IMPORTING YOUR CAR Buying an Imported Car There are a number of ways of buying an overseas vehicle and importing it. The first step is to ensure that the vehicle you wish to bring in can be complied and registered once it gets here. Unless it was built before 1/1/1989 or you have owned and driven it overseas for more than 12 months, then it must be on the SEVS Register and there must be a RAW that has the vehicle on their schedule. All vehicles being imported to Australia need an Import Approval from DoTaRS. If the vehicle is to be complied by a RAW, the RAW will do the import approval application. Be aware that at times this can take up to 20 working days. Buying through a Vehicle Broker It is possible to import a vehicle through one of numerous vehicle brokers who will assist you at every step of the way, including taking care of all the paperwork. The broker will organise transport and compliance and sometimes even the Roadworthy Certificate. Another major advantage with vehicle brokers is that they usually have contacts who will inspect the vehicle on your behalf and make recommendations about it so you are less likely to get a nasty surprise when the vehicle arrives in Australia. Nevertheless they are only there to make recommendations so you still choose the car. We recommend you only use a broker who you are comfortable with and who will provide multiple references from past clients. Using a RAW as a Vehicle Broker As an alternative it is worth considering using a RAW as your vehicle broker - a service offered by a number of workshops including us. The advantage of this is that the whole deal is being taken care of by one party which means there is likely to be cost benefits involved. Also a RAW should be more familiar with the rules and exactly what variations they can comply. If you are unsure about what you are doing we highly recommend that you use a broker as they should complete the process as quickly and efficiently as possible. DIY Importing The 'Do-It-Yourself' importing option is one some people take, the big attraction being the obvious saving from cutting out the middle man. The first thing you have to do if you're going it alone is locate a car that you want to buy and make sure that it is eligible to be imported into Australia and can be complied. For a list of vehicles that can currently be imported and complied is on the RAWS website. It is important to note also that a RAW can not comply a car that has been structurally damaged or rusted. There are various online auctions on the internet to try and find a suitable car. Once you have found a car you need to arrange payment for the seller. Once the car is paid for you will need to arrange for it to be transported to the shipping yard. You also need to arrange for the paperwork and your customs broker to do most of the paperwork and importing. You also need to get an import approval for the vehicle in Australia from DoTaRS. You cannot obtain this yourself - you must enter into a contract of compliance with a RAW (us), and the RAW applies for the import approval. You are then bound to use that RAW to comply the vehicle, so do your homework in choosing a suitable RAW before you commit. The next part is to ship the car to Australia. Normally the car will have to wait for a few days until a ship departs. Vehicles can be transported either in containers or drive-on-drive-off transport. You have to decide whether the extra cost of a container is worth the benefit of knowing your car is safely locked away. It is also a good idea to get insurance which usually costs around 3.5% of the vehicle's value, however, some shipping companies offer insurance as part of the shipping costs. Shipping from overseas to Australia usually takes about two and a half to three weeks but can take longer depending on which country. Once the vehicle lands on our shores you will need to pay import duties and import tax and get freight/customs clearance before the car can be released. Now the car has to be transported from the docks (remember it's not legal to drive on Australian roads yet) to the RAW that you have arranged to do the compliance work. After your car is complied and plated all you need to do is get it registered and then it is yours. The entire process generally takes between 10 and 12 weeks from transferring the funds to driving your new car into your driveway. Costs. The Do it yourself option can be difficult and you need to trust the seller when sending funds. You can find yourself in a deep hole if you dont know the process or dont have contacts. When importing a car you need to be aware that there are several more expenses than just buying the car. Here's a list of some extra expenses that may apply when importing a car (approximate only): Sea Freight & Customs Duty Import Duty GST Import Approval Vehicle Cleaning Dock Transfers Compliance Vehicle Condition For upto date costs please dont hesitate to call us !! Cost depends on a number of factors including the current exchange rate. For a vehicle is to be complied by a RAW, it must be fitted with original components (air intake, engine, exhaust, suspension, steering wheel amongst others). If the vehicle is non-standard, this will increase the cost of compliance as the RAW will need to return the vehicle to its standard production format. The vehicle must not have been involved in an accident that affects its structure or safety in any way. If the car has been damaged and repaired you might want to call us first. The RAW is legally bound by very strict requirements as to the standard of vehicle they can comply. If a vehicle is damaged beyond these limits it must be exported or destroyed - it cannot be complied. Compliance Once imported and through customs, the vehicle is delivered to the RAW who will inspect to ensure it is of acceptable standard, and if so, comply the vehicle. The most common things done during the compliance process are: * :: Brake fluid replacement * :: Fitting of new brake pads if the wrong or worn pads are fitted * :: Fitting of new tyres * :: Reutrn the vehicle to manufacturer's specification (standard) format * :: Complete service (air, fuel and oil filters and fluids) * :: Fit a new catalytic converter * :: Fit an unleaded fuel filler restrictor and Unleaded Fuel label * :: Engine tune and test * :: Evaporative emission test * :: Exhaust emission test * :: Replace seatbelt if worn or incorrectly fitted * :: Fit child restraint anchorages and clip fittings * :: Check vehicle lights (head, brake, indicatiors) for conformity * :: Remove gas discharge headlights and replace with halogen headlights * :: Ensure that the vehicle is in roadworthy condition * :: Fit a Used Import Plate to the vehicle After leaving the workshop the vehicle may still require internal and external detailing, minor paint repairs, and some minor work to ensure it meets the requirements for registration in your state. "FULL IMPORT VEHICLE COMPLIANCE SERVICE" for UK residents...   1. Arrange vehicle pick-up from shipping company 2. Quarantine onsite in our fully fitted and RAW certified workshop 3. All compliance work required for Australian vehicle compliance certification 4. Roadworthy Certification through our partners  We have handled a wide variety of import vehicles from the UK, Europe to USA.  List of the manufacturer makes we comply... Ferrari 360 Spider and Modena Aston Martin Vanquish Maserati 4200 Gransport spider Cadillac sts sls And ANY MAKE for PERSONAL IMPORTS !!! Yes if your moving from the UK and wish to have your car meet all ADRs we can help you. We can comply any make and model.