If you are thinking about emigrating to Australia, you may be considering the wisdom in taking your beloved car with you.
Unless you are familiar with the ropes, importing cars into Australia can be a tricky business. This is largely due to the country’s laws, which attempt to discourage people from importing cars. But there are exceptions that allow you to ship your car into the country when doing a long-term or permanent move. These are the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme and the Personal Import Scheme.
These laws make it possible to bring your car into the country as long as you meet the stipulated criteria. But is it worth it shipping your car to Australia?
Read on to find out the answer to that question and more useful information about shipping cars to Australia.
The importing process –
Before you can import your car into the country, you will be required to first obtain a Vehicle Import Approval or VIA from the Australian government. After you have gotten the approval, you will need to verify that your vehicle meets the approved standard for vehicles that run in the country. This means your car should have all the necessary certifications and inspection reports so that you can apply for a registration when it arrives Australia. You will also be required to pay the necessary customs fee, Goods and Services Tax and other applicable charges. Finally, your car will have to pass the quarantine clearance conducted by the Department of Agriculture after it arrives at the port of entry.
In Australia, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport is responsible for monitoring car importation into the country. This department work hand-in-hand with the Australian Customs and Border Services. Both organizations expressly stipulate that you should not proceed with the shipping of your car until you have acquired a Vehicle Import Approval. Your vehicle could be impounded and a levy imposed if you fail to follow this instruction.
Additionally, there are a few considerations to keep in mind if you want to ship your car to Australia. Top on the list is that your car has to meet the approved safety and pollution standards before it can be given an Import Approval Permit.
Some of the requirements include:
- Seat belts
- Child restraint anchor points
- Personal Compliance Import Plate
- Australian standards driver side mirror
- Emissions standards
When importing your vehicle to Australia, the first requirement is that you are a permanent resident or that you are moving to Australia long-term. It makes no sense to ship your car if your contract to work in Australia is short term.
Because of multi-step process involved in importing cars to Australia, many people prefer to sell their car at home and buy a new one when they arrive, rather than face the bureaucratic hassle of shipping a car. In fact, it is generally agreed that unless your car is worth over AU$7,000 or you attach a special value to it, it may not be worth shipping; unfortunately, this assumption is incorrect.
There are dozens of reasons why you should ship your car to Australia when moving over permanently, least of which is the cost of buying a new car in Australia.
Here are a few arguments in favour of shipping your car when moving to Australia.
- Shipping your car will prevent you from making a loss when you sell: Have you ever tried selling of something in a hurry? If you have, you will agree that you always end up selling way below the market value and almost always end up losing. This is what would most likely happen if you decide to sell your car before you leave. It gets even worse if you have a late model car. There is just so much to do and plan for without adding the complication of a quick-fire car sale and losing money.
- The car market in Australia is expensive: You may think selling at home and replacing in Australia is a good idea, but that is only if you are willing to pay the high prices for the same make and model of car you are leaving behind. The Australian car market is very expensive because of the regulations and restrictions on car importation, so you could actually save money when you ship your car.
- Shipping is easy if you use the right shipping partner: While it is true that Australia has a complex car importation process, you will not feel the hassle if you use the right car shipping partner. For example, if you use a car transport company like Ausmove, all the hard work is done on your behalf. All you will have to do is apply for the Vehicle Import Approval and complete some paperwork. When you work with the right shipping partner, your car will be delivered right to your doorstep, with very minimal effort on your part.
- Drive what you are used to: Ever heard the saying “The Devil you know”? This can also be applied to your car. You know the history of your car, all its quirks and caprices, what can make it act up and how to get it to run smoothly. These are some of the factors that would help you settle in faster. Breaking into, and getting used to a new car will take away essential time that you can use for more productive activities in your new country.
Of course, your car may not be a recent model just off the assembly line with all the bells and whistles, but this is a car that you have grown to know and love; whether it is a classis or a soccer-mum van. That you are moving to a new country is no reason to leave something that has become a part of you behind.
Final words
Moving to a new country is never an easy step. It could take anywhere from a few days to many months before you are fully settled in, and your car could be the only certain thing in a sea of uncertainties, which is why taking your car along with you is such a great idea. However, at the end of the day, you will have your own reasons for whether to carry your car along or not. Should you decide to, make sure to use a car shipping company that you can rely on, and you will be glad you did.
