So why do guys ask $3000++ for shipping

[Mustangpaul]

i just got quoted 2300 per car for 4 cars plus GST from Mainfreight. The condition is very important when waiting to get your car. The AQIS can clean as many times as they like which is why I'd like to inspect my self next time and make sure the car is nice and clean etc. If they don't like what they see they'll just keep cleaning and you'll have to wait longer and pay the bill for their cleaning. That was the first thing my mechanic told me when I was importing my last Mustang.

[malscar]

These are the costs I paid this year.

Shipped from Long Beach on 11 Feb, landed Melbourne on 24 March - off dock on 28 March and collected after inspection 1pm 29 March.

US side of things

$1,550 Cost Long Beach - Melb
     900 Insurance                          
     250 Degas                                

total $2700 usd

Aust side of things

$923.65 wharf to depot/unpack/remove rubbish/inspect and hold 3 days 10%=92.37
   70.00 Delivery Order Fee 10%=7.00
   15.00 Courier Charges 10%=1.50
   25.00 Destination Cargo Automation Fee 10%=2.50
   45.00 depot inspection fee 10%=4.50
 150.00 Customs Clearance / Agency Fees 10%=15.00
   55.00 AQIS Compliance 10%=5.50
   ......... Customs Duty/GST/Lodgement Fee Exempt Rated  
   25.00 CMR/Edi Fee 10%=2.50
   30.00  customs red line fee 10%=3.00
 139.00 Destination AQIS Fee Zero Rated

 
ADD GST 133.87
 
Total $1,611.52 AUD

so if you worked on a 1:1 conversion then total $4,311.52 plus the customs duty
 

[StephenSLR]

These are the costs I paid this year.

Who did you go with?

s

[USAtoAUS]

I can't believe how much you guys are paying for some of this stuff!

Schumacher and the like sure look cheap on the initial "shipping" price but you get screwed when the vehicle arrives. The car is here and you are in the hands of someone that can, within reason, charge whatever they like as you have to get the car off the dock.

You really should go with someone that does all the packing/shipping /clearance like some people have shown examples of here. In the end it should work out much cheaper.

[StephenSLR]

I can't believe how much you guys are paying for some of this stuff!

It would be good to hear how much you charge and what you think is the price.  This way we might have some bargaining power if we let them know what others are charging.

Schumacher do the shipping from L.A. but I think it's Freightnet in Sydney that we're having the issue with.

If we all think it's unreasonable then we can give Schumacher some feedback and possibly sway them hand it over to someone else to look after the Sydney side of things?

s

[68pony]

I can't believe how much you guys are paying for some of this stuff!

It would be good to hear how much you charge and what you think is the price.  This way we might have some bargaining power if we let them know what others are charging.

Schumacher do the shipping from L.A. but I think it's Freightnet in Sydney that we're having the issue with.

If we all think it's unreasonable then we can give Schumacher some feedback and possibly sway them hand it over to someone else to look after the Sydney side of things?

s

Steve i am using harrys classics, he is charging $2800 all up from long beach to sydney including all unloading etc etc the only extra on top is if it does not pass quarantine ($250) on top,thats it, i had to pay the extra $500 on the olds($3300) cause it was high and they could not put a car on top, that $3300 also includes trucks (f100 , chevy 3100 , etc)

[StephenSLR]

he is charging $2800 all up from long beach to sydney including all unloading etc etc the only extra on top is if it does not pass quarantine ($250) on top,thats it

What about insurance, is your car covered in that fee or do you have to pay extra?

s

[68pony]

he is charging $2800 all up from long beach to sydney including all unloading etc etc the only extra on top is if it does not pass quarantine ($250) on top,thats it

What about insurance, is your car covered in that fee or do you have to pay extra?

s

Cars are insured but for total loss only in that fee.

[GLENN 70]

One car should cost 3000 dollars all up plus cleaning if it needs ,around 120 , plus ACT charge of 50 dollars ,from long beach to brisbane . But that does not insurance for your car . The only other cost is the GST on the car and customs will bump that up a little .

[StephenSLR]

i just got quoted 2300 per car for 4 cars plus GST from Mainfreight.

I've given Mainfreight a call and they'll have a quote to me soon.

Freightnet did say I can arrange for another broker.

s

[69candy]

I paid $4500.00 all up.(+ GST on car) LA to Adelaide. They did everything. import approval, car handover.  They just rang me when it was here and what day to come and pick it up. I DID Nothing.
American Muscle Car Imports. Very easy to deal with.

[StephenSLR]

I contacted Mainfreight for a quote, this is what I got:

All in including cartage, unpack, fuel levy and aqis inspection $995 + gst
Any AQIS destruction or washing would be extra.

Not sure if that's GST on cars value or on $995.

So then I asked

Does your quote include for all the following:

Formal Clearance
Port Service Charge
Terminal Handling Charge
Quarantine entry
Quarantine attendance
Quarantine inspection
Security Surcharge
Delivery Order
Post & Pettis
Cargo Automation/CMR

They replied:

Our quote includes none of that. Our quote is purely cartage ex wharf to yard, lift off/on, unpack, dehire empty.

If you would like all the other charges as well, we do have a freight forwarding and customs clearance part of the business we could arrange a quote from.

Seriously?!




Why on earth would I want a partial quote?

I want to turn up, be handed the keys and off I go.

Will have to wait to see how they quote the 'extras'.

s

[StephenSLR]

i just got quoted 2300 per car for 4 cars plus GST from Mainfreight.

I just spoke to them and yes, that is if you bring over 4 cars. To do it separately it's around $3,000 each - still pretty good.

Mainfreight aren't much help for me this late in the game. Since Schumacher don't have an office in Sydney and handballed me to Freightnet, both agents add fat to their costs and doing it this way I'm stung paying both their margins.

Some info from Mainfreight:

Mainfreight Automotive has an 8000m3 depot in LA, its sole purpose is exporting cars to NZ and Australia, and is run by an Aussie.   We currently ship 10 containers per month to Australia with sailings to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne departing every 2 weeks

s

[coops-001]

Stephen, this is what I've been given from Freightnet in Melbourne (red writing is mine):

The 'known' charges at this stage are -
 
Customs Clearance               150.00     ( 1 supplier code)
Additional Suppliers              25.00      (per additional supplier)    
Delivery Order                      70.00
Cargo automation                   25.00
Courier                                  15.00 
CMR/Edi                                25.00 
AQIS compliance fee             55.00
 
The 'unknown' charges are - 
 
Port Service Charge     -    approx 65.00 per tonne or cbm, whichever greater     501.91 ft³ = 14.2125 m³ = $923.81
AQIS Attendance        -    approx 250.00  (charges invoiced as disbursed by AQIS) 
Steam Cleaning            -    approx 250.00 per vehicle ( paid by the client directly to steam cleaning premises )
Duty/GST                    -    as disbursed by Australian Customs  
Redline Fee                  -    30.00 if Customs send it 'redline' for scrutiny of the documents 
Inspection Fee             -    approx 75.00 per vehicle as unpack Depot staff need to accompany the AQIS Inspector  
Delivery                       -    we normally suggest you do your own collection:mad:
$1613.81 plus any steamcleaning and associated costs. Plus GST of course.

Not sure what an "additional supplier" is so figure includes one.

[MachAttack]

Coops, the above figures are just for clearing costs this end. Freight was a further $1550 plus insurance at 2% of insured value. Received my invoice from Freightnet yesterday and after taking out the GST on import value it came to around $1500 give or take. I will only have to pay more if AQIS order it to be cleaned.

[GLENN 70]

Hi mate,did not realise you were in brisbane .Give this guy a call Laurie Nicholls at cargo clear ph 07 /36301244 ,his cost will be around 3000 all up ,plus GST on price of car,from LA to BRISBANE .Plus 50 dollars for import approval and at worse a cleaing fee if car needs around 120 dollars .It will be packed   by George at PTS ,perfered transport systems long beach,you can trust both these companys .Cheers GLENN 70 .

[StephenSLR]

I got the bill from customs.

To let you know, you pay GST on the CIF value that is 'Cost Insurance Freight.'

CIF is the cars value plus the shipping cost plus the insurance you paid for it.

Customs GST will be 10% of the sum of all three.

Though according to Incoterms 2000 CIF the seller is supposed to pay all up to 'carriage to port of import'.

Funny though, I paid Ex Works - all charges from point of purchase.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost,_Insurance_and_Freight#Cost.2C_Insurance_and_Freight

I guess 10% on CIF is better than 10% on EXW.

s

[StephenSLR]

This is what I got from Freightnet Sydney, it's who Schumacher have sent it to.

The size of a motor vehicle is approx 14cbm.
 
IMPORT SEAFREIGHT/MOTOR VEHICLE IMPORT
DESCRIPTION               CHARGES
Formal Clearance       AUD 135.00
Port Service Charge       AUD 65.00/cbm x 14 = $910.00
Terminal Handling Charge  AUD 20.00/cbm x 14 = $280.00
Quarantine entry        AUD 139.00/entry
Quarantine attendance  AUD 35.00
Quarantine inspection       AUD 75.00 per inspection
Security Surcharge   AUD 10.00
Delivery Order   AUD 65.00
Post & Pettis   AUD 5.00
Cargo Automation/CMR   AUD 40.00
Steam Clean         AUD 225.00 per vehicle / AUD 175.00 per motor cycle
 
NOTES   
1. Excludes any additional disbursements paid on  your behalf
2. All charges are COD
3. Excludes duties & GST payable to customs
4. All above charges exclude GST

All adds up to $1919.00, not sure if anything is optional, i.e. the steam clean, etc.
 
s

I did a bit of haggling as was able to get them to come down a bit on the cbm rate.

This is how the final invoice looks:

Customs Clearance / Agency Fees  135.00
Destination Port Charges   781.55
Destination Terminal Handling Charges  213.15
Quarantine Entry Fee Zero Rated     129.00
Quarantine Attendance  35.00
Destination AQIS Inspection Fee Zero Rated 150.00
Destination Security Surcharge  10.00
Delivery Order Fee   65.00
Postages/Petties  5.00
Destination Cargo Automation Fee/CMR Fee 40.00
Steam Cleaning  200.00

Got hit for a steam clean, soil on underside of car.

s

[Joshamigo]

He guys so I finnaly found this nugget of info after a good 3 hours of organising transport...

Yeh if it were a mustang it would have been $3000 all up plus what ever the gst is on the purchase price of car

Does that include insurance?

One guy tells me he had his 'vette shipped from LA to SYD last month all up $3,300 - including insurance.

I'm thinking maybe it wasn't insured but he tells me it was.

At the moment I have been quoted $2859 from LA to Adelaide ('67 Mustang) not including steam clean, insurance, GST, and transport from Santa Barbara to LA (150km).

Also Freight net said charges don't include GST and by that I think they mean GST on the other charges, not import GST. Sneaky buggers.

How much is marine insurance typically?
2% would be $250 for me but others are saying ~$800, WTF

Also CBM is just of the car right?

Anyway I don't think my grandpa can afford $4500 all up including GST. Just wondering if theres anyway to import a car without paying close to %50 of the cars sale price...

[StephenSLR]

Also Freightnet said charges don't include GST and by that I think they mean GST on the other charges, not import GST.

What they are talking about is their own company GST on their quoted prices. The same way a plumber will give you a price then add on GST.

There is also customs GST on CIF (Cost + Insurance + Freight) which is a separate GST.

How much is marine insurance typically?

Shipping insurance can be between 2 and 2.5 % depending on how much excess you want to elect.  You can choose the insured value - typically market value here in Aus.

Also CBM is just of the car right?

I suspect they divide the container volume by the no. of cars.

Just wondering if theres anyway to import a car without paying close to %50 of the cars sale price...

Yes, import a more expensive car.

Try giving Mainfreight a call and get a quote, I spoke to Lee Amour in QLD he was very informative.

I also know someone who used these guys and he was very happy with them.

http://usmusclecars.com.au/Ads/CarDetail.aspx?id=1525

He bought his after mine, it arrived before mine he paid $3,300.  It includes insurance but I suspect it's only for total loss so check with them.  I've spoken to others who don't bother with any additional insurance but this is for you to decide depending on what you're importing.

s

[MachAttack]

The price quoted for freight sounds very reasonable if that includes all clearing costs this end. You should budget a few hundred for a clean and reinspection though. If the car is a project you may choose not to bother with insurance but $250 isn't a lot to add on anyway. Can't escape the GST unfortunately. Welcome and best of luck with your import.

[Charlie]

Hi guys, great information on the shipping to Sydney.

Just received my invoice and it is super expensive , in fact off the dial from what you guys are saying.  Bill is 50% higher with all the additional charges from the ports.  

The customs charge was one line item so have asked for a break down as container was shared, my car was a 65 the other was less than a year old.  Is it reasonable a broker provides a copy of the Customs breakdown?? Thought this would have been the normal thing to do when container is shared.

The Bunker Adjustment factor was just of $2K so 50% I copped.

Would love to chat to anyone who has just got a car in from LA to Sydney and the charges through a broker.  So need help to see if this is a pulling my leg job or legit pass through costs before I settle up the costs.

[StephenSLR]

Would love to chat to anyone who has just got a car in from LA to Sydney and the charges through a broker.  So need help to see if this is a pulling my leg job or legit pass through costs before I settle up the costs.

The best way to do this is to itemise what you've been quoted and post it here as we've done above.

A broker can charge what they like and hopefully you've agreed to a set rate and the extras are with the shippers.

Chances are he may not have told you about all the costs associated with this side of the equation.

We could probably spot if he's added fat onto shipping, port costs, etc. if we can see the list and their prices.

s

[Frank70]

I'm gonna use these guys next time :

Classic Custom Imports

I went down and had a chat to them. Nice guys and they confirmed I paid too much last time.

Cheers,
Frank.

[A67PNY]

I will be giving these guys a go soon.

http://www.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/

Here is a quote I recieved from them on the 4 June 2012

From California
$2750 covers all costs ready for your car to be collected in Melbourne
except the cost of moving the car within the USA and the GST payable on the
purchase price. Once we know where the vehicle is located we can give a price on
moving it to our shipping facility. We charge whatever the transporter charges us.
We can organise pre-purchase inspections. Generally these are approx $165.00
We can organise safe and secure payment of the vehicle.
We offer a fixed, guaranteed price. There are no hidden costs.
The prices above include insurance of $13000.00. Should extra be needed this can be
arranged.
We have containers leaving California and New York each week.

Payment for the road transport is due when the vehicle is delivered to our USA
shipping facility. Remainder of the costs are due three days before the vessel arrives
at the Melbourne port..
All customs charges, aditional inspections by customs, unforseen storage fees that
rearly but can occur are paid for by us. There are no extra costs.

Cheers,
Vlado