NSW Corvettes
Technical Tips => Importing - Cars & Parts. Also RMS (RTA) Regs => Topic started by: rus on November 16, 2007, 11:07:15 AM
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Hi,
I am trying to bring a c3 into Australia and by ringing up / emailing DOTARS, customs and talking in person at RTA, I realized that nobody knows jack.
Please tell me if I am correct with my information... it is a struggle to get help anywhere. This is for a ~1970 vette... and I am in NSW.
1. Obtain import approval.
2. Get the car shipped... Once the car arrives pay the GST, Quarantine fees... do any other fees apply? Please tell me personal experiences.
3. Get the car somehow to my house / storage place.
4. Get it rego'ed ... this part nobody seems to know... do you require some sort of an engineer certificate? Supposedly you don't need it for August 1972 or earlier... This is the part that gives me the chills because everybody (RTA and DOTARS) just keeps referring me from place to place and nobody has answers.
Thank you very much for any help,
Cheers
Daniel.
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Hi Daniel,
I have been through the whole process a couple of times now, and know exactly what you are talking about. (I have a 1970 and a 1990)
Each time I called one of the authorities, as an example, the rta, I was told a different thing each time I called!
Its a bit of a joke.
Anyway, for starters, have you found a transport/shipping company yet?
I recommend Smith International Freight.
They help you the import approval, and I know they can help you with some of the questions you have regarding payment of gst (when the car arrives - for a 1970 car, you only have to pay for the gst, not import duty), and quarantine (which unless the car is brand new, basically you will have to pay for steam cleaning when it arrives, and then another quarantine inspection fee - the first quarantine inspection fee is included in the shipping cost, but it will basically fail this and will need steam cleaning then a second inspection fee).
His name is Nick Smith:
Smith International Freight
Castlemaine 2 Goldsmiths Crs 3450
(03) 5470 6411, smithint@netcon.net.au
A number of people from the corvette club have used his services now. Tell him Alex from the corvette club.
I did plenty of research (as I'm sure you are), Nick was the most pleasant and helpful of all the companies I spoke to, and also very well priced, and also he ships into all cities (including Sydney), and so you don't have to worry about paying for extra transport from Brisbane to Sydney.
Re Rego. You do not need engineering (your right, because it is pre adr's). What you will need is a weigh certificate and a blue slip. Also your bill of sale and clear title. then you will be able to get full rego.
You will need to change the head lights (so they dip to the left). I did this myself. I bought some headlights from auto one (didn't cost much at all) and it only took about 30 minutes. A few places people recommended to me to get this done wanted $500 ...what a joke.
You don't need to change the indicator bulbs or lenses (some people will tell you that you do).
where abouts in Sydney are you? I can recommend the blue slip place I went to for my 70. This place does the weigh bridge certificate , so its really handy....(cause they have the machine at their workshop).
Also, I got my car transported from Sydneham (thats where I picked my car up from), on a flat bed. cost about $220 I think...to the Northshore (but I got it transported to a blue slip place that didn't know the laws, and he was a real stuff wit, so I got the transport company to take it home).
Anything else you may want to ask, don't hesitate.
good work dude, 70 corvettes rule btw!
Alex
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Thank you very much for this information. I guess its not as complicated as it seems.
I am already organising transport with the USA party I am dealing with, but I will keep the contacts in mind for possible future dealings.
Thanks again.
;)
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good luck in your quest.
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You are quite right... if you take one step at a time .... it is certainly not as complicated as it seems.
Also it is important to realise that each step isn't connected to the previous step so don't be overwhelmed by where you want to be.....just do one step at a time.... and 'enjoy' the process, Grasshopper.
Pls .... keep us informed on your progress.....
Daniel42au
My Saga is here....
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~daniel42au/Import.html
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;51
My experience when I imported my vette was exactly the same as Cosmicvette, even to having a dickhead Blue Slip Inspector who wanted an Engineers Certificated which was not required.
However you do need your Import Approval Certificate to get your rego.
I think I paid about $700 in customs fees, $200 for the wash and 10% GST on the price of the (landed cost) car which ncludes the freight costs.
:x
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if you dont mind dealing interstate (s.a.) give graham a call., www.americanmusclecars.com.au
tell him neville sent you....he has bought in a few vettes including some BIG DOLLER late 50's vettes ,chargers and camaros....he can organise all the paperwork,and find or ship the car of your choice for you...details on his website.;42
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I USED TO IMPORT CARS FROM JAPAN CAN GIVE YOU SOME CONTACT NAMES & NOS FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO WONT RIP YOU OFF GEOFF 0417473492 IN SYDNEY
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Hey Daniel, I am bringing a 69 vette into Australia at the moment. I am using Nick Smith International for the import. His prices are very good. All up the cost for the import will be around $7000 grand after paying all fees.
Cheers Adam.
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Great choice Daniel. More C3's the better.
PK;41
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;51
The more chrome C3's the better. ;46
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I am at the moment shipping a car through Nick Smith. He's had it sitting in California since Feb. Every time I call I get some new excuse. I'm really starting to loose patience.
How long did he have you guys cars for before he shipped them?
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Originally posted by demonx
I am at the moment shipping a car through Nick Smith. He's had it sitting in California since Feb. Every time I call I get some new excuse. I'm really starting to loose patience.
How long did he have you guys cars for before he shipped them?
The last two cars I imported only took 30 days from time of drop off to the time of pick up here in Sydney (shipping time from dock to dock is 20 days) and it wasn't Nick Smith
Remember you only get what you pay for;27
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Originally posted by Chromie
Remember you only get what you pay for;27
Yeah - but he charges $3000 !!!
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Well I have just started using him also. He brought some mustangs in for a friend mine last year.
I had the car picked up a couple of weeks ago and am waiting for the ship to come in. After speaking to him last week it seems he has a few vettes lined up to come over soon. One question though. Customs charges 10% GST. Is this on the US price I paid or the AUS dollar. What were you told?
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Originally posted by Sting 69One question though. Customs charges 10% GST. Is this on the US price I paid or the AUS dollar. What were you told?
Nick told me it will be charged on what the Aussie dollar is on the day they do the paperwork. Not on the day the car was purchased.
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So I am right saying that they go on the price paid not the market value. You could have an L88 that is a wreck but no one is going to pay GST on car that is really worth $1000 's. when it is in this condition.
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Originally posted by Sting 69
So I am right saying that they go on the price paid not the market value.
Yes.
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Originally posted by demonx
Originally posted by Sting 69
So I am right saying that they go on the price paid not the market value.
Yes.
G.S.T. is on both the vehicle, insurance & freight
Duty is on the vehicle only
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I have outlined the costs I was told to pay
*Container/Paperwork etc- $3300 inc GST
*10% Duty on the car $ 2100
* Freight across US. $ 879 Aus have already paid.
* High Pressure wash $500
This is the total of the costs I was quoted. Were you quote a similiar figure?
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I was quoted $3000 for the shipping, pack/unpack etc etc
then $1400 trucking (one side to the other)
When it arrives (this is where you seem confused) the 10% will be charged on everything you have spent up till this point. that includes the car, the trucking (if its on the receipts which I'm hoping its not) including your $3k shipping, including your insurance.
Nick told me that quarantine will only be around $250
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;40
If you are only importing the car and no parts, do it yourself using RO/RO.
I paid $1150 shipping and $500 insurance + GST + landing charges of $500.
;50
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Whats RO/RO ?
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Originally posted by demonx
Whats RO/RO ?
Roll on/roll off.
In general terms that means the cargo is able to be moved onto and off the ship under its own power, as opposed to being crated/containerised and lifted by crane.
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;27
RO/RO stands for roll on, roll off these are special car carrier ships where they drive the car on to the shipat the entry port and drive it off at the exit port.
;27
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I just bought another car in and the costs are much more
$275US to transport car to US shipper
$2195US ship to Australia by Container RO/RO was quoted at $5k
costs here were
$467 to unload container
$365 customs broker
$295 unpack
$200 stean clean
another $500 of fees for inspection etc etc
so about $1800 local and $2800 shipping
+ duty $300 and GST $800
so $5700 aud and car was $3kUS so total was about $9k
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:v
Get a quote from a company called "shipoverseas.com" they are in San Diego, California. phone 888 805 4994, They were not doing RO/RO from the east coast when I got a quote from them in December, but were due to resume in March, west coast RO/RO shipping was OK. You can get a quote on line. Their qute to ship by container was about $700 more expensive, I think.
:x
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$3500+gst ($3850), bond store LA to "here are the keys" + your Duty or GST on the vehicle as charged by ACS... .. ex Sydney. All inclusive..finished... done no more.. nothing...!
With alot of personal care, as in this week with a US$40,000 muscle car coming in - we have a guy on the spot overseeing & photographing the opening, unloading, tactical moving (not a fork under the side.. or drag it with a chain etc..), cleaning & pushing for release the same day..onto a trailer.. the same day & delivered - its expected & planned NEVER to leave our sight.
We do not ship for everybody that comes along & frequently turn down requests for various reasons.
DIY.....You can obtain your own 20 footer (FCL).. ex LA on a direct shipment ..but in honestly.. by the time its here.. the REAL cost.. is about A$6500 with little or nothing else inside it. Your FCL payment stops when the ship dock's.. All charges including the crane to remove it to the dock are additionals.. as are extended dock storage / demurage times.. normally 3 days. Your agent or you..need to be right on the ball.
As a general rule of thumb... <b>add about 40%</b> of the cost of the quoted containers international Bond store to Australian DOCK voyage... <b>AGAIN..</b> as local expenses.. and you would be close enough to budget it thru.
Your further "real costs" can be damage caused by reckless redneck unpackers who don't give a damn.. :23 passing the buck in a locked industry.... they dont' take any responsiblity and play the "see nothing know nothing sue us - if you like"... blame game.
Be carefull who you use.. BOTH ends. Roll-on-roll-off is also VERY prone to petty theft.
Another recommendable shipper & in house packer FROM BOTH ENDS... .is John Cain in Newcastle..... and people with a few years under their belt will know of him.. JC's son is set up in LA doing the packing, and JC out here looks after the unpack. Controled and they DO give a damn. Cheaper then many by a little but they are specifically set up to do the work.
You can do it yourself.. much like you can do the legal work on selling and buying a house yourself etc.. but there are traps for the novice.
Hope with what the guys are saying... & from alot of experience here.... this has been a bit more help.....
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Hey DemonX. Have you heard any word about your vette. I have been emailing
and ringing Nick Smith but still no word.
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Originally posted by Sting 69
Hey DemonX. Have you heard any word about your vette. I have been emailing
and ringing Nick Smith but still no word.
I called him last week. He said that it should be on the water this week (yeah, heard that before) and the delays were all in the USA getting approvals or some sh#t like that.
I found that he rarely answers emails and that it's best to just call him.
Also - he just quoted a friend of mine $4k to move a Vette.
When the friend said that I only paid $3k Nick said, oh, that must be a typo. Who knows.
What about you - any word?
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I bought my car March 15th
it was collected and shipped within 2 weeks and arrived today
7 weeks all up
4 weeks shipping and a few days in customs
I received a quote from the other company in LA they quoted $400 less, California Shipping so far no complaints and i have shipped several vehicles with them now.
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I got an email yesterday. He said that they were booking a container today and would know in a week for sure. I rang customs to check some costs. Basically I'll have to pay 10% GST on eveything I have spent to get the car to the Aussie port.
As for the quarantine they charge $80 per half hour to inspect the car so they couldn't give me a definite price. So I guess I'll just have to wait like the rest of us.;ay