Mod Plate Required?

[ultimatekenz]

i am in QLD and about to buy a car thats been complied but never registered in aus, i rang up qld transport and they said that the car needs a mod plate (waiting on seller's reply if it has one) then after a mod plate is done, i need to apply for a personal import plate. Reason for asking is that i researched around and some states may not require a mod plate (correct me if im wrong). And QLD requirements seem to be more complicated.

thanks

Edited September 18, 2006 by ultimatekenz

[Sambo33gtst]

Hey mate,

Half the time the queensland transport have no idea what they are talking about in regards to imports and under what scheme it was brought into australia through.

A personal import plate is only required when the car WAS owned by the person importing it in the country of origin for 12 or more months. So first off ask the owner whether that was the case (if he owned it in japan first)

Im putting money on the case that he bought the car through a broker or privately in japan, imported it, complied it, and has not registered it for one reason or another. This means he imported it under the SEVS ruling, meaning it has to undergo compliancing to ADR specifications...to check this, pop the bonnet, and somewhere in the engine bay should be a 10cmx8cm purple plate with the chassis/VIN number and engine number on it along with a few other things, this is the compliance plate. And if thats there, then all that is needed is a roadworthy/safey certificate for that car, the Queensland CTP insurance to be paid, and you can then register it.

Mod plate wise...i dont see why it should need a mod plate. Considering it has been complied, it should have been brought back to standard ready for registration. If it has been changed back to have a lot of aftermarket parts, or whatever...then maybe ull need a mod plate. But i dont see why you should at all need one.

But yeah, id be cautious is to why he has imported, complied it...and is now selling it..? Get a FULL mechanical inspection before handing over the cash!!

Any questions or ur not clear on what i just said, let me know

EDIT: Also, make sure you get the original papers for Import Approval for the car, AND the papers for deregistration in Japan. However dereg wont be too important seeing its already been complied. Just be very careful.

Edited September 19, 2006 by Sambo33gtst

[nsanity]

just adding that my compliance plate is actually green, not purple.

[Sambo33gtst]

just adding that my compliance plate is actually green, not purple.

Different import scheme.

[nsanity]

Different import scheme.

noted - but it may be handy to list all the things he could be looking for on the vehicle.

[ultimatekenz]

Thanks guys, when i went to check out the car, the engine bay did not have a compliance plate but a engraved/stamped compliance number on the driver side strut arear. I found that weird so i rang dotars in regards to the car and they said i was imported under the old scheme where a compliance plate was not required. And dotars was also helpful to give me the import approval number for the car.

Ringing QLD transport on the other hand was a pain, but they just told me to bring the car into a service place and they will inspect the car and issue a mod plate. THEN i will have to fax some papers to melb to apply for a personal import plate, after that then i will be able to register the car.

they emphasised on the fact that the car needed a mod plate before it can touch the road at all. Is everything mentioned true?

thanks

[someonestolecc]

You shouldn't need a mod plate if it has been complied and stock.

But that's kinda how it was for me in NSW, the mod plate equivalent here is the engineers report. Basically you can choose to get it if you want less hassles later but it's more of a car modification thing than it is for strictly for imported cars.

[Sambo33gtst]

ok if it was imported under dotars, and has been complied under the 15 year ruling. You do not need a mod plate, nor do u need a personal import plate. at all. nothing.

You should be able to drive it up for inspection, theyll check the vin# and engine # to the compliance stamping, and register the car.

Like i said, a personal import plate is only needed if you owned the car in japan previously, moved to aus, then imported the car yourself. You don't need one. I got told the same story when i went to rego my 33.

All you need to take to the inspection are as follows:

Car.

Safety Cert (roadworthy).

Import Approval Papers.

Invoice proving u have paid your Qld CTP Insurance (go to an AAMI branch - should cost you $290)

once they have inspected the car, you will then pay registration fees and stamp duty...normally around $600-$700)

[ultimatekenz]

The engine has been changed, will i have problems with that during inspection? Also is there anyone i can ring to check whether the car is truly complianced or not? and who should i ring to confirm that i do not need a mod plate or personal import plate since the car was imported under the old scheme, so i wont have any troubles when i do take the car in for inspection.

thanks alot

ken

[Sambo33gtst]

Ok, you will not need a mod plate if the compliance was done to that engine code.

To check if the compliance was done correctly you will need to get in contact with DOTARS, look em up on the web

And like i said before, u dont need a personal import plate unless u were the registered owner of the car in japan or wherever.

Edited September 21, 2006 by Sambo33gtst

[someonestolecc]

What sambo said.

To clarify - if the engine was done in Japan and complianced with that engine then you have no problem. If it was changed in Aus you'll need a plate.

[ultimatekenz]

thanks, ill let the seller know. Is it wise to try and get him to get the mod plate done or is it easy enough for me to get it done?

by the way, you guys have been very helpful. Hopefully ill be wrx > GTR convert.

[Sambo33gtst]

Yep, it would be very wise to get him to do the mod plate as a condition of sale to you. (if it is needed) Because this way, he (the seller) knows what he is getting the mod plate(s) for. Whereas he could just tell you what he has done, you go get the mod plate for that, he has missed something he has modded, gets left out, and you may get pinned for it down the track if u you go to make an accident claim.

It seems like a whole lot of jargen, running around and heaps of conflicting stories...but its totally worth it, if you take ur time and do everything correct the first time.

Let us know if you run into any troubles.

Edited September 22, 2006 by Sambo33gtst

[ultimatekenz]

just to clarify, i asked him whether the new engine needed a mod plate and he replied saying that his mechanic said a mod plate is not needed if its still the same engine type (rb26dett). But the engine i beleive is from a 96 r33, is what his mechanic saying true? or a mod plate is definately needed?

thanks again guys

[Sambo33gtst]

Hmmm, tough one. I actually don't know the answer to this one.

However, with an engine swap, even if it is the same type of engine....there is about 6 numbers proceeding the rb26dett part of it that make it unique to the car's VIN/Chassis number...soo with that, it'd be borderline.

I think u'd get away with it.

[hobbsy]

you dont normally need a mod plate if you just replace the engine with another one thats essentially the same