Anybody shipped a car from USA to Australia?

[spookypt]

Hi Glen, yep done it.

1. How do you arrange payment to the owner and when do you pay.
Depends who you're buying it from but generally hand it over...then wait!
2. What shipping companies are good and reliable to deal with
AustOrient I HIGHLY recommend. You do get what ya pay for!
3. What sort of crating or container
Container. Insurer it for freight! Containers fall off ships EVERY day!
4. Any problems getting the car out of USA
No not really. But the good folk from the states can be a little different than us ozzies if your a sucker for constant communication and updates. West is easier and cheaper than East!
5. How easy is it to arrange a vehicle import approval
Depends what your importing? One would think a Race Built Ferrari built at Marenillo HQ for racing wouldn't attract LCT. But it does. Anything with or that can have a passenger seat does.. Although I got around this. You also have avenues with the AUSTRADE agreement subject to where your car was built etc. If built in USA there are options to get exemptions...
6. Any problems at this end with Customs
Nope, sweet as but others haven't been so lucky.
7. Are costs at this end limited to GST and import duty.
GST, import duty, potential LCT bla bla bla. It all really adds up!
8. Cost of shipping
Varies from east or west coast. Plys whether your sharing or using your own 20 footer. Vosts can range from 3 - 10 K.
9. Any other comments
Too much to list here. Due lots of due diligence. And then do a bit more....

Know your seller. That counts for allot as in the end that all you can trust your gut on who ya buying it from.! There are lots of advantages buying ex USA, but there are lots of negatives as well. Would I do it again, yep...but I know more now than when I did it!

Signing off from Moorea Tahiti.
Aloha
Spookypt.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by spookypt

Hi Glen, yep done it.

1. How do you arrange payment to the owner and when do you pay.
Depends who you're buying it from but generally hand it over...then wait!


Know your seller. That counts for allot as in the end that all you can trust your gut on who ya buying it from.! There are lots of advantages buying ex USA, but there are lots of negatives as well. Would I do it again, yep...but I know more now than when I did it!

Signing off from Moorea Tahiti.
Aloha
Spookypt.

Thanks Spookypt. It's mainly the handing over the cash, and not being able to take the car on the spot and trusting the seller that he will hand it over to the transport guys when they come to pick it up. That's what I'm 'concerned' about.
Your comment about "know your seller" - does that mean I should only look at buying from, for example, people who advertise the sale in ClubCobra or CobraCountry? Probably....
Cheers,
Glen

[750hp]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Thanks Spookypt. It's mainly the handing over the cash, and not being able to take the car on the spot and trusting the seller that he will hand it over to the transport guys when they come to pick it up. That's what I'm 'concerned' about.
Your comment about "know your seller" - does that mean I should only look at buying from, for example, people who advertise the sale in ClubCobra or CobraCountry? Probably....
Cheers,
Glen

Buying a car from the ClubCobra or CobraCountry websites doesn't really make it any safer than buying through other channels. Dad and I have imported a couple of cars in the last year - one was a private sale on Ebay, the other a consignment sale through a special interest car yard.

Assuming that you're looking for a Cobra, there's a bit of a Catch 22 situation to consider. You need to provide a mountain of evidence regarding a car's age and proof of first registration if you're bringing in a pre-89 car. Be prepared to be challenged on this before import approval is granted. That being the case, you also need to show proof of purchase. ie: you need to buy the car before you know if you will be allowed to import it...

If you buy the car with a clause stating that you can back out of the deal if import approval isn't granted, you are asking a seller to effectively sit on the car for a month or more without any real certainty of the sale.

It's all good fun if it works out...!

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by 750hp

Buying a car from the ClubCobra or CobraCountry websites doesn't really make it any safer than buying through other channels. Dad and I have imported a couple of cars in the last year - one was a private sale on Ebay, the other a consignment sale through a special interest car yard.

Assuming that you're looking for a Cobra, there's a bit of a Catch 22 situation to consider. You need to provide a mountain of evidence regarding a car's age and proof of first registration if you're bringing in a pre-89 car. Be prepared to be challenged on this before import approval is granted. That being the case, you also need to show proof of purchase. ie: you need to buy the car before you know if you will be allowed to import it...

If you buy the car with a clause stating that you can back out of the deal if import approval isn't granted, you are asking a seller to effectively sit on the car for a month or more without any real certainty of the sale.

It's all good fun if it works out...!

Thanks Craig. It would be a pre-89 car, or a new one, ckd.
So...if the right pre-89 car comes up, and being 'right' includes having bulletproof MSO if factory built, or if not then evidence of first registration. If none of that is available, then it’s a non-starter for obtaining an import license, so couldn’t even look at it.
And again, bulletproof proof of purchase (including it not being on their stolen list) is essential to be able to exit US ports.
This all means that the car would need to be a relatively well-known car (in ClubCobra circles) but even still, actually buying (ie paying for) a car and then leaving it to make its way through the export system under somebody else’s control is something that I am still to become comfortable with.
Otherwise it’s the ERA FIA way. That’s not a bad alternative now, is it?
Cheers,
Glen

[400TT]

Glen, do you want full registration?

The vehicle will need to be pre 1989 to be eligible for import.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by 400TT

Glen, do you want full registration?

The vehicle will need to be pre 1989 to be eligible for import.

Yes I know Craig, it would need to be pre-Jan 1989
Cheers

[Beejay]

From what I have heard there are no registered Atoms in Oz. They have been working at it for a long time...

Ben

[Baz]

Spookyt

I hope you didn't miss swimming with the sharks and the rays in Moorea Lagoon. What a buzz that was.

How is my Grange performing. I miss it a lot.

Baz