cmorris2104

Cheers for the reply. I am continuing the search and have a call outstanding with the SA Government Vechicle Registration team, so will post their reply as soon as a I have it. FYI. There website is : http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/Transpo...e+registration

Tokenaussie

http://www.karmanshipping.co.uk/auspack.pdf

This information pack states that LHD cars must be 30 yrs or older (except WA where it's 15yrs).

Hope that helps

waldo.h2os

Hi everyone PART ONE.
I've done abit of research into this from Australia's end. I am flying to the UK in May 2011. I intend to buy a VW campervan either a california or a conversion,use it, then import it back home to the Gold Coast Queensland.
Australia makes it very differcult for anyone to import vehicles mainly to protect manufacturers [GM,Ford,Toyota,Mitsubishi]and the other franchise holders.But their are some provisions,and research needs to be done.
Personal vehicle import. Look at this site ,see 5 Personal imports.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...ia_2.aspx#five
Several things need to be addressed.
Dont export WITHOUT a Vehicle Import Approval[VIA} from Aus.
Right hand drive only.Buy from uk or Ierland. [LHD will need major modifications].
For personal import you have needed to owned it and used it for at least 12 months.[Keep proof purchase,rego,etc]

waldo.h2os

PART TWO.
Once the Vehicle Import Approval has been issued,export can proceed. On arrival at the port selected, the vehicle will be inspected first by
quarantine,make sure it is steamed cleaned before sending [keep the reciepts]
Customs will value it and charge GST 10% [Not so bad, the van will be used and 12 mths old]
Next, it will need to be checked to meet Australian Design Rules [ADRs]and motorhome regulations for the state [QLD] Plates will be then issued.
Check out the UK Personal Export Scheme Regards to claiming the VAT as this maybe able to offset the GST.IF you export within 12 mths to out side the EU.and remain outside for 6mths. Shipping Southhampton to Brisbane is about A$2000 roll on roll off. I believe ,although its fairly involved process, that it would be well worth exporting a California to Aus. There would be a ready market and a large campervan following,including vw kombi clubs.
If you need any more help PM me.
Regards Waldo

Tokenaussie

Cheers for that. Those of us contemplating the personal import of a camper are pretty much up to speed with the personal import regulations on the Federal Government side. They're quite straight-forward as personal imports are not required to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs) though they must offer a similar level of safety. The issue comes down to compliance with state laws and here each state does its own thing to some extent. NSW seems to be the strictest. For the T5 California the RH sliding door doesn't appear to be an issue with any of the 4 Engineers I contacted as long as the car itself is a RHD.

Issues are likely to be compliance of fittings (gas/electrical) and fitting of child restraints given that Australia has its own set of peculiar child restraint design rules.

As I am importing to NSW I think I will face the toughest test (WA & QLD are known to be more laid back and Tasmania is positively sleepy).

Here are the 3 replies (from the 4) beginning with the most optimistic assessment

As long as the vehicle has European type approval for all the Campervan
fittings. You could verify this with Volkswagen in writing if you wanted to
simplify matters. A personal import does not need a great deal else done
except to have Km speedometer and CRS anchorages fitted. These should not be a problem.

Another .....

Without inspecting the car it is hard to for see what issues may arise. You
will a licensed electrician to confirm any 240v electrical work meets
Australian standards, & an Australian LPG plate fitted for the gas. Costs could be approx. $1000.

And finally .....

You are asking a many questions some of which need some investigation as I would need to work out what vehicle category the campervan is just to be entirely sure.

The requirements that apply to a personally imported vehicle are relaxed
somewhat and there should be something on the RTA website.

The rear door being on the right side should not matter as the door position
normally only applies to busses. However, I think you might find it a
problem in Australia although this is up to you. Nevertheless, it would be
worthwhile obtaining a confirmation in writing from the RTA as the rules or
their interpretation can change from time to time.

The Isofix restraints are currently not accepted. However, having regard to
what I said about vehicle categories above, I would have to check further
whether restraints are required at all but I'm guessing they are.

In regard to some of your other questions and in particular, the swiveling
seats, the only practical method is to find out what European requirements
the van was made to and compare it with the ADRs which are often just cloned from the Euro standards. Testing of the seats would normally be out of the question, but again, it depends if the RTA dug its heels in and went beyond its reduced import requirements.

In regard to costs, under the import requirements, you currently don't need
an engineer to inspect the vehicle, only a blue slip from an inspection
station. If RTA changes its position, my cost is hard to estimate because
it would depend on how many visits I would have to make but factor in a few
thousand dollars.

Also, your LPG system would have to be inspected and a certification plate
fitted. A gasfitter has to do this. I'm not sure but I would guess the
cost would be several hundred dollars providing no changes to the system are required. I don't know what is required for the 240 volt electrical system
but I imagine it might be similar to the LPG.


Unfortunately there is nothing that I can find on the RTA (NSW Roads and Traffic Authority) website that indicates whether a campervan has an exception from the need to have child restraint anchorages fitted. The new VW passenger vans in Australia have them fitted from the base of the seat. I will try to find out more from Trakka as they are the biggest VW camper manufacturer in Oz (though understandably they won't be encouraging imports)

Will post more if and when I find it

waldo.h2os

Thanks tokenaussie,
I'm glad I live in Queensland, if NSW is the most differcult to import, they dont make things easy these days. At the moment i am in the process of applying to SEVS [specialist & enthusiast vehicle scheme] for the import of a VW T5 Bilbo's campervan into Australia, if this is approved, then this model can be imported . I think someone should apply and have the VW california approved, as this model is also unavailable in this VW model variant.
Regards Waldo

Tokenaussie

Shame you're not getting the T5 California on SEVS, though for those of us able to do a personal import it should still be easier that the SEVS route.

Are you a RAW ? I was under the impression that only RAWs (Registered Automotive Workshops) could submit a SEVS application.

Why choose the Bilbo over the Cali ? Is it just the sliding door ? I can imagine a RH sliding door is more of a hassle in Oz. You can't park on the RH side of a two way street like you can in the UK and you never drive to LHD countries so the RH door is always on the wrong side.

waldo.h2os

Reason I am going thru the SEVS route, is that I am not able to do a personal import.I am going to the UK for 3 or 4 months,return to Aus then back in 2012 for another 3 months travel. Then have the vehicle shipped back to Aus.[ I need to live and use the vehicle for 12 months for personal export.]
I have gone for the Bilbo's Nexa or Elegan. Because they are available in LWB the extra space would be handy for toilet or storage etc also they have a full length pop up roof and the eating/cooking area is in the rear of the van,not in the middle,a left hand sliding door. Also the twin berth single beds appeal, Idont have to trip over the wife to water the bushes.
You dont have to be a RAWS agent to apply for SEVS approval. I visited a local RAW and he said to bang in a application.If this fails to be approved then I will try the SEVS route with the VW California. Will let you know.
Regards Waldo

Tokenaussie

One of the key issues with compliance appears to be whether the camper has European type approval. If this is the case I am advised that it is likely the only issue would be fitting child restraint anchorages.

The T5 VW California is the only camper sold in the UK which has whole vehicle European type approval. What this means in real terms is the seats etc all meet European standards and should not have to be tested in Australia as, with the obvious exception of child restraints, in general the Australian standards are derived from European standards.

If the Bilbo had it's own seat, for example, that was not European type approved it would have to be crash tested to see if it met Australian standards, an expensive option.

Whilst the RH sliding door is not ideal for Australia the California is well known among VW Camper enthusiasts and I expect there would be a ready resale market there. I have read that the main reason it was never imported was cost as at the time it was considered the exchange rate was about 2.6 : 1 and would have resulted in a retail cost in excess of $130,000. VW tested the market with the Beach derivative and found it difficult to sell. Obviously the relative collapse of the Euro and the Pound since must make the California a much more attractive proposition.

If you consider getting SEVS approval for the California you would also be able to more easily demonstrate that it is a well known and desired specialist vehicle, through clubs for instance. The most desirable model would be the 4motion for obvious reasons but you could look at SEVS approval for both variants.

Let me know how you get on this. If you were to get SEVS on a California I would be very interested in looking at the business case for importing these commercially.

Tokenaussie

Looks like the air-con MUST be at least de-gassed before export

-------------------------

Air Conditioning Import Regulations

The Department of the Environment and Heritage regulates the importation of air conditioning units in the vehicles into Australia.

There are two types of gas for air conditioning in vehicles:

R12:
This is the old style gas, also know as HCFC or HFC gas, which is banned from importation into Australia. If the vehicle's air conditioning system runs on this gas they system must be retro-fitted ie. The filter valve, receiver drier and gas must be removed and be replaced with R134a components (components only, not gas) or not be replaced at all. A declaration from the technician removing the old system must be completed.

R134a:
This is the correct gas, also known as CFC gas. However it is still not allowed into Australia without a permit to import pre-charged air con equipment. This process costs approx. $3500.00 to complete. To import a vehicle with R134a gas, without a permit must have the gas removed prior to importation (cannot be done on arrival). A declaration from the shipper is required stating the gas has been removed is required.

All vehicles imported into Australia must have the air-conditioning degassed. For details please visit

http://www.environment.gov.au/

Alfresco

I've just imported my car to Oz and nothing was mentioned about the aircon and I certainly did not have to degas it.

The vehicle compliancy garage would have flagged this up if it was an issue, so I don't believe it will be unless the aircon is the old type only.

My car also has isofix child restraint anchor points and these passed with no problem.

Tokenaussie

Thanks for that. The bulletins floating around the Internet may be dated.

Unless the law has changed in the last month ISOFIX child seat anchorages are definitely not legal in Australia. The law states that cars must have anchorages for Australian approved child restraints. The only thing I can think of here is that your car was considered to have appropriate anchor points. What type of car did you import ? What state ? Which garage did you use ?

Sorry about all the questions but your experiences are invaluable to us.

Well done for getting your car into the country.

Alfresco

Hyundai Tucson SUV

Queensland

New Prestige Autoworld

Contact them and ask what the latest requirements are. They will know.

Good luck!

Tokenaussie

Thanks for that. I will have a chat with them

Alfresco

Please post back here what they say about the anchor points as I was also led to believe they were not legal in Oz.