Thread: Importing to Aus

I imported my Mk5 V6 Cortina from NZ when I came over in '95, had to do ****loads of paper work but used an agent in the end. Original paperwork will definitely help you in the process.

I dunno about the LPG however ....... make sure if your are bring the vehicle over you have it steam cleaned, and detailed, (inside and out)before leaving the UK, or you will be in for all sorts of bother!

Australian customs are anal over any dirt/plant material on anything that crosses the 'border'. I trust you will do this anyway.

I had my Cortina quarantined for 6 weeks cos the spare tyre had dirt on it!!

Originally Posted by Mike_S

Guess it's a little different though if we're working there and being paid in $$'s, rather than having to convert back to ££'s all the time.

I know several people who are renting here and leaving their UK
property in rented out mode , until prices improve and exchange
rate is much better . On a GBP500k home in a depressed market
with 62p , the loss can be over 200,000 Quid . Not worth considering.
You'd have to be fleeing a war to do that !

Originally Posted by Neil P

I know several people who are renting here and leaving their UK
property in rented out mode , until prices improve and exchange
rate is much better . On a GBP500k home in a depressed market
with 62p , the loss can be over 200,000 Quid . Not worth considering.
You'd have to be fleeing a war to do that !

When we came over the dollar rate was $2.67 in London, when we landed in Australia it had dropped to around $2.40 Guess who's money was still in London ??

At the time we didn't care because we had just got those "permanent visas" but it added up to a lot of $$$

Good luck with the move Mike_S

We'll be renting out our house in the UK, at least until markets recover. No point selling it at the moment.

As for cleaning the car, I'd probably take it to Nene Overland and have them steam clean the underside then waxoyl it all, the surface rust is fairly evident on the chassis of mine. It'll certainly take some cleaning though, it's pretty muddy under there and only last year I retrieved a locust from inside one of the chassis rails, must've been there since it returned from Thailand !

Originally Posted by Mike_S

We'll be renting out our house in the UK, at least until markets recover. No point selling it at the moment.

As for cleaning the car, I'd probably take it to Nene Overland and have them steam clean the underside then waxoyl it all, the surface rust is fairly evident on the chassis of mine. It'll certainly take some cleaning though, it's pretty muddy under there and only last year I retrieved a locust from inside one of the chassis rails, must've been there since it returned from Thailand !

They will clean it any way. So be prepaired for that


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Originally Posted by streetlander

Australian customs are anal over any dirt/plant material on anything that crosses the 'border'. I trust you will do this anyway.

I had my Cortina quarantined for 6 weeks cos the spare tyre had dirt on it!!

Mm nothing to do with Customs

It's AQIS that are the pain with washing and work on the rule that 99.99% of cars will need to be cleaned. I was told that by AQIS

Can't see why they held up your car up and did not just clean it

Half the time delay is the car has to go to customs then customs have to get AQIS in to look at it and then when they are finished custom take over again and then ask for and get their money.



Sent from my iPhone

I dont know too much about your Rangie G4, but there is definately a Defender 110 G4 in Adelaide, were going over the Canning Stock route in July with it!

As Reads90 say, the importing is not difficult - form intensive but not difficult, not that expensive either stangely enough! Our Golden Retriever was much more expensive than the 110!!!

Have a word with Richard at Karman Shipping Ship your car overseas with Karman Shipping Ltd. • Free quotes available • Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong

He brought out my 110 18 months ago - thats his business and he knows the rules and regs inside out. Cant recommend his organisation highly enough. He can also put you in touch with the right people at this end.

Trust me, when you move you will have more than enough on your plate without having to worry about picking your car up off the dock and sorting out all the paperwork. Leave it to the experts to do it for you, that way you dont have the stress, wont get ripped off and simply go and collect the car, drive away all road legal!

One last thing, dont let the perceived difficulties stop you bringing the 2 cars over, you'd always regret it. I am so pleased I brought the 110 over.

Hope that helps,
Jon

Jon, thanks very much for that. Personal experience & recommendation is just what I'm after, I'll have a read of their website and see about quotes.

One question for you, had you owned your car for more than a year when you imported it ? I'm trying to assess what duties I'm likely to have to pay on it to get it out of customs and on the road that's all and everything I've read so far seems to relate to straight imports, not previously owned cars.

Cheers

Mike