Importing a car from the UK

[ninjanicky]

With the visa process taking so long and the summer well on its way, we decided to buy a VW camper to see a little of UK before we go to OZ. So it was typical we get a case officer on wednesday!!!!!
Anyway we have only had the camper a month and have had so much fun we are looking into importing it to OZ when we go.
Does anyone know how it works to import a car and if you have had to have the car for a length of time and roughly what it costs?

[trixabella]

We Looked Into Taking Our Car, But In The End Decided Against It
It Supossed To Be Alot Of Hassle And Isnt Worth It Cost Wise
You Have Got To Have Been The Registered Owner Of The Vehicle For 12 Months
Im Sure If You Search It On Here You Will Find Lots More Info

[Lanky Lad]

I seem to be following your around with answers!

I dont know the real nitty gritty, but common answer is get rid in UK !
I had a Rover and normally bin a car when its gets to MOT time - but because we did not want to buy another car we kept it......until a computer fault did not tell me it was running out of oil. I found out as the engine poured itself down the exhaust on the M6!
I bought a Volvo A40 - thinking it would re-sell again easy (!) talked to our shipping agent about it and he pointed outthat Aussies take dim view of any vehicle you have NOT owned for at least 12 months prior to shipping. So they wack more tax on it.
next thing to consider is you have UK MPH and even if you Km ..there are smaller and on the inside of Speedo...so re-selling in Oz aint easy.
Also...because its an import your insurance is higher and I read on BE that this happens even if you live next door to the main importer of that model!

If you are going to use a shipping agent, ask about the cost, for my Rover at quote it was about £2500.

I have the same dilema, A smart Volvo with only 30k on the clock. for a cash sale I will get a low price unless I am lucky to find a private buyer, so its case of offsetting low price on sale against cost of shipping.

L.L.

[T-bone]

Originally Posted by ninjanicky

With the visa process taking so long and the summer well on its way, we decided to buy a VW camper to see a little of UK before we go to OZ. So it was typical we get a case officer on wednesday!!!!!
Anyway we have only had the camper a month and have had so much fun we are looking into importing it to OZ when we go.
Does anyone know how it works to import a car and if you have had to have the car for a length of time and roughly what it costs?

Hiya,

Many people have considered exporting their vehicle when the emigrate, and most people decide against it.

This link may help with your decision making process. I don't know anything about this company, so I cannot vouch for them, however they do have a very useful excel spreadsheet which works out the costs for you.

Car shipping by Karman Shipping Ltd. • Australia

Tony

[7gotooz]

Hi - G* *****`s gave us a quote for a 40ft high cube shipping crate which will fit our 7 seater toyota people carrier & all our furniture & stuff for £6,700 - & £6,200 for a normal 40ft without the van in it.

You have get a `formal customs entry form` & it is subject to customs duty - the duty is calculated on the cutoms value of the vehicle on the following basis:

if the vehicle was purchsed after 2nd March 1998, take the purchase price of vehicle and add value of any modifications or improvements - the resulting figure is then converted into Aus$ - The Value of Taxable Importation (VOT) is calculated on the basis of the custome value + customs duty (10%)

there is some relief given to those who have owned the vehicle 12 months & you are or have applied to be a Permenant Resident & its the only vehicle you have imported within that year - but I cant find out how much that is yet?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So I`m guessing that if our van cost £1000 + 10% that would give me the cost of the duty & a bit off for being a PR - its only £500 more for the higher crate to fit it in & the shippers charge £150 to steam clean it to a standard acceptable by Oz - so it would be less than £2000 to import & a 2nd hand one there would cost much more?

I think in our case its worth taking & our shippers said it would be delivered to us with the contents of our crate within 10-12 weeks

Take care

Rachel

[gary12]

Hi

I had thought about shipping my Volvo out when we go next year. The problem we found though during our trip was that there were very few volvo garages and so I worried about the cost of spares/repairs etc.

I think that is another thing you need to consider is how easy it is to get spares or repairs done.

For me it wasn't worth it. Do a search on shipping cars, I have a feeling most thought it not worth it.

best wishes
Michelle