CHECK LIST
Before committing to purchasing or shipping your car, please ensure you have taken into account all of the below points. If you can’t provide one of these documents then please contact us to discuss before committing to purchase your car. As some of these are pre-requests to importing, and without them you can’t import your car.
1. Import Permit
You CAN NOT import a car without an import Permit. Only one car per person is allowed, which must have been owned and used by the person for 12 months, and not have been out of that country for more than 42 days in the year that you have owned it. Anyone can import a vehicle built before 1989. You need to apply for an import permit before the car leaves the country at a cost of $50 AUD.
The only exception is if you are importing under a temporary basis on a Carnet.
Taurus Logistics takes no responsibility for cars that are shipped without obtaining a permit
2. Bill of Sale
If purchasing the car we will need a copy of the Bill of Sale from the seller. If you already own the car, then we need a copy of the original purchase Bill of Sale.
If this has been misplaced then it will need to have a valuation done on arrival.
3. Registration / Ownership papers
We will need a copy(via email of fax) of the registration papers showing ownership.
Depending on the country of purchase, and in some cases the state, the original ownership papers are needed to export the origin country.
DO NOT have these sent to you, or altered, until our agent instructs the seller.
4. Photo id
2 forms of photo id are required for Australian Customs. i.e. Passport photopage and drivers licence.
5. Remove ALL personal items from your car
When shipping on a RORO vessel personal items must not be left in the vehicle, if they are, the vehicle will not be accepted on-board the vessel.
There is the option to load your car into a container which would allow you to also ship some personal belongings, but this is normally a more expensive option than RORO.
6. Wash your car
You should aim to have your car in the cleanest possible condition. Best practice is to have the car thoroughly steam cleaned and vacuumed prior to shipment. There is no need to get it "detailed" but the goal is to remove all dirt and contamination inside and out. We can offer this as an additional service in some locations.
7. Have you taken out Marine Insurance?
Not compulsory, but worth asking us for a quote. Your road insurance will not cover any damage that may occur while in transit.
If you’re taking out marine insurance then a pre-shipment inspection report is required to be done by an independent party. If this is not done prior to shipping then any excess is doubled.
8. Have you taken into account GST/Duty?
It depends on your criteria: for example, is this vehicle returning to Australia?
If the vehicle is returning to Australia then you need to provide proof of previous Australian Registration to exempt you from paying GST/Duties, otherwise GST/Duties are payable on all imports.
The rate payable to the Australian Customs Service at the Australian entry port are as follows:
- Vehicles up to 30 years old including forward control vehicles: 5% Duty + 10% GST
- 4WD “Off Road” vehicles and commercial vehicles: 5% Duty + 10% GST
- Vehicles over 30 years old and motorcycles: 0% Duty + 10% GST
Duties are levied on the ‘Customs Value’ only whereas GST is levied on the ‘Customs Value’ + the Duty + the total cost of shipment to Australia figure.
Luxury car tax (LCT) is an additional tax levied at a rate of 33% on all vehicles except motorcycles and some commercial vehicles that have a value in excess of $57,180AU. LCT is only payable on the amount in excess of the GST inclusive ‘break point’, the amount of the cars’ value over $43,000AU.
9. De-registration
On export from some countries(such as New Zealand) the car needs to be de-registered.
Summary
If you have ticked off all of the above, then your car is ready to ship to Australia. Congratulations!
