Personal import of a car into Australia
Aug 17th 2010, 9:45 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 26
Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm an Australian citizen and living in the UK at the moment.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
Aug 17th 2010, 9:55 am
#2
Top Dog
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Uk - hopefully to VIC
Posts: 374
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm an Australian citizen and living in the UK at the moment.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
Aug 17th 2010, 10:37 am
#3
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm an Australian citizen and living in the UK at the moment.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
I'd like to hear of any info from forum members who have imported a vehicle from the UK to Australia as a personal import, ie a vehicle which they have owned and used for over 12 months in the UK.
Specifically:
- My undestanding is that if you have owned the vehicle for over 12 months, are genuinely moving to Australia then you DO NOT need to pay import duty, GST or Luxury Car Tax.
Since cars can cost as little as half as much in the of the Australian cost in the UK, I'm thinking about buying something expensive in the UK, driving it around for a year and importing it to Australia when I move back in 1-2 years time.
Any advice from people who have done a vehicle import, would be appreciated. I'm thinking of something like a new BMW 530d or 1-2 year old Maserati which sell for about GBP45,000 in the UK but would cost over $140,000 in Australia.
BB
Aug 17th 2010, 2:30 pm
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Perth.
Posts: 425
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm in the same situation .. Aus citizen etc.
Check this thread on PH.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...... Hopefully!
I'd suggest a Porsche/Ferrari over a BMW. The markup you'll make will be higher (and the car will be a lot more fun).
I looked into it, but can't be bothered with the paperwork for a 4x4 or a Merc. We'll sell them and get something better suited to Aus once we get there.
Check this thread on PH.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...... Hopefully!
I'd suggest a Porsche/Ferrari over a BMW. The markup you'll make will be higher (and the car will be a lot more fun).
I looked into it, but can't be bothered with the paperwork for a 4x4 or a Merc. We'll sell them and get something better suited to Aus once we get there.
Aug 17th 2010, 11:39 pm
#5
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,157
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
UK imports have a lot less resale value in Australia.
Aug 18th 2010, 1:38 am
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,584
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I imported a Jeep Grand Cherokee I owned. It was only worth doing because I couldn't sell it at almost any price in the UK due to it being a 4 litre "gas guzzler". I still had to pay all the taxes, insurance, compliance fees etc. And the idiots left the lights on when they put it in the container so I needed a new battery as well. I think if you are looking at doing it as a way of making some extra cash you might be disappointed.
Aug 18th 2010, 6:26 am
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
Hi there. i'm importing my 2007 BMW 325 Coupe right now- give me three weeks and you'll get an up to date response on this!
Aug 18th 2010, 7:47 am
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Perth.
Posts: 425
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
Depends on the car.
The car I was to import was a Japanese import to the UK (my third JDM import). It wasn't available anywhere else, and commands a premium compared to the Oz equivalent.
I'd personally go for a TVR. Something with performance, but easy servicing. It'll prob double your money.
The car I was to import was a Japanese import to the UK (my third JDM import). It wasn't available anywhere else, and commands a premium compared to the Oz equivalent.
I'd personally go for a TVR. Something with performance, but easy servicing. It'll prob double your money.
Aug 19th 2010, 9:59 am
#9
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 26
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm sure they do have less resale value - but the car in question costs over $100,000 in Oz vs err about 1/3 less in UK so I can eat a lower reasale value compared to an Oz model imported the normal way through a distributor. The purpose of the import isn't to make money on a resale - it is to have the use of the car in the next year in the UK and have the use of a car which is otherwise prohibitively expensive in Australia afterwards.
Ok I've checked it out.
Roadworthy - in WA no problem, no strange Aus design rules, speedometer with miles as the major scale and km/h in a smaller scale is OK.
Customs - need to pay GST + 5% tarriff on customs value + luxury car tax if customs value over about $57k. However customs value is well under the Australian used street price, so it would have to be a very expensive car to start with to attract LCT.
Ok I've checked it out.
Roadworthy - in WA no problem, no strange Aus design rules, speedometer with miles as the major scale and km/h in a smaller scale is OK.
Customs - need to pay GST + 5% tarriff on customs value + luxury car tax if customs value over about $57k. However customs value is well under the Australian used street price, so it would have to be a very expensive car to start with to attract LCT.
Aug 19th 2010, 10:03 am
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
I'm sure they do have less resale value - but the car in question costs over $100,000 in Oz vs err about 1/3 less in UK so I can eat a lower reasale value compared to an Oz model imported the normal way through a distributor. The purpose of the import isn't to make money on a resale - it is to have the use of the car in the next year in the UK and have the use of a car which is otherwise prohibitively expensive in Australia afterwards.
Ok I've checked it out.
Roadworthy - in WA no problem, no strange Aus design rules, speedometer with miles as the major scale and km/h in a smaller scale is OK.
Customs - need to pay GST + 5% tarriff on customs value + luxury car tax if customs value over about $57k. However customs value is well under the Australian used street price, so it would have to be a very expensive car to start with to attract LCT.
Ok I've checked it out.
Roadworthy - in WA no problem, no strange Aus design rules, speedometer with miles as the major scale and km/h in a smaller scale is OK.
Customs - need to pay GST + 5% tarriff on customs value + luxury car tax if customs value over about $57k. However customs value is well under the Australian used street price, so it would have to be a very expensive car to start with to attract LCT.
Good luck. We're shipping ours over.
Aug 19th 2010, 10:32 am
#11
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,157
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
Import cars are worthless.
Who here remembers 5 years ago when Porsche LHD Jap imports were being imported. These cars which had Australian resale values of 50-60k couldn't sell in WA for under 10.
The books are eveything here and if you have UK or overseas books expect a massive drop in value.
Who here remembers 5 years ago when Porsche LHD Jap imports were being imported. These cars which had Australian resale values of 50-60k couldn't sell in WA for under 10.
The books are eveything here and if you have UK or overseas books expect a massive drop in value.
Aug 19th 2010, 10:45 am
#12
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 26
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
LHD Japanese import? Why would a Japanese car be LHD? If it really was left-hand-drive I'm not suprised nobody would buy them.
About the child restraints. New European cars have ISOFIX child restraints. These are acceptable to licencing, at least in Western Australia.
Import cars are worthless.
Who here remembers 5 years ago when Porsche LHD Jap imports were being imported. These cars which had Australian resale values of 50-60k couldn't sell in WA for under 10.
The books are eveything here and if you have UK or overseas books expect a massive drop in value.
Who here remembers 5 years ago when Porsche LHD Jap imports were being imported. These cars which had Australian resale values of 50-60k couldn't sell in WA for under 10.
The books are eveything here and if you have UK or overseas books expect a massive drop in value.
Aug 19th 2010, 11:27 am
#14
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 20,821
Re: Personal import of a car into Australia
Cool I have ISOFIX in my car.
EDIT:
Apparently not legal in Aus. Oh well.
Last edited by Alfresco; Aug 19th 2010 at 11:54 am.