'm about to have a new windscreen installed in mine, the last thing I want is for it to then need changing again when it lands in Oz. The problem with new windscreens in the UK when paid for by insurance companies (as mine will be) is they're never the OEM part so it wont have the Land Rover logo on. It's still made by Pilkingtons with the same numbers, it just doesn't have the LR logo on and from what my mate said, that was the point laboured on by the 'engineer' as the reason for the screen needing to be changed.

My 90 did not have land rover glass

They just look for the markings on the glass to make sure It is automotive glass and not house glass or any other dogy stuff

Well, the move is on

SWMBO's firm finally sorted the package out on Friday, so the 457 visa application starts tomorrow, I expect we'll be there Sept / Oct this year.

We've decided to leave the car shipping until after we've arrived and got settled, so the G4 will be staying with family until we're ready for it. Gives me time to get all the jobs it needs sorted and get a few spares packages put together. Also gives us time to save some cash for the duty fees !

So, BV55 YZE will soon be off on her travels again. Next stop Melbourne.

Thanks to all the help from forum members, it's because of that we've decided to bite the finincial bullet and bring it with us. This isn't going to be cheap, but hopefully it'll be worth it. Look forward to meeting a few of you toward the end of this year and onwards.

Cheers
Mike