Thread: Importing a vehicle!

I havn't Mick, but I only know of people who have.

It can be done

I believe that there's a minimum age limit (it has to be older than I think 20yrs), so your SWB County may fit.

Customs charge a motza for running a hose over it.

Let's know how you get on

Hopefully there are some real facts here:

importing a motor vehicle

I have from Canada.
Because this vehicle was built before 1989, and modifications were performed prior to 1989 it is excempt from alot of the ADR's.
You need import approval prior to importation.
The person I used did all of the paper work for me, his costs also included all duties / taxes / and any additional cleaning at customs. I think it was around $3000.00 all up.

Under his advice I did not get the vehicle steam cleaned prior to importation as he said they will decide if it is required or not. All that it had prior was a good pressure wash off.

Make sure that the vehicle is insured and that the carrier / importer has insurance as things can come loose in containers.

This Mike_S imported a G4 RRS a couple of years ago:

Importing to Aus

He might be able to help you with some info too...

You'd have to be crazy to import anything from the UK ... everything over there rusts like buggery due to the road salt. Ask anyone that's ever worked on, or owned a pommy import and you'll understand.

seeya,
Shane L.

There are stacks of threads on this topic so do a search - but the basic conclusion is that unless you are emigrating and want to bring your car with you or it is an older vehicle that you have owned and used for a year overseas it is not worth an individual importing a vehicle.

Garry

Hi,

Already a lot of good advice posted for you.

I have a friend who imported a 1938 Vauxhall from New Zealand to Brisbane a couple of years ago. This car had already been in his possession for quite few years. There was a good bit of stuffing around involved as you will find out (cleaning, customs clearances etc at either end). However, the real killer was the massive difference in quarantine and customs clearance protocol and charges between Brisbane and Sydney (seem to recall it was ~$3000) - in hindsight it would have been cheaper for him to have shipped it to Sydney and then to have trucked it to Brisbane.

I guess from that experience the only advice I can offer you is to check the port of entry charges to see if it makes much difference.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by mick88

Who has imported a vehicle from UK, NZ, SA or elsewhere?
Is it expensive and was it worth it?
I would like to bring in a SWB County!

Cheers, Mick.

Hi there.
When we arrived here, I imported my 1990 VW Golf Turbo Diesel and an Off Road Vehicle that I built. At the time it seemed like a good idea, but with hindsight probably not. The vehicles came in with all our personal effects so that offset the costs a lot. It cost is $8000 to get the container here from the UK, and a further $1500 to get it thru the 'hoops' this end! That said, I still use my diesel car every day and it costs me nothing to run as it spends a lot of time on WVO.. Re the rust, DoubleChevron has a point.. (Though the VW's are galvanised). Depends what age you want your SWB County to be, but anything more than 5/8 yrs old will be showing rust if its come from the UK. Have you thought about buying a 110 and shortening it? All you'd need out of the UK would be a roof, and rear tub... (Both under $1000, so not taxable), Juddy on here usually has container space from the UK... I also recently imported a Cummins Engine from the UK to go in my 101... The same engine in a known healthy state here would have cost me $7000/9000... I paid £480 for an engine, gearbox, gear linkage, starter, compressor etc etc. it cost me under $500 to get it from York to Adelaide, a further $600 this end in port fees, and about $400 in custom/AQIS fees... Yes, it has surface rust, but its clean, has everything else to match, runs well and cost less than half what I'd have had to pay here... Do your homework as to which way will be the most cost effective for you.. Be prepared to jump thru hoops if you import, and make sure you go thru the right channels! If you've owned the vehicle in the UK for more than a year, then it is classed as a personal import and from memory you pay a lot less tax. (Need log book/receipts etc for proof though)... Good luck!