Personal Car Import Info Needed

[ausdrift]

OK, So ive been in Japan for years with my R33 and its time to relocate back to Aus. Im going to bring the car back as a Personal Import but I can find little info on the net about doing this. Therefore I was hoping there were people out there with recent experience (as rules/info changes fast) who can help explain to me how and what to do. Go as simple and thorough as you like, its the only way I'll learn.

So I was hoping people could elaborate on things like.

-Process of taking my car from sitting happily in my parking space in Tokyo to ending up in a compliance garage in Adelaide. Step by step if you can.

- Costs of doing so, a breakdown of actual or expected costs would be good

- Your experience or advice : what you did and or would do differently

- What needs to be changed for compliance, remembering this is a personal import.

- What a compliance workshop will do, and what they will charge and what I need to do

- Info on shipping both points regarding in japan and in Aus (if you rented the whole container I wanna know abou that too)

BIG THANKS in advance, you will make my life, and that of anyone using this info in th future much easier : )

[JDM34]

Hey mate.

Your best bet would be to email Kristian @ Iron Chef Imports. He is a member of this forum as well and he will be able to provide you with all the information you need in regards to bringing over your car as a Personal Import.

[ausdrift]

yeah, thats true, and I would probably mail him soon.

That said, really hoping to get some other members opinions and information.

[ausdrift]

oh, another questions, do i need a customs broker in Aus? or would a compliance company fill this role? or would the same broker company be use din japan and Aus?

[Idaten]

Custom Broker, AFAIK.

*Waits for Chef*

[Alkatraz]

Yes you need a customs broker, unless you are happy doing all of the paperwork yourself, which you won't be. Compliance workshop simply has the car delivered to them, do their crap and then you either pick it up or it is sent to you.

Seriously though, speak with Iron Chef or Prestige motorsport or one of the others. They will explain every little detail to you and do their best to save you money. They get paid the same amount no matter what it ends up costing you.

[Iron Chef]

I've already replied to an email, yeah?

[ausdrift]

Umm, Sorry Iron Chef, never recieved any message, although I will be checking your new site for this soon.

Also, So a customs broker will deal with paperwork on the Aus side of things, right? What kind of paperwork. And do they organize sending the car to the compliance workshops address.

Also, what would be an expected charge for a customs broker?

Although I probably dont wanna do it all myself, I certainly will have time on both ends...

[Iron Chef]

Dig through www.ironladyimports.com - it's aimed at Poms but it will give you a fair bit of info (then feel free to email me again via the website!)

[ylwgtr2]

this guy could also help you....darren is a personal friend of mine and altho most his stuff is from america,he can sort it out for you.He does customs clearance the lot http://www.midlifecrisisimports.com/

[Iron Chef]

^^ Awesome business name!!

[Chris Rogers]

but its true!!

[Idaten]

^^ Awesome business name!!

+1 for truth!

[ausdrift]

Has anyone picked the car up themselves from customs and trailered it to their chosen workshop? Any problems or issues from this?

[ausdrift]

looks like I'll just get a broker to do customs clearance. How much did you pay? Anything to lok out for?

[ausdrift]

Heres another question on the off chance that anyone reads this thread again, What taxes, if any, need to be paid on a personal import? GTS? Import duty? etc

[BigWillieStyles]

Has anyone picked the car up themselves from customs and trailered it to their chosen workshop? Any problems or issues from this?

Dont bother trailering it. Just get a temporary road permit from your state road authority. Allows you to drive the car around to the workshop and back from the docks. A cover note from an insurance company is also a good idea.

Heres another question on the off chance that anyone reads this thread again, What taxes, if any, need to be paid on a personal import? GTS? Import duty? etc

Heaps! You will be slogged for customs duty of 10 percent of the value of your car (they will have a valuer make an estimate of current value), and then another 10 percent in gst ontop of the customs fees and shipping fee. Also remember you will be taxed again when you get around to registering the car. Then there is also customs broker fees which should be around 500 dollars at either end.

Ive done two personal imports btw.

Edited March 31, 2012 by BigWillieStyles

[mz.qiksky]

Hey, I'm a bit late to the convo.

I imported my car from NZ as a personal import myself with the use of a customs broker here in Perth.

A couple of things to consider:

Have you owned the vehicle for 12 months, has it been registered in your name for 12 months?

Do you have original proof of purchase details in your name?

1 - apply for vehicle import approval, cost was around $56. If you are already in Australia you have 6 months to get this approval from the date you arrived in the country. http://www.infrastru...tion_201107.pdf

2 - contact a shipping company and organise delivery of a container. My shipping from NZ was $3461, they delivered the container to my house where my family loaded the container (I also had some furniture and personal effects sent over).

3 - organise shipping insurance - the shipping company put me onto an agency who does maritime insurance, cost was $289

4 - organise a customs broker - I used Universal Customs Brokers in Perth, cost was $3496

5 - get a permit to pick up the car from the quarantine company when they're done with it - in WA these are $21

6 - take it over the pits for $90, let it fail (if need be), get a defect list, fix defects and then apply for Personal Import Plate from Niddrie $86 (the info about this was supplied with the import approval from step 1)

7 - register your car

Heres some info about taxes from an email I got: Anyone can PM me if they want more info on this process.

Vehicles will normally attract an import duty rate of 5%, the duty will be charged on the value of the vehicle in Australia. This value can be obtained by contacting a motor vehicle valuer in the state you are importing the goods to.

The vehicle would also attract a Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate of 10%. The GST is paid on the combined value of:

- The Australian value of the vehicle

- The duty paid on the vehicle

- The cost of freight and insurance

The vehicle may also attract Luxury Car Tax (LCT) of 33% of the value of the vehicle in excess of $57,466. The value of the vehicle used is the combined total of:

- The Australian value of the vehicle

- The duty paid on the vehicle

- The cost of freight and insurance

- The amount of GST paid

Because of the various duty rates applicable, and the existence of two valuation regimes dependant on whether the car was purchased before or on or after 2 March 1998, information describing the process involved and the methods to be used in calculating any duty and tax liability is available on the Customs and Border Protection website at

http://www.customs.g...te/page4371.asp

The vehicle also needs to be steam cleaned. This is administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Visit their website at www.aqis.gov.au for more information. ***EDIT (TBH I didn't get this done at all, I just got the interior cleaned proffessionally and then my dad cleaned the outside)***

Edited April 16, 2012 by mz.qiksky