Importing A Tvr

[Betz]

Hi,

I may have the chance to go to europe for an (hopefully) extended period of time and if so would buy a car, namely a TVR T350c

I would want to bring it back,

Anyone know how bringing in one of these beasts can be done?

Rough costs? Hoops I need to jump thru?

Many thanks for any help and understanding

[Guest]

TVR's are the go for personal imports, no problem to register have done a couple over here. High maintenance car with issues but worth a big dollar over here compared to UK prices.

I have had dealings with the person approved under SEVS as he wanted to import under RAWS which wont happen but learnt a lot about them.

[Betz]

Cool, ok so a TVR can be done..

My basic browsing of the standards suggests I have to own the car as an ex pat for 12months?

It would be a personal import and I would be in europe for a while but 12 months is a bit to long to be sure if it is worth investing in the car when I get there

[CT9W]

Pretty much any car can be done with a personal import. I imagine it's the same procedures required in Japan. DOTARS will need a lot of documentation - you're lucky in that you won't need to have any of it translated. You are only allowed 6 weeks out of country where the car is...any more than that you will need to provide legitimate reasons for, and it gives DOTARS grounds to knock you back.

Once you get it back in Oz, you will have to go through the steps of getting a personal import plate from Victoria, and have a workshop fit it, as well as fixing some minor safety stuff.

[Betz]

Ok, so far so good,

Car would be purchaced in the UK before or on arrival, I would tour europe with it and have any work done by TVR specialist before bringing it back, would it be an issue if I moved the car to asia for 6months? It would be with me the whole time is what I am saying I guess

[CT9W]

No...have you read the DOTARS site yet?

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_vehicles/general/personal_imports.aspx

Particular the links on the right, Eligibility Criteria first:

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_vehicles/general/EligibilityCriteria_2.aspx

Purchase documents will have to be in your name. UK might have a different arrangement to Japan due to being so close to EU, but I doubt you could move it to another country, unless you are just taking it for a weekend to Nurburgring or something. It has to be in the country for 12 months, and so do you (with only a few exceptions).

[Betz]

Yep I've browsed the criteria its just I am not 100% sure I can be in the UK for a full 12months,

The way I read the criteria the car needs to be rego'd etc and available to drive but doesnt state it needs to be in the same country for the entire 12months. (As long as it is with me and available to drive?)

Depending on finances I would want to be in the UK/Europe for a minimum of 6 months then Vietnam for 6 months.

I guess I should ring them and clarify, a T350c + 4.3L rebuild will come in at around $40k AU, I dont want to get this wrong lol

[lidz]

haha your seriously considering taking a tvr to veitnam??? crazy!

A T350 was recently up on carsales for over $90k, gone in like a month. If the budget can stretch though get the sagaris.

[Betz]

Yea why not, it would be epic!

Besides, the TVR should be quicker than a landmine mechinisim if I run over one!

[CT9W]

Yup, best to call DOTARS and ask yourself, but if you and the car aint overseas in one single country for 12 consistent months, I don't like your chances.

[Iron Chef]

It's fine to leave the country during the 12 month period. If it's longer than about 10 days, then you'd need to own the car longer to make up for any time spent overseas, but that's only if you don't use the car during that time.

[CT9W]

They've made it 10 days now? It used to be 6 weeks...I provided a full itinerary of a 2 week overseas trip when doing my previous import, just to cover my butt.

[Iron Chef]

Yeah it's gradually being cut down.