Even if Australia does have quite a big market for cars, it is quite understandable that you would like to import a vehicle from the USA, as the selection there is much bigger. This is even more understandable if you are moving from the USA to Australia, as you would not want to leave your car behind. Importing a car might seem complicated at first, but after reading this article, you will understand just how simple it is.
Research is most important
If you are looking to import a car from the USA to Australia, the most important thing that you should focus on first is the research. In case you are planning first to purchase the vehicle in the USA and then import it into Australia, it is of utmost importance to check if the vehicle is even eligible to enter Australia.
The reason we say that is because a surprising number of vehicles is completely prohibited in Australia, as they would require numerous changes in order to accommodate the country’s laws. Once you are a hundred percent sure that your vehicle is eligible for import, you should check which kind of approval you need to apply for.
The next thing you should do research on is how much the importing process is going to cost. Consider the shipping, storage, delivery, taxes, approval application, customs, cleaning for quarantine, asbestos testing, modification costs, and all the other things that come to mind.
Make sure that you also get the necessary documentation and what documents each government agency requires from those documents. Of course, you can also do research on potential brokers and the risks involved in the transport, but if you check out https://importdirectcarsales.com.au/ you will not have to worry about such things.
Apply for an approval to import a vehicle
Getting all the research down might have taken some time, but now that you are finally done with that, you are fully prepared for the import, and you can apply for the approval to import your vehicle. In order to do this, you will have to create an account in ROVER and complete an online application form. This part also has an application fee.
Receive approval to import vehicle
It might take some time to receive the approval for the import of your desired vehicle. However, unlike before, where you had to manually call or walk to the government agency in order to see if you have been approved, today, you will get an email with the approval attached. In this approval, you may also receive certain conditions for the use of the vehicle as well.
Arrange shipping of a vehicle
Before you arrange the shipping of the vehicle, make sure that the vehicle is in the best condition it can possibly be. With this, we do not mean to replace it with brand new parts, but to just clean it to the point where it looks like it is brand new. Australian quarantine is strict about this, and you will want to make sure that air-conditioning gas is removed and that there is no asbestos or similar materials.
Get customs clearance
Upon making sure that your vehicle is clean and is shipped, you can lodge an import declaration, pay customs duty, as well as goods and services tax. If the car you are importing is a luxury vehicle, this is also the part where you will be charged for the luxury car taxes. You will be paying for all of this at the Department of Home and Affairs.
Meet Australian quarantine requirements
When your car arrives to Australia, it will go through quarantine. It is always best to hire professionals to handle the importing process and ask them to be present for this part. You can do it alone, of course, but having someone with years of experience helps quite a bit.
Meet approval conditions
If the Australian government thinks that your vehicle should be modified in any way before it can enter the country officially, you should arrange modifications for your vehicle as soon as possible. You should conduct testing and develop evidence of compliance if necessary. After that, you should also apply for your entry at the RAV if necessary.
Register the vehicle
Finally, the last thing that you will have to do in order to drive your vehicle on a public road is registered it with the relevant state or territory. Of course, if you are planning to drive it on your property only, you do not have to register it at all, but it is still recommended.
Final word
If you follow all of these steps to the point, importing the vehicle should go quite easily. Once again, researching all the details is the most important part of the importing process. In case you ever hit a dead end, consulting with your importing broker is not a bad idea.
Leave a Reply