Converting the vette

[Mattrix]

so, I'm signing papers now and am still planned to go over there in a few weeks time to get it. At this stage if i want to drive it there, which i totally do, i have to pay californian sales tax. then when i bring it back i gotta pay more tax and duty. I have an interesting way to keep my costs down, pm or email me if you want more info. Im keen to get lots done to it over there, I would like some suggestions on what I should do to the car, I want to tidy the engine right up for starters... any ideas what I should DEFINITELY do and other things that would just be *nice*?

Matt

[VET-005]

Its actually 12 months you have to have owned and used the car over in the states. If you have any relo's in south oz or perth you can always rego it over there. there limit is 15 years or older but i hear thats going to change in the not to distant future also.

[Mattrix]

south oz where? nah don't know anyone.. though it is tempting to take it to perth to register and then bring it back here until 2008 :) very very tempting...
how is it going to change? what's happening? i only knew there were changes to the 15 year rule for imports, it's going to get progressively longer and longer, however nothing has been written down yet so nothing is concrete. hopefully by the time it affects me it won't affect me anymore... if that makes sense :)

Matt

[MJ355]

i think u can regester them in N.T as well

[Mattrix]

really? i got a mate who has spent a lot of time in NT, I'll have to ask him...i wonder if that's true... i spose that's closer than perth, i guess i just have to pick the closest place that will do it for me and head there :)

Matt

[Mattrix]

according to the NT transport website:

"Left hand drive vehicles may be acceptable under this scheme, however whilst the NT may accept these left-hand vehicles for registration they may not be accepted for registration or operation in other states and territories."

referring to the "cars older than 15 years import" scheme...

Matt

[Thunder Kiss]

If you buy the latest Unique Cars magazine, there's a story on the ZR1 and Callaway Corvettes.  They're both LHD and you can clearly see the ZR1 has NT number plates.

[Mattrix]

Got it already ;) and yeah, i can see that. wondering how strict they are with it then? wouldn't mind travelling up there for rego, not sure of the logistics of it tho... any dodgy people up there i can just make a phone call, or fly up there and register the car without having to take the car up? did i say dodgy? i meant legitimate, law abiding business people ;)

Matt

[Thunder Kiss]

I think you need to be a "resident" of a state in order to register you vehicle in that state.
Having said that, I can't see why you couldn't make up an address but have all your mail sent to a NT post office box and then have the post office re-direct your mail to your actual address (if you were so inclined).

[Brutus]

I think you may find that the NSW RTA has some rule in place where you have 6 months to re-register an out of State vehicle to NSW plates.

[Mattrix]

wouldn't i then need to have an NT address on my license? or could i tell them that i work up there and also work down here? but then, i wonder how many people like me go in there, obviously they would know that people would try to rort the system by taking their LHD car up there to register... you think they'd be painful about it or just be cool about it?

Matt

[Mattrix]

Just had another idea. I know I can get a blue slip for it no problem, I have a mate that would blue slip it for me regardless of LHD or RHD, but apparently I need a:
"If the vehicle has been modified to comply with regulation requirements (eg converted from left-hand to right-hand drive or the fitting of seatbelts and child restraints etc) a certificate from a qualified Engineering Signatory to certify that the vehicle meets Australian standards."
and
"A weighbridge ticket."
how do i go about getting hold of these? Any "legitimate" engineers around?
Had another thought, maybe if I can find a cheap wrecked vette that has already had the conversion done I can take the bits out of that...?

just throwing ideas around here

Matt

[Brutus]

You'll have to search around for a qualified engineer and be prepared to pay thru the nose when you find one. As for the weighbridge ticket, I got one done for my daughter's car at Kirrawee a year or two ago. Cost around $20.00 I think.

[Mattrix]

that expensive eh? darn it. Was hoping I'd find one that would write me a certificate that said the car was RHD even though I had done nothing to it hehe
oh well... northern territory here i come. if anyone else has any more details on this post them in here, or message me.

Matt

[ozpont]

Why not register a business name in Darwin someplace.. cost around $30.. locate it at your mates or somebody you knows home.. also register a PO BOX .. Make your company "Car promotions" or something..
..get it done and registered in NT.. take the car up their.. be organised.. take a week off..
  .. register the car to  you and transfer it to your companies name.. NOT YOURS.....
  .. then truck it down, don't use it everyday.. and you should have little problems.. if pulled up .. its regualary driven interstate to different states.. but belongs up in NT..(or WA etc)

[Mattrix]

not bad, not bad at all :) so you say that I should register it to me first and THEN to the business name? $30 for the business? nice... will try and find out if my mate has friends up there that would be happy for that. PO Box no problem... this could work quite nicely :)

Matt

[Mattrix]

Well the car's fully paid for now. Will be shipping as soon as the ATO sends me a nice tax return cheque, probably some time next month, depending on when I can see my accountant. Then I put it on a car float and drive to NT :) that's if i can register a business up there... have to wait and see.

Matt

[Mattrix]

Found some more info on the NT registration process:

Business

Proof of identity
A business is not a legal entity. Legal entities for a business can be individuals, partners or a company. The customer is required to provide a copy of the Business Extract which will detail the legal entities of the business. The legal entities will be required to provide POI.

Acceptable POI documents are:

current driver's photo licence from the NT, interstate or the ACT
current passport or Document of Identity
birth certificate
certified copy or extract of birth certificate
Australian naturalisation or citizenship document, immigration papers issued by the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs or documents issued by the Passport Office
Current consular photograph identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Aboriginal Population Record letter from Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Please note:  A birth certificate must be accompanied by at least one (1) other document proving identity.

Proof of residency
Proof of residency will be required from the legal entity. To show POR, customers must present one or more of the acceptable forms of residency as listed.

Surrender of interstate drivers licence
Current Pensioner Concession card issued by the Territory Health Services or Department of Veterans' Affairs entitlement card
A passbook or account statement not more than 12 months old from a bank, building society or credit union
Telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old
Water rates, council rates or land valuation notice not more than 2 years old
Electoral enrolment card or other evidence of enrolment not more than 2 years old
Armed services discharge papers not more than 3 months old
Current student identity card
Letter from employer on official letterhead
Assessment notice issued by the Australian Taxation Office
Letter from Land Council staff


Company

Proof of identity
A Company is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Each company is allocated a unique Australian Company Number (ACN). A Company Certificate of Incorporation must be provided for the first registration.

A Company shows POI by proving its legal status. To prove its legal status a company must provide these items:

Copy of Company seal; OR
Copy of Certificate of Incorporation; and
Australian Registered Body Number (copy of certificate) if an overseas company.
Proof of residency
Telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old;
Lease Agreement
Water rates, council rates or land valuation notice not more than 2 years old


Incorporated bodies

Proof of identity
An Incorporated Association/Body is a legal entity and can registered a vehicle in it's own right. They are registered with the Office of Business Affairs and are issued a Certificate of Incorporation and also an Association number. To prove it's legal status an Incorporated Body must provide these items:

Copy of Certificate of Incorporation
Proof of Association number
Proof of residency
Same as for a Company.

[Cameron 77C3]

Bloody hell. ;30

Convert the damm thing or wait untill its 30.   Just kidding ;39

[Mattrix]

nah, i can't do it man, apart from the fact that I have no money to convert it, I would rather drive it LHD, it's far more interesting doing it that way :)