Thread: Can I import a car from Uk without owning it for 1 year??

While the Aust car may be worth $59,000 the imported on will be worth a lot less than the Aust sold product - insuring it will be also an issue as mainstream insurance companies are reluctant to insure imported cars - though I never had a problem with my Jag.

Also how much rust is in the UK car - it will be there.

Garry

Be prepared to pay for:
freight and insurance (for the transport of the goods to Australia);
customs duties, GST and LCT, if applicable;
storage and delivery charges;
logistic services providers' charges;
customs brokers' charges;
entry processing charges;
steam cleaning for quarantine purposes;
other wharf and transport charges; and
any costs involved in having your road vehicle meet State or Territory registration and insurance requirements.

I added this up, for a $70,000 camper, new from Germany, (RHD) it would end up costing me another $20,000 before I could drive away... still cheaper yes, but a hell of a lot of hassle. (Here, the same camper costs about $115,000...)

Look here for more info: importing a motor vehicle
and: http://www.aqis.gov.au/

Eligibility Criteria

Originally Posted by Vin Rouge

I've recently imported my Defender from the UK and found that the checks on ownership were tight. You need the registration documents in your name to prove the one year ownership, not just a receipt. Not heard anything about the over 14 years bit but mine is 15 years old and I still had to prove ownership.

Also, be prepared to be stitched up when it arrives in Australia. I was charged additional clearance fees because there were spares in the vehicle, then it was another $650 for steam cleaning (they claimed that nearly all vehicles needed it) which just wasn't done. After that there's fees for a compliance plate, safety check plate (real joke that one after having experience of the UK's MOT) then first registration, etc. It seems to go on for ever.

Best of luck.

Yeah But driving a car no one else has and most want

PRICELESS


Sent from my iPhone

You are supposed to own and USE the vehicle overseas for the prescribed period. You must prove that you were there. Check the commonwealth departments web site. Instructions are simple and explicit. Best way to get an import is get a pre 1989 model in right hand drive or a thirty year old in left hook.

Don't even thjink about importing a dismantled vehicle and assembling here. When you go to register it you have to show the import approval.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

You are supposed to own and USE the vehicle overseas for the prescribed period. You must prove that you were there. Check the commonwealth departments web site. Instructions are simple and explicit. Best way to get an import is get a pre 1989 model in right hand drive or a thirty year old in left hook.

Don't even thjink about importing a dismantled vehicle and assembling here. When you go to register it you have to show the import approval.

I had to copy every page of my passport and send it off with the application so it proved I was living with the car for over 12 months. Which I had as I had lived with the car for 4 years

But I did all the paper work myself and found it easy and would do it again

Not as difficult as some may make it out to be ( normally these are by people who have never done it or tried it )

As for cleaning I was told before I got my car here that 99.99999999% of cars will be cleaned when they get here. Even says that in a moving to Aus book I got about 6 years ago

Easiest part by far was the compliance. They just checked the engine number and chassis number mached the paper work and the seat belts and glass were kite marked
And that was it all done in 5 mons took longer to do the modifation plate and attc it to the car

Yeah I wish I had now brought in my other 90


Sent from my iPhone

Aren't there sellers on ebay who sell restored and unrestored imported cars all the time? Obviously the buyers of these do not own them for 12 months prior to importing them. Is there something they aren't telling us as buyers or do the rules differ when importing from the UK and USA?

Most notable are the mobs in Indonesia and India selling the "restored" Vespa scooters that come with paperwork and are delivered to the port of your choice. Apart from the fact that sometimes the repairs/restorations are less than satisfactory, I know of a few people who have imported these and with the provided paperwork have had no trouble registering.

Isnt there different rules for vintage/collectibles compared to mainstream vehicles????
Andrew

Actually you can import a vehicle built prior to January 1st 1989. See section 5 of the attached document.

HTH

Ivan