Mustang Owners Club Australia Forum
Technical & General Discussion Area => Importing Cars & Parts - General Freight => Topic started by: Tristang on March 05, 2015, 02:41:55 am
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I am looking for some assistance so I can bring my 2006 convertible pony with me on my move from Canada to New Castle. As it stands right now I have a great removals team working for me but want to ensure I get as much right as I can to avoid potential issues and certainly avoiding increased costs. The car will be travelling in the container with the rest of my household goods - your right, my wife isn't happy I managed to make this work;). Port of entry will be Sydney.
This is what I understand the process to be.
- import permit / shipping / customs clearence & quarantine / settle duty & gst / tow to compliance test / address compliance issues / register & obtain plates.
From the forum I am looking for your experience with.......
- am I missing anything in above process?
- what is a close and fair priced shop that can do compliance testing?
- Any suggestions for cheap tow companies?
- car is completely stock but any work needed I would rather have done on this side to be ready, all our cash will be invested in the move itself. Is there a compliance test list floating around somewhere that someone could share?
- how clean is clean, what state of clean is needed to clear customs? I've been told to steam clean the interior and I was also told to not steam clean interior as it will need to be done on that side again??? So which is it.....
Any other watch outs? I need to address as much as possible on this side to keep the costs down. Appreciate any and all of your feedback.
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Short answer is you need to allow another 35k AUD to convert to RHD as the car is under 30 years old.
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Port of entry will be Sydney. tow to compliance test / address compliance issues / register & obtain plates.
If you need a tow, the best price I got was Ed from H.Reid & Sons, you can call him on 0418 618 905
You may also want to contact Chris (sms777 on this forum) he should be able to help you with weighbridge ticket and blue slip inspection; you'll need a blue slip for registration.
http://www.mustang.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,24359.msg243412.html#msg243412 (http://www.mustang.org.au/forum/index.php/topic,24359.msg243412.html#msg243412)
You'll also need a CTP Greenslip.
http://www.nrma.com.au/ctp-green-slip-car-insurance-nsw?mid=cs%3Aps%3ANSW%3ACTP%3AUnbranded%3A43700005669265348 (http://www.nrma.com.au/ctp-green-slip-car-insurance-nsw?mid=cs%3Aps%3ANSW%3ACTP%3AUnbranded%3A43700005669265348)
You will not need to steam clean the interior, as for exterior, the customs is looking for dirt, twigs, seeds, etc., anything that could affect our ecosystems more so than grease and oil.
I just realised, yes you'll need to convert to right hand drive as your car is less than 30 years old.
I used Shermatt to do all the shipping and import papers.
s
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just my opinion, but financially it may not be worth the trouble,as said previously you will be up for $35-$38k for conversion on top of all your shipping costs etc. and with the new model being released over here in right hand drive for around the $50k mark, I think the value of the current models like yours will possibly drop.
there was one here on the Gold Coast 05-06 convertible last year for $35k.
as I say just my opinion, depends if the car holds any sentimental value I guess.
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financially it may not be worth the trouble
Admittedly, I second that, simply due to the right hand conversion cost.
s
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I had Shermatt bring in my Roadrunner from Calgary so he should be familiar with the process. For me it wasn't straight forward , but it had to go through the US for shipping also.
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For a car this young, I understood you actually need to show a contract or similar for the RHD conversion in order to receive import approval. As others have said, would you really bother?
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Does it have to be converted to right hand drive YES . Does it need to be booked in for the conversion before shipping YES . Does it cost over $35,000 dollars to convert YES . Is it worth doing :shrug: Would I bother NO .
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:agree: It is not going to be worth it! :cry: :tissue: :sick: :ouch: :therethere:
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Does it have to be converted to RHD if it's a personal import? I was under the impression that cars personally owned overseas prior to shipping and shipped by the owner may not have to be. I could be completely wrong but it might be worth checking.
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Have a look at www.infrastructure.gov.au (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au) or look up dotars . Personal imports do have different rules to just importing a car that you have just bought .
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Does it have to be converted to RHD if it's a personal import?
Yep, at least if you wanted to register it in Vic. What might be worth investigating is whether it could be put on club plates as LHD.
I can't see anything on Infrastructure web site that says you have to pre-book a RHD conversion in order to get approval for a personal import. In fact it says this:
"Modifications to bring the vehicle up to minimum safety standards can be deferred until you wish to register the vehicle."
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Amate of mine has an '86 ferrari LHD on club plates in NSW.
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Wow thanks for all the great responses. Your all right there is no way it's worth a 35k investment to convert to RHD.
I do like the prospect of a loophole to bring over as personal import with our relocation so I will do some digging on that. I'm sure hoping the comments from ponyride onward turn out to have some merrit, it'scertainly worth me diggin into.
BTW what are club plates?
It won't be much of a fairy tale in OZ if I can't bring my Stang :cry:
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Club Plates are conditional registration plates for cars used solely for club events, so you can only drive it on club outings/events and to and from services.
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You have the alternative of bringing a classic with you. If its over the rolling 30 year age (March 5 1985) you dont have to convert. Theres always a market for a good early American Classic and you should turn a nice profit if you resell it here.
Club plates are a restricted registration scheme that is a lot cheaper but limits your driving. You cant have a daily driver on club plates.
In queensland my stang is $1000AUD a year for full rego or $185AUD for club rego. You need to join and remain a financial member of a club. Obviously MOCA would be the appropriate choice.
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The club plate laws for most states are for cars older than 30 years . The laws may have changed about having to have car booked in 1st for a conversion on latest model cars I don't know .
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You might have a chat to Matt or Sheri at Shermatt ( they are based in Florida ).
They have vast experience shipping classic cars around the place.
Also I seem to recall Matt having a very nice Fox body (less than 30 years old) pony that he is
looking at bringing to Oz as a personal import when he returns
Cheers and good luck
Whitewun
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I've done further reading based on all your replies.
Specifically around the personal imports in NSW and there is no loop hole that I see to bring my car along for the ride. The 35k conversion just isn't worth it.
Club plates - in NSW the vehicle needs to be 30+ in order for me to obtain LHD club plates, I am SOL.
I found Shermatt so I will reach out to them next......
If anyone else has any other great ideas or back road ways that might turn into some way to bring it over please share.
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If anyone else has any other great ideas
Sell your car and buy one locally in Aus. or buy a 30+ year old classic over there; your currency is better than ours right now so it'll be worth it and then you can export that one.
Even if you find a loophole where you can bring your current car over without conversion you'll still need to convert it to RHD if you want to drive it legally on our roads; unless you plan to garage it for the next 20 years.
s
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I am certainly leaning to sell and look at repurchase over there. I can't buy another and import at this stage as I would need to own and use for a full year before I can take that side. So many rules........
Looks like I may end up with 20' in my container that I could bring some snow over to do some skiing on ;)
Your right it's just a car and heck who knows maybe I find one that side that I love even more.
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Amate of mine has an '86 ferrari LHD on club plates in NSW.
I'd love to find out how this happened for an 86 and do the same thing, this isn't 30 years so there must be a way. I'd be more than happy to have the car sit in my garage and only use for club events.
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You can bring a pre 1989 model car with no problems . But better off pre 1985 so you can drive it in LHD form . Or bring a classic over like a early mustang and pre 71 would be the go even tho pre 74 in up to 1973 if you like . These early models and have no problems coming in if they are not to modified and you don't have to own them over seas more than 5 minutes . Just a 10 percent GST charge on your purchase price converted into Australian dollars . That 86 model car and on club rego must have been a 85 build date .
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Are you coming over permanently or just a for a few years? I know we have a member here who has come over from the states and is working for Dept of Defence for I think 3 years who is driving his late model mustang LHD, may even be registered in NSW as he lives just over the border.
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Here you go! This guy has a registered lhd newish mustang like yours still in lhd. Didn't know you could do it. I'm not sure how this would work selling it second hand for the next owner.
http://carsales.mobi/cars/details/2007-Ford-Mustang-GT-No-Series/SSE-AD-149090 (http://carsales.mobi/cars/details/2007-Ford-Mustang-GT-No-Series/SSE-AD-149090)
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Are you coming over permanently or just a for a few years? I know we have a member here who has come over from the states and is working for Dept of Defence for I think 3 years
Intention is permanent but we are initially coming on 457 visa's (4 years). He was likely able to because of military component but if you wanted to put me in touch with him, or you find out how he did it maybe there is something I can do??????
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Email the guy off that add clearly he has found a way around it.
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I think you will find the clue to the 2007 in that ad is where is says NT rego.
Its a different set of rules in the Northern Territory again.
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Some states are different but most are 30 years . Has far has I know NT is 30 years . I just wouldn't bother bringing the car over even if you could drive it LHD for the 4 years ,then what take it back with you . Even if you sold it here when you are finished with it you won't get much because its LHD and going to cost the buyer 35 + to convert . Sell it before you come and either buy a car here or buy a classic mustang before you come over and drive it here then sell it when you leave . In any case you will still need to buy a Aussie car for a daily driver .
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Every State has different laws to each other, it's pointless talking about what is in Victoria and may be in NSW for instance.
Tristang I'd suggest you call the department and speak with them directly, they are helpful and it's the only way you'll get a proper answer. Although everyone on the forum is trying to be helpful there's a lot of guessing and misinformation going on.
Registration/licensing is different to importation so that'll be your next inquiry, you're dealing with State laws then, not uniform Federal laws as with importing.
Club registration/concessional licensing also varies greatly from State to State so again it's pointless discussing what is the case somewhere outside of NSW.
For the record you definitely do not have to export a car to Australia from Canada via the States, it's a lot longer, more complicated and expensive to do it that way but you've already got your shipping sorted anyway.
Also, the CAD is about par with or slightly below the AUD so the suggestion that was made that you could buy something else in Canada to bring over with you and make money isn't a good idea in my opinion, once you add shipping costs and taxes you've gone backwards.
Very best of luck, I hope you find a way of bringing your car over.
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Also, the CAD is about par with or slightly below the AUD so the suggestion that was made that you could buy something else in Canada to bring over with you and make money isn't a good idea in my opinion
My suggestion wasn't to 'make money'.
It works out cheaper for him to purchase in Canada with CAD than for him to to come to Australia and then purchase a car in the USA/Canada from Australia with AUD; that is what I was getting at.
s
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Easy answer, confirmed through state and national government calls. I can import left hand drive vehicle no problem at a federal level (Australian Government), I would be exempt from some portions of the ADR simple because I have owned the vehicle for a period of 12 months.
BUT in NSW even though the vihicle is exempt from the ADR on a federal level they still require the Vehicle be converted to a RHD.
No dice, unless of course I park it for the next 21 years or move to state that allows LHD.
I just gained a ton of space in my container. :cry: :cry:
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I just gained a ton of space in my container. :cry: :cry:
Oh well, things have a way of working out; it may not be the Mustang you currently own but if you really want to drive one in Aus., you can make it happen one way or another.
s
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Quick go buy a classic mustang ,and a fastback for that matter . LHD no problems ,drive it then when you are leaving sell it . You will still need an import approval .
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^ That's what I would do, you may get a good trade on yours.
s
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Oh trust me, I am burning up the Internet right now trying to find one I like to fill that void in the container :burnout:
It's still winter here so there isn't much in my market (most are like me it sits in the garage for 8 months) and you don't fair well selling summer cars at this cold time of the year, heck this is when I bought my car because I got a steal.
Cheers guys!
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Oh trust me, I am burning up the Internet right now trying to find one I like to fill that void in the container
Contact Matt from Shermatt, he's likely to know of one.
s
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A little of topic here but someone may know.
So say if I was to buy that lhd car currently regestred in Vic would that mean I would now have to convert it in Qld??? it has that yellow stamp on the engine bay if any one caught it. Just intresting that's all.
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Wow thanks for all the great responses. Your all right there is no way it's worth a 35k investment to convert to RHD.
I do like the prospect of a loophole to bring over as personal import with our relocation so I will do some digging on that. I'm sure hoping the comments from ponyride onward turn out to have some merrit, it'scertainly worth me diggin into.
BTW what are club plates?
It won't be much of a fairy tale in OZ if I can't bring my Stang :cry:
Tristang
Not sure if its been answered yet or not but I dont have time to read every page...just gonna break it down real quick for ya
Unless you are an Ozzy and have owned that car for 12 months....its not deemed a personal import....even if your military ozzy or US....I cant see one loop hole here unless you have $35,000 and convert to RHD
Running the car through the border and shipping out of the US is a massive head ache but its achievable
There will be NO WAY you can get club reg or whatever reg as there is no way you will be able to get an import approval for it unless you go with the RHD option to get your approval....then...that said, the guy that helps you get the import approval to convert to RHD will WANT THE JOB....getting a RAWS to write you a letter just so you can bring it in isnt going to happen
They write you that RHD letter....they want the $35,000 job....its that simple
personally, I would either sell it, leave it with a family member or import it as a rally race car if it means that much to you (that means it can NEVER be registered on Australian roads)
Hope that clears up some of your questions mate
Good luck with the move
Matt
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Tristang
Not sure what your budget is but I have a really nice 65 HiPo Cali K code that Ive just finished...factory 4 speed, numbers matching but has a few minor mods
Currently listed on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281618196731?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/281618196731?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649)
Already has an Australian Import approval and ready to go
Matt
(http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/MustangMayhem/Florida%20Finds/00G0G_5Ekz79GjtdG_600x450_zpsez20xkox.jpg) (http://s645.photobucket.com/user/MustangMayhem/media/Florida%20Finds/00G0G_5Ekz79GjtdG_600x450_zpsez20xkox.jpg.html)
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Matt's advice is spot on.
Yep, the various suggestions that you buy an older car & bring it with you have merit. Just make sure you get yourself a really good one, not some rust-impregnated polished turd, or you'll end up with headaches getting a roadworthy certificate for it. Then sell it on if you don't end up staying here long term.
And/or, what about the new 2015 Mustang? Is to be available here towards the end of the year, & brand new factory RHD too so no 35-40K conversion costs.....High 50's according to other threads on this forum.
Both would be nice.....