PeteD

I know it's pretty random as to whether you get charged for disinfecting/cleaning a car but I got my car through AQIS without being billed for a 'cleaning job'. Just thought I'd share where and how I cleaned. Basically, I cleaned the inside to within a inch of its life, all carpets hoovered, seats hoovered, panels wiped down,etc; not a hair or spec of dirt anywhere in sight especially around the pedals; also replaced the floor mats. (maybe overkill on the interior, but hey, the car is like new inside and that's where I sit when using it!) Also double check for any dead bugs hiding at the bottom of the windscreen/rear window - even the sight of one will get you marked for cleaning. Outside, standard wash job on the exterior. Then I focussed on areas of the entry/exit cavities ... the areas between the seen exterior and interior, like door sills, pillars, boot sills, engine sills ... got all the dirt out of there. Next the windscreen drainage points, always leaves in this area; cleaned and scrubbed. Then finally got the handy home jetwash out and gave a good blast to the radiator, any frontal areas likely to collect bugs, the engine, and a wild 10 minute random spraying underneath to try and dislodge any dirt or muck which had collected. Finally, jetwashed the wheel arches till the water ran clean (took ages as mine were felt sound dampers), and then liberally sprayed jeyes in them. Can't say it's a recipe for success, but it worked for me and basically only cost me a few hours effort. I wasn't about to pay a professional carwash/vallet service - I know a few get a professional valet and think it's good enough, but I doubt any valet services go to quite the effort I went to in seeking out and removing dirt from the small unseen cavities in which it can collect. I figured a good home clean which cost effectively nothing was better than paying a UK company, considering I had a 90% chance of having to pay again at AQIS. Good luck all those still trying to get through AQIS charge free. Cheers P

Thanks both, will do.

Hi all, Hope you can shed some light on the Australian Customs Service AQIS form. Just looking to fill in the AQIS 'Unaccompanied personal effects statement' where they ask if you're bringing in a car ... They ask for description, 'price or estimated price $AUS' and date .... Are they asking for original purchase price (converted to $), current market value in UK (converted to $), a rough redbook guide, or is it the value you get from having it assessed when you get to Aus (in which case do I leave it blank for now)? If it's either of the first two presumably I can use current exchange rates? Not sure what to put down ... Any help gratefully received. Thanks

Shipping cars and parts of cars and the infrastructure/customs hoops you have to jump through are enough to make the mind boggle ... Check out this thread by Iron Chef http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/transport-shipping/138727-worth-bringing-my-car-iron-ladys-trusty-new-calculator-reveals-all.html Leave your info there ... Sometimes takes a day or two (Iron Chef has a life too!), but you get your answer P

If you're planning to bring it in under the Personal Imports Scheme (PIS), the eligibility is: Ref : http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_vehicles/general/pdf/VSB10_info_brochure_july_2011.pdf Criteria, ownership of the vehicle Applicants must satisfy each of the following ownership requirements. You must: • own the vehicle when submitting the application; and • have acquired ownership of the vehicle from overseas; and • have owned the vehicle while overseas; and • have owned the vehicle for a continuous period of at least 12 months. This is the “qualifying period”. The qualifying period must have occurred immediately before you (permanently) arrived in Australia. Criteria, use of the vehicle The vehicle must have been available to you for use in transport. This means that the vehicle must have been available to be driven by you, at all times during the 12 month qualifying period. The vehicle should be registered (in your name) and garaged (proximate to your residence) throughout the 12 month qualifying period, so that you could, if needed, drive the vehicle. In addition, you must have held an appropriate licence to drive the vehicle overseas. Normal import costs are 5% duty and another 10% GST, calculated based on a valuation made in Australia. From what I've been led to believe, this valuation is generally lower than second hand prices advertised on redbook.com.au. Ref: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4371.asp#duty http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ValuationImportedRoadVehicles.pdf Hope this helps P

Cheers squire, they already did the sneaky buggars ... 21 days ago! I'm gonna do me some infrastructure bod huntin' .... Not having any joy on shipping companies though, seems they're fine with complete cars, but they run a mile as soon as they see a kit car chassis/body with no suspension. Too much effort for them methinks P

Hi Iron Chef, Quick one, I applied for my PIS vehicle permit on 9 Feb, which is around 18 working days ago. How long should I give the dept before I start chasing them? I don't want to harass them unnecessarily, but at the same time I'm keen to see my paperwork arrive. Cheers P

Mwahahaha (evil grin) ... cheers for that, just managed to track down my sticker (black, on the inside of the bonnet just behind the latch on a E92 3 series beemer) ... It's R134a, I'm sending the vehicle in a container along with personal effects, so I feel pretty assured with everyone's comments now that I've just saved a de-gas and re-gas. Cheers P

If you find one, please let me know, I was asking around for one too. I did find this site though .... http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/ozone/licences/vehicle-import.html Documentary evidence may include: A statement issued by the Manufacturer/Supplier (on appropriate letterhead) stating that the equipment is degassed. The statement be dated and signed by the Manufacturer/Supplier representative, and must include the equipment details such as make, model, serial number, etc; or A degassing certificate issued by a qualified Airconditioning/Refrigeration Technician, attesting that the degassing has been undertaken in accordance with the regulations of the country of origin. The degassing certificate must be dated and signed and contain the contact details of the Technician who performed the work; and must include the details of the equipment being degassed such make, model and VIN / Chassis / Serial number, etc. If the department is satisfied with the documentary evidence supplied, it will approve the release of the equipment without the need for a PCE licence, subject to Customs usual requirements being met. Hope this helps P

Hi Steve, Thanks for the info, brilliant. And thanks for the post detailing your journey through WA red tape, really helpful. My car is also a beemer, a 325 coupe, 2006 E92, also bound for Perth. Hopefully then, it should have no issues with the gas in the air-con. As for import agents, I have no idea where to start looking for one, any chance you could PM the name and contact details of yours? Thanks again Pete

Hi Ironchef, Quick question, can I apply for the approval online or via email with attachments or does it have to be snail mail? Also, when it asks for address on the form, I read something about putting the address of a friend in Aus so they can despatch the paperwork there. Should I put an Aus address or my present one in England? You also mention you can send a form for evidencing de-gassing? Thanks Pete

Cheers for that, you might want to change the link at the bottom of your signature, it links to Iron Chef even though it says Iron Lady ...

Hi Iron Chef, I see on your website .... The cost of replacement tyres (which must be done during compliance) is not generally included in a “landed and complied” quote, mainly because the cost depends what tyres you prefer. Why do I have to change tyres? What's the logic behind this one? Can I import my own set of brand new never used tyres and store them in the car during import? Also, apart from my daily use car, if my kit car has never been run, but has a set of rims & tyres which have never been used, never been mounted, do I need to replace them too? Thanks P

Hi, I'm in a similar(ish) situation with a Dax Tojiero De-Dion (Cobra MkII). I want to ship it along with my daily car but it's a one car per person limit so I'm forced to break it down if I want to move both (not that I've finished it yet! but it does have the running gear in). If this is the only vehicle you're shipping, you may not have to. So far I've uncovered these snippets. http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4371.asp#kits Importations of road vehicle kits including disassembled or partly disassembled road vehicles are subject to an assessment made by Infrastructure. If you wish to import a road vehicle kit, you must submit a full application to Infrastructure with all the relevant information. Infrastructure will assess the application and determine if a VIA is required. If a VIA is not required for your road vehicle kit, Infrastructure will advise you in writing. It is important to note that State and Territory registration authorities may not register a reassembled road vehicle or a road vehicle kit for use on public roads without a valid VIA. http://www.customs.gov.au/site/content2304.asp Precedent No. 15439800 relates to bodies for passenger motor vehicles for the purposes of subheading 8707.10.91. For these goods to be considered as parts they must be imported with at least the engine, transmission and all wheels and axles removed and these components must not be shipped on the same vessel; The duties on the specifics of unassembled/partially assembled kit cars and parts seems a bit grey on their webite, may be worth enquiring giving your personal circumstances. Hope this helps, please let me know anything else you found out .... P

Care to elaborate? What type of sports cars are we talking about? Vintage, replicas, modern day? Ownership period? thanks P

LOL ... he's not the first person to offer to look after it ... still needs a fair amount of work to finish it though ... I would have thought a new(ish) good spec Freelander in good nick would be worth a fair amount there still, so would be financially viable ... Cheers P

Awesome thread, thanks .... Question: When does a car become a car? I'm in the process of building an AC Cobra replica, I could finish it before I go, or I could ship the parts and finish it there. It's never been registered or on the road in UK. I also wanted to take my 2006 BMW 325 SE, as I could probably only get £10k here but it looks like it's worth $35k-40k there. Any info would be appreciated so I can start to work out how best to approach this. Thanks P