Thread: Jap Discos in Aus

Originally Posted by garrycol

Sorry to come in late here - but why can you not privately import a Disco from Japan but you can privately import a Disco from the UK - if I remember correctly an AULRO member has a private UK import. Surely if the rules prevent some models coming in from Japan because they are on the government's list of approved cars then the same rule prevent private import of the same model from the UK.

Do the "rules" also stipulate what country cars can be imported from?

Garry

The country doesn't matter but you have to live with the car for a time. I thought it was a year...

Originally Posted by clean32

http://www.googlesyndicatedsearch.co...&start=10&sa=N

Cool... at 9.7 I was close

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

The country doesn't matter but you have to live with the car for a time. I thought it was a year...

That is not the issue here - reading back through the posts I formed the view that a Disco cannot be imported from Japan as a private import as it is not on the "list" and as a result can only be imported as parts or as a half cut.

Originally Posted by pando

From the research I have done so far, if it's not on the SEVS list, it cannot be imported, won't even get past customs. Also, anything that was delivered in quantities in Australia as a factory vehicle cannot not be imported, or so I'm told. I asked why then can R32 skylines be imported, as they were an Aust. delivered vehicle, but apparently because the aust. delivered was in such small quantities and considered a "specialist" vehicle that jap versions were allowed to be imported, but that was back in the day, rules have changed since then, or so I'm told.

Dollars from what I've worked out make sense, just going to take some time, a bit more research and maybe there is a way, possibly. This all started as a bit of an idea I had while surfing the net, starting to think it maybe worth pursuing.

Might get in touch with DOTARS, see what the go is from the horses mouth.

Thanks Guys.

Sorry Garry,

May have lead you up the path a bit.

Country doesn't matter, and when I posted that I didn't understand the situation as throughly as I do now.

The SEVS list contains vehicles that are allowed to be imported via the RAW (registered workshops) scheme into Australia. The list of "mods" that already needs to be completed to get these vehicles through ADR testing is already known, and is completed by these workshops, who then apply for a new compliance plate through one of the government registered badge stampers. They then sell the vehicle onto you as an Australian complianced and delivered vehicle.

You, as an individual or a company, have to apply to get your vehicle placed onto the list. This costs bulk dollars, and would need to be recouped over several vehicles to make your money back. There is also another list of vehicles (I'm presuming) that have been applied for and knocked back, with varying reasons but mostly (AFAIR) "vehicle available in volume in Australia" or word to that effect. Although there are a few that do not comply with the ADRs.

SO your vehicle you want is not on the SEVS list? There seems to be a couple of options left.

1. If you have lived overseas and have owned the vehicle for a full 12 month period you can import it as a private import. Proof of ownership and proof you were living in the same country as the vehicle needs to be provided.

2. Letter of compliance from the manufacturer or their representative stating that the vehicle was made in accordance with the applicable ADRs at the time of manufacture. It states on the DOTARS site that this is a pretty rare case, and apparently a pretty difficult step to take.

I'll need to check the site again, but I'm pretty sure points 1 & 2 you are only allowed to import 1 vehicle every 12 months.

3. The vehicle already has an Australian compliance plate fitted. This is for when people send their vehicles overseas for competition or work.

4. Was your vehicle made before jan 1st 1989? Go nuts if it was, nothing stopping you with older vehicles. I read somewhere that it was 15 years, but the form definitely states 1989.

5. Vehicles made wholly and solely for off road or competition work can be imported, below is straight from the DOTARS website.....

Note: Before a Vehicle Import Approval may be issued for a vehicle, it is first necessary to determine whether the vehicle is a 'road vehicle' for the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act). For the purposes of the Act, 'road vehicle' means:

a motor vehicle designed solely or principally for the transport on public roads of people, animals or goods; or
a motor vehicle that is permitted to be used on public roads

This says to me that even if I wanted to import a disco, not register it and turn it into a competition truck, or it may already be that way, i cannot as it was a originally designed as a road vehcile, and to get it in i would need to follow one of the steps outlined above.

The link below is to the application form that needs to be filled out to import a vehicle into australia, it reads a bit like a flow chart. It states at the bottom that if you answer no to all the questions then your vehicle cannot be imported, so don't bother sending the 50 bucks application fee. Once i read the form it started to make a hell of a lot more sense to me.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...B10_Form09.pdf

I hope i have cleared up any confusion that I created with my earlier posts, and not told you guys how to suck eggs either.

Thanks Guys, keep up the banter.....

Thanks for that - has clarified my query.

The rules really have not changed that much in the last 30 years or so - I imported my jag in the early 80s from the UK and the rules then were pretty much the same as now.

Cheers

Garry

in you know any thing about japans vehicle testing requirements and the average cost to keep a car on the roads over there, then you would know that ( apart from commercials) that winding back the speedo is not really necessary.
besides a AA check will sort that out.

Philip i assume you are not of the age where you were driving or owning vehicles in the early 80s or 70s in NZ

I do know the Japanese system of Shaiken. And some cars do actually get driven a fair way, and a 50KK car there is a lot more tired than a 50KK car here.

Er then why do this mob offer Jap odometer certification at a cost I presume?

AutoTerminal - Distributor of Used Japanese vehicles in New Zealand - Home


The major scandal apparently happened in 1997. How time flies. However I do recall something more recent but if you want a Stat dec I decline.

Maybe because I am of an age that I drove in NZ in 1973 . It was a lovely Austin 1300 that overheated whenever the wind blew from the left which was often. And an early Corolla. I do not know the point but yes I recall the motoring museum that NZ was back then.

BUT that does not mean open slather on grey imports is justified.
Regards Philip A