Hypothetical: Time Frame To Comply A Car

[Nismo_Boy]

If I were to import a car that was on the list of *RAWS/SEVS? compliable imports, however choose not too do it straight away, what is the time frame I have to get it done by?

What happens when that window of time runs out? And do I even have to go ahead with compliance if I choose to keep the car for off road use only?

thanks

*what ever the new system is called.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Nismo_Boy

[Iron Chef]

You have 12 months from when it enters the country to get it complied. After that, the RAW (and you) would need to do some fast talking or face having the car crushed/exported.

[Nismo_Boy]

Thanks vrfour

[kakimoto33]

This is only the case for normal compliance cars which are imported and not presented for compliance within 12 months ... vehicles imported as the initial test car and other special exemptions apply as long as DOTARS are aware of the situation. Most workshop will ask for the car to be moved directly to them from the ports anyway, but if you make arrangements for the car to be moved elsewhere first then you should let the workshop know as they could get annoyed if they have a plate set aside for you and have your approval cancelled otherwise.

Personally I would suggest only importing a car once you have the funds to get it complied because you can't do anything with it anyway, and car prices are always dropping so if you can't afford compliance for another 6 months then you might get a cheaper car at the time.

[Nismo_Boy]

Thanks Craig,

Was more of a hypothetical situation to just bring an eligible car over (an never end up complying it) and just use it for off road use, as I only hold a level 2 CAMS license, not a Circuit Racing/Level 3 CAMS license.

But if the consequences after the 12month window is crushed/exported it’s not worth the effort.

Thanks.

[Beer Baron]

why not just comply it but never register it? it's not like compliance costs a huge amount of money. plus then when you want to sell it you will have a car that is actually saleable and worth something as opposed to an unregisterable car. there is no law that says you must register it once it's complied. and then down the track whoever wants to register it just needs a blue slip and away they go.

[Nismo_Boy]

why not just comply it but never register it? it's not like compliance costs a huge amount of money. plus then when you want to sell it you will have a car that is actually saleable and worth something as opposed to an unregisterable car. there is no law that says you must register it once it's complied. and then down the track whoever wants to register it just needs a blue slip and away they go.

The sheer cost in removing items and replacing them, plus compliance cost then converting it all back to its modified state isn’t financially feasible (in my mind).

Now knowing, there is a 12 month window, it’s just cheaper for me to look locally for something close to what I want and adapting it to suit my needs. Or apply for my Circuit Racing license and just do the required number of events I believe is stipulated from CAMS

[Iron Chef]

This is only the case for normal compliance cars which are imported and not presented for compliance within 12 months ... vehicles imported as the initial test car and other special exemptions apply as long as DOTARS are aware of the situation. Most workshop will ask for the car to be moved directly to them from the ports anyway, but if you make arrangements for the car to be moved elsewhere first then you should let the workshop know as they could get annoyed if they have a plate set aside for you and have your approval cancelled otherwise.

Personally I would suggest only importing a car once you have the funds to get it complied because you can't do anything with it anyway, and car prices are always dropping so if you can't afford compliance for another 6 months then you might get a cheaper car at the time.

Good point, and agree totally on the last part. I've heard of test cars go past the 12 month mark, sometimes DoTaRS chase it up, sometimes they don't - if there's a legit reason for the delay then they let it slide. I don't think "using it as a race car" would probably fall into the legit reason category.

Thanks Craig,

Was more of a hypothetical situation to just bring an eligible car over (an never end up complying it) and just use it for off road use, as I only hold a level 2 CAMS license, not a Circuit Racing/Level 3 CAMS license.

But if the consequences after the 12month window is crushed/exported it’s not worth the effort.

Thanks.

Don't be totally put off by the level of your CAMS licence. In the case of drifting, DoTaRS will be more interested in your racing background, what car you're buying and what competitions you plan to enter with it. Because the national comp only requires level 2 licences, I've brought a couple in through race/rally with level 2 licences, but both were experienced competitors at a state level wanting to move up into Super Drift or Drift Australia.

[kakimoto33]

Don't be totally put off by the level of your CAMS licence. In the case of drifting, DoTaRS will be more interested in your racing background, what car you're buying and what competitions you plan to enter with it. Because the national comp only requires level 2 licences, I've brought a couple in through race/rally with level 2 licences, but both were experienced competitors at a state level wanting to move up into Super Drift or Drift Australia.

Errrr.. actually I would not want to give anyone the impression that you will get a race/rally (or drift) import approval without a level 3 (national level) CAMS licence ... other than what you are saying I personally can't recall hearing of anyone ever getting approval with only a level 2 licence even for drifting. On the other hand I have heard of dozens who were rejected specifically because they don't have a level 3 licence regardless of other details provided.

By my understanding DOTARS want to know that you are active in motorsport and dedicated, going to the time, effort and expense of getting a level 3 licence shows this but everyone knows that you can get a level 2 licence and enter a couple of drift events to get basic motorsport evidence within a month or two and for a cost of less than $200 ... I doubt DOTARS would approve a race import on this basis unless you had a massive amount of drift experience and could show that you were actively drifting in a national series, etc.

Race imports are supposed to be for large national level events, not club events or occasional use, so you would have to prove well that it's more that just a hobby. Anyone that has any doubts should call DOTARS on 1800 815 272 to be shot down before getting excited at the possibility of being able to import a modified car for drifting.

On the issue of importing a modified car under the SEVS compliance laws for using for race only, you just can't do it without being hassled by DOTARS down the track, so I would strongly suggest against trying it. One idea would be to import a heavily modified car and strip off all the parts, then crush the body and hand back the tags to the compliance workshop - they may still want payment from you as it will use one of their approvals for nothing, but you can discuss the option with some workshops and see what they say.

Otherwise have the car stripped in Japan and shipped as parts. This requires major stripping and shipping the body in a seperate container to the rest of the car, so will cost thousands more than normal import plus the time and effort needed to try and put it back together in Australia.

Probably the best option is to just find someone with a level 3 licence and the necessary motorsport history who hasn't imported a race car within the past 12 months and ask them to get import approval for you - there are literally 1000's of guys out there in other motorsport categories who have no intention of ever importing a car for race use, so you can most likely get someone to help out for a small fee which although bending the rules still keeps it legal and easy.

[Iron Chef]

I only said it was possible, not that it was easy Both competitors had a fairly extensive competition history, backed up by letters from series organisers and magazine articles etc.

I've seen examples of all the other options you've listed too. The nasty side is that wreckers have apparently been bringing in cars that are nowhere near compliable, then claiming the wreck back off the unsuspecting RAWs who waste a plate on it when they reject it...

Interestingly enough, a couple of businesses (who do used parts, coincidentally) are claiming to have been given approval by DoTaRS to bring in race/rally vehicles without any paperwork at all, in order to sell, so I'd be very curious to know what the approval is...

Edited May 17, 2008 by vrfour

[Nismo_Boy]

Thanks for the advice guys, I don’t drift. I’m involved with hill climbs, sprints and motorkhana’s. Obviously club level, but I’ve been doing it on and off for years and was involved with establishing a local hill climb here.

So on merits alone, don’t think I’d scrap in without the correct CAMS license for race only import.

Thanks for your help

[kakimoto33]

In your case I would suggest just asking around at the events you attend, there is likely to be people there who have the correct level licence and might be happy to help you out for a few hundred dollars for themselves which is still less than the deposit you would have to pay a compliance workshop to even get import approval that way.