Import Paper Work.

[ascenion24]

I take it the first step in importing would be to fill out this form, http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/form.pdf

If I am trying to import a soarer, then obviously the application would be approved and then they would send me more papers to be filled in. (as stated in the form)

Can someone please tell me about these extra papers they send, how long after this first application has been approved is it valid?

And whats the general jist of the next papers? are these the papers you fill in once you have won an auction in japan and have the date and all the details of when the car is arriving here in australia?

If theirs examples forms of all the steps I would love to see, thanks.

[raz0r$harP.UK]

Please search the process has been outlined before. I suggest you have a read of the info on J-Spec's and Prestige Motorsport's websites for the full process.

The form you've linked is the wrong one for someone trying to import a car.

[BL01]

There are actually alot more paperwork than those to fill up.

Importers normally employ custom brokers to complete those forms. Custom brokers will do all the neccessary paperwork once the vehicle arrive in Australian ports.

Correct me if i'm wrong guys as that's what i've been doing for the past imports.

Edited January 12, 2006 by BL01

[ascenion24]

All I can find on this site and the ones you linked me to (the prestige motor sport one doesnt work)

Is that they state what happens, eg you find the car through the guys in japan, then they move to the docks, import for approval happens with all the paper work yada yada yada)

Im asking to see the actual paper work.

I went to the FAQ, and it links you to this page

http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/vsb/vsb_10.aspx#4.05

Then on that page it says

"The criteria and application form for SEVS decisions and a list of all the vehicle models already assessed under the scheme are available on the Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles at:

www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/str_sevs.aspx"

So i went to that link which leads to the form I linked to in my first post, how is it the wrong form?

Edited January 12, 2006 by ascenion24

[raz0r$harP.UK]

Apologies in advance for the long post but I might as well explain as best I can for your benefit. For some reason the PM website isn't working for me either.

I'm assuming you're looking at a 30 series Soarer, built between 1990-2000. These cars are eligible for import under SEVS.

So you arrange to purchase to buy a Soarer in Japan through an agent. Buy the car and pay for it.

At the same time you should speak to a RAWS (Registered Automotive Workshop) that is eligible to comply Soarers. A list is availablehere. Contact them and check they will have no problems complying it. Then you would ask them to reserve a compliance plate for you, through an agreement / deposit / etc (depends on the shop, some you may just need to tell them).

The next step is arranging Import Approval. The RAWS is responsible for applying for this, not you. You supply the RAWS with the necessary details and they will apply to Customs, and can take approx 17 days to receive approval.

Next, the car will be shipped. The person holding the car in Japan will arrange for that, once on board it will take approx 2-3 weeks to arrive in Australia, depending on schedules / weather.

As the car is due to dock, you will need to arrange Customs and Quarantine clearance. I recommend you enlist a customs agent to handle the paperwork. You should speak to them as the ship is leaving Japan to give them plenty of time. Basically the clearance process should not go past a few days once the ship has docked in Australia. You would then pay the customs broker (they would usually consolidate all the customs and shipping costs for you), and then you would receive the paperwork to pick the car up from the dock.

The car should be transported from the docks to the RAWS (they can probably arrange that for you), compliance work should not take more than a werek or two but they would need to wait for a compliance (blue) plate to be sent from DOTARS so they can attach that to your engine bay.

Following that, pay the RAWS any sums remaining for compliance, and the car is then yours to arrange registration for.

As you can see, ia lot of the paperwork is out of your hands.

The link you provided is for a RAWS to actually apply for approval to comply those cars. It is not intended for individuals to use.

Vijay

[ascenion24]

Arh thank you, reading through the dotars website its all pretty vague on how things happen (typical government site)

I didnt know the RAWS had to arrange the import approval.

Does this mean its impossible to just import the car and tow it to your driveway, return parts to stock then take it to a RAW?

Will the RAW only comply the car if they do the import approval?

[raz0r$harP.UK]

You'd have to check that with a RAWS for those questions.

But as for once the car lands, I think you have 100 days to present it to the RAWS workshop. 'Think' being the operative word (it's been a few years since I went through SEVS).

[ascenion24]

http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/vsb/VSB10_Form.doc

You organise a RAW to give you a letter of compliance saying they will comply the car, then you fill out this form and tick PART 7, which now makes you eligable to import the car.

That sounds right now yes?

[raz0r$harP.UK]

NO!

As I said, the RAWS does all the Import Approval paperwork, not you.

[raz0r$harP.UK]

Ascension, I suggest you seek out a copy of High Performance Imports magazine, issue 55. It's got a written guide to the whole SEVS process.

Available from a newsagent if you're lucky or http://www.hpi.com.au/backissues.php

[ascenion24]

okai im learning slowly.

I spoke to a raw, they said once I buy the car in japan, I give them the car details, they organise the import approval then the car can be shipped.

Now once the car gets here, what happens with all the fees for the docks.

Who do you contact or do you get a bill automatically for stamp and gst etc because they gov already has your details from the approval from the raws.

[raz0r$harP.UK]

As the car is due to dock, you will need to arrange Customs and Quarantine clearance. I recommend you enlist a customs agent to handle the paperwork. You should speak to them as the ship is leaving Japan to give them plenty of time. Basically the clearance process should not go past a few days once the ship has docked in Australia. You would then pay the customs broker (they would usually consolidate all the customs and shipping costs for you), and then you would receive the paperwork to pick the car up from the dock.

[ascenion24]

Okai not to sound like a smart ass but do I just ring up yellowpages direct or something and ask for a "Customs broker"

Obviously not.

A little bit more detail is what im after, do you ring up the dock that the car is being shipped to and ask to talk to someone to arrange quarantine and customs.

How do you get intouch with someone that will look after the port payments.

[raz0r$harP.UK]

You just need to look in the yellow pages for a Customs Agent / Customs Broker / Freight Forwarder and speak to someone who will handle a personal (individual) car import.

You will have to obviously supply them with necessary details (what ship your car is on and port of landing, and paperwork regarding the purchase and import of your car). They will handle the rest for you including aranging for a Customs / Quarantine inspection, clearance, and payment of duties/fees.

Once the ship has docked and your car has passed through Customs, the Customs Agent will give you a call, you pay them money for all their services, and they will give you the paperwork necessary to retrieve the car from the docks.

Then the car is transported from the docks to the RAWS. Most RAWS can arrange for this step but you should talk to them.

[raz0r$harP.UK]

Seriously though mate I'm repeating the same stuff I said initially. Check out the links and references I've provided above. Contact a RAWS and ask them how they can assist you throughout the entire process. as they usually have excellent contacts.

Importing isn't a difficult process, but it can go horribly wrong if you mess it up. Which is why most people seek out the services of someone like Prestige or J-Spec. They know and can recommend people to carry out each step, and takes the pressure off you having to do it yourself for only a nominal fee.

[ascenion24]

Its okai, I just wasnt sure about the customs broker.

Like were their specific ones that look after car imports or was it something as easy as just looking up one in th pages.

Its all pretty obvious now, def not worth a grand.

[nuR.spec]

Arh thank you, reading through the dotars website its all pretty vague on how things happen (typical government site)

I didnt know the RAWS had to arrange the import approval.

Does this mean its impossible to just import the car and tow it to your driveway, return parts to stock then take it to a RAW?

Will the RAW only comply the car if they do the import approval?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

your car can onlly leave the docks with the de reg paper and import approval! the RAW applies for the import appreoval and the car comes under their business trading name! as far as taking the car to bring it bak to stokk it depends on the RAW! thats how we do it as we currently comply 30 series soarers supras prius delica and 180sx B)

[andy25]

Apologies in advance for the long post but I might as well explain as best I can for your benefit. For some reason the PM website isn't working for me either.hese cars are eligible for import under SEVS.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Razor$harp for taking the time and posting such well written response, It makes things alot easier to understand when people make the effort to write it out in steps like that