Anyone Sent import approval lately??

[lwells]

Then you think "**** it, im going for a spin round the block"

Cherish the fuel you get with the car...Dont waste it..

More like "oh ****, the tires are bald, the clutch is shagged, the battery is flat, all lubricants need replacing, etc, etc, etc". Remind me: why do we go through this pain again?

LW.

[azza_GT-R]

cause we love em...

lol

but its true

[RTFGTR]

Never again... and I have only had to wait a bit over 12 weeks (I'm impatient...BAD) I seriously do not know how a person could wait 6+ months.

I have been waiting since early July (date I transferred FOB $$$$$) for my car to get to OZ. One more hurdel to jump (or 2 or 3 and compliance) I have made my final payment today to Seaway for ocean freight and GST and all that jazz, have been advised that the car will be droped off on Thurs - Friday (so going by past experience that will probably be next Mon - Tues.)

Top five worst things about importing...

1. Living on another planet to people in this industry because there is obviously 50 days per month on that planet.

2. Friends / Family asking how long now just so they can see you flip out.

3. Constantly buying things for your new car you don't even have yet.

4. Constantly thinking of things to buy for the car you don't even have yet.

5. Messing around on the net all day because you can't drive your import...

But I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, that light could be a train that's about to rape my wallet sideways but that just adds to the joys of importing, kind'a like a lucky dip prize draw. And Insurance, the Jacks... should have done a top 10

Better be better than... well alot of things.

[OohArrGTR]

HAHA i ticked those 5 for myself..

The wait is a killer i know..

i think if i was ever importing again. i would not buy 1 thing till its here. tell noone about it. save every CENT. And hope for the best.

Never again... and I have only had to wait a bit over 12 weeks (I'm impatient...BAD) I seriously do not know how a person could wait 6+ months.  

I have been waiting since early July (date I transferred FOB $$$$$) for my car to get to OZ. One more hurdel to jump (or 2 or 3 and compliance) I have made my final payment today to Seaway for ocean freight and GST and all that jazz, have been advised that the car will be droped off on Thurs - Friday (so going by past experience that will probably be next Mon - Tues.)

Top five worst things about importing...

1. Living on another planet to people in this industry because there is obviously 50 days per month on that planet.

2. Friends / Family asking how long now just so they can see you flip out.

3. Constantly buying things for your new car you don't even have yet.

4. Constantly thinking of things to buy for the car you don't even have yet.

5. Messing around on the net all day because you can't drive your import...

But I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, that light could be a train that's about to rape my wallet sideways but that just adds to the joys of importing, kind'a like a lucky dip prize draw. And Insurance, the Jacks... should have done a top 10

Better be better than... well alot of things.

[lwells]

Top five worst things about importing...

1. Living on another planet to people in this industry because there is obviously 50 days per month on that planet.

Check. Luckily I am using a customs agent, so hoping most of this hassle is up to them.

2. Friends / Family asking how long now just so they can see you flip out.

Check. Bastards.

3. Constantly buying things for your new car you don't even have yet.

Check: $5k and counting.

4. Constantly thinking of things to buy for the car you don't even have yet.

Check: R34 N1 Turbos, PowerFC, RB30DETT conversion..... *sigh*

5. Messing around on the net all day because you can't drive your import...

Check (although I do this anyway ).

I seriously do not know how a person could wait 6+ months.

Purchased my GT-R 4/03/2004. Import approval form sent in last week :headspin:

LW.

[sewid]

I know how you feel. Waiting is the worst part. I have a lot of money tied up in a car which i haven't even seen yet!

My RAWS applied for Import Approval yesterday so the stopwatch has begun ticking. Car ships on the 20th of September.

Guys I would like to know how much things are costing you, little hidden fees and charges that they slip in, especially customs and customs agents fees.

So far the little things no-one really tells you about for me are:

- The difference between the ACTUAL exchange rate and the BANKS exchange rate - cost me almost $1000 - even after negotiating the best rate they could

- Telegraphic Transfer fee - $28 - ok i was ready for that one and 28 bucks aint bad

- Import Application fee - $165 for me because i got my RAWS to do it - expensive but not bothered because they saved me the hassle

- Stamp duty and solicitors fees - loans above 35k attract stamp duty and your bank must charge you to file the necessary paperwork - $50 + 0.4% of the loan - Didnt bother me as the amount was so minor but was a suprise

- Luxury Car Tax - if the price of the car (including FOB price, freight, duty and GST) exceeds $57009 you will be liable for this - its a bastard

- MORE Stamp duty - All cars are subject to 3% stamp duty in NSW - but did you know that cars in excess of $45,000 must pay 5% stamp duty on the value in excess of $45,000!!! BASTARDS! This is different in each state, QLD is the best at 2% flat

[SteveL]

- The difference between the ACTUAL exchange rate and the BANKS exchange rate - cost me almost $1000 - even after negotiating the best rate they could

- Telegraphic Transfer fee - $28 - ok i was ready for that one and 28 bucks aint bad

Banks will screw you over at the best of times. Better to use a foreign exchange service like:

http://www.ozforex.com.au/

In my case the transfer to Japan was absolutely free because the transaction value was relatively small ( )

Another catch to keep in mind is that the import duty and GST charged when the car gets here is based on the official exchange rate at the date the car is exported from Japan using the FOB value shown on you invoice. The more the Oz Peso drops against the Yen before your car ships, the more its going to cost you when the car gets here.....

I posted a link to the FAQ sticky at the top of this page that helps you work out import duty and GST.

[predator]

sewid: Depends what you're buying... but the majority of costs aren't as high as those unless you are importing a fairly expensive vehicle to begin with..

And QLD probably does get the best deal.. lower stamp duty, most of the ships apparently come through Brisbane first so slightly less shipping costs.. and in the end we pay less on the roads for petrol. If you're in NSW or VIC you get screwed on everything.

SteveL .. i checked out ozforex. But when i checked the rate, things it was pretty much identical to CBA in the final figure, or not enough to worry about. My vehicle was relatively tight-ass though so the FOB amount was only a few thousand over here which probably negated any difference. I found CBA wasn't too difficult to deal with, as long as the chick has done one before.. Just say, "this into this, here is my money.. go do".

[lwells]

I haven't come across too many hidden charges yet: I have to say Prestige has been pretty upfont about the costs. The only thing that grates so far is $50 for the DOTARS Import Approval as its an obvious gouge.

LW.

[SteveL]

SteveL .. i checked out ozforex. But when i checked the rate, things it was pretty much identical to CBA in the final figure, or not enough to worry about. My vehicle was relatively tight-ass though so the FOB amount was only a few thousand over here which probably negated any difference. I found CBA wasn't too difficult to deal with, as long as the chick has done one before.. Just say, "this into this, here is my money.. go do".

From memory it was about a 1yen diff...every little bit helps As for the CBA...I have money in a few different investment accounts but you wouldn't have known it was MINE with the amount of stuffing around I got before even getting to the TT stage. On top of that I got contradictory information about the process....in the end, the ability to use BPay and Ozforex made it so simple.

[PHATR32]

im gonna be sending the forms in, in about 2 weeks. but i plan on faxing them through and hoping they get proccessed quicker.

anyone else fax them?

steve

[predator]

never fax if it matters.. i think they have to be posted anyhow..

[lwells]

im gonna be sending the forms in, in about 2 weeks. but i plan on faxing them through and hoping they get proccessed quicker.

anyone else fax them?

steve

How are you going to fax through the authorised copy of your ID (eg. license, passport)? For it to be authorised, the signature and details of the person (JP, lawyer, etc) must be on the back of the photocopy...

Unless of course you have imported before and they already have an authorised copy of some form of ID?

LW.

[PHATR32]

dunno? the document says you can fax them?

steve

[lwells]

dunno? the document says you can fax them?

steve

I would imagine that's only if they already have an authorised photocopy of some form of ID, but check the form (I only have the electronic version) and perhaps call DOTARS?

LW.

[Duncan]

Hidden charges...watch out for trying to clear quarratine...I paid for steam cleaning (I think most do)....but an extra surprise for me was bromide treatment to kill off some hitchhiking spiders.

And, if you can't clear quarantine in 3 days you have to pay dock storage fees as well

[predator]

spiders do suck though.. i wouldn't like to see evil japanese drift spiders either ...

[lwells]

spiders do suck though.. i wouldn't like to see evil japanese drift spiders either ...

LOL.

Duncan: yes, I have heard those dock fees aren't cheap either.

LW.

[RTFGTR]

If anyone is interested...

Charges you can expect to pay on a FOB $1,130,000 YEN car from Japan. ($15,500 AUS)

Custom Duty and GST $2945.55

Quarantine Attendance $15.00

Quarantine Charges $243.50

Customs Brokerage Fee $150.00

Ocean Freight $970.94

Import APSC $85.17

Bulk Inspection $40.00

Import Documentation Fee $35.00

Some items attract GST and some not.

TOTAL bill was $4485.16 + $32.52 GST = $4517.68

I was expecting to pay $5500+ so was very happy when I received this bill... extra $1K to spend on car

[SteveL]

Ocean Freight $970.94

That's cheap considering what I was originally quoted for shipping (around $1500)...,certainly won't be complaining if costs come in similar to yours, I budgeted $6K for all these 'extras'...