Consult an Australian licensed customs broker about whether your car is eligible for the import option you have chosen. He can also arrange to clear the car through customs on arrival. A list of licensed customs brokerages is available on the Customs Service website.
Confirm that your vehicle meets registration requirements from authorities in the relevant state or territory in Australia. Cars for use on Australian roads should be right-hand-drive, although some left-hand-drive cars are accepted. There is more information available in the booklet "Importing Vehicles to Australia" which can be downloaded from the website of the Australian Government's Infrastructure Department. Information about the RAWS is also available on the Infrastructure website.
Contact details for each state and territory are available in the "Importing Vehicles to Australia" information booklet.
De-register your car in the U.K. by contacting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). There is a section called Notification of Permanent Export on the vehicle registration certificate which should be completed and returned to the DVLA.
Complete an application form for a Vehicle Import Approval, carefully ensuring that you complete the correct form and attach the necessary documentation. Under the Personal Import Scheme you must have owned and used the car for 12 months prior to shipping and have proof that you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident. If you are importing a used vehicle under RAWS, the application for a Vehicle Import Approval is done by the Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) on your behalf.
Check the SEVS register if you are planning to import a vehicle under RAWS. This plan should only be used for used cars manufactured after 1989 and those not eligible under the Personal Import Scheme. The car must be on the SEVS register and there must be a RAW that has the vehicle on its schedule. You can access the SEVS register by visiting the Road Vehicle Certification System website.
Enter into a contract of compliance with a RAW. Any vehicle imported to Australia under this plan must comply with the Australian Design Rules and be fitted with a used import plate. The RAW will advise you and make all the necessary modifications to your vehicle. You can search for a RAW on the Infrastructure website.
Wait for your Vehicle Import Approval to arrive. This usually takes around three weeks whether you apply independently or through a RAW.
Arrange to ship your car once you've received the Vehicle Import Approval. Get estimates from at least three companies. Cars can be transported either in a separate container, in a container with other household goods or on roll-on, roll-off transport.
Arrange insurance while your car is in transit. This can usually be done by the shipping agent, and some include it in their estimate.
Contact a licensed customs brokerage and ask the company to lodge an import declaration on your behalf with the Australian Customs Service.
Arrange to have your vehicle inspected on arrival in Australia. This is done by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and is a statutory requirement for all vehicles. There are offices at all entry ports across Australia, and if you contact the relevant regional office, a member of staff will advise you about quarantine requirements and fees.
Steam-clean your car as close to the shipping date as possible in preparation for the AQIS inspection. It's vital to have all parts of the car thoroughly cleaned so that it's free of any animal and plant material, soil or mud.
Clear the car through Customs. This is sometimes included in the shipping agent's service, or a licensed customs broker can arrange this for you. You will need one part of your four-part Vehicle Import Approval for customs clearance.
Take your car to the prearranged location for an AQIS inspection.
Pay the necessary taxes and customs duties on the car. There are three taxes: customs duty, which is 5 percent of the customs value; goods and services tax, which is 10 percent of the sum of the customs value, the duty payable and shipping and insurance costs; and the luxury car tax, if applicable. As of 2010, you must pay a luxury car tax on any car where the customs value exceeds $57,180. The rate is 33 percent of the surplus.
Apply for a personal import plate from the relevant vehicle registering authority if you have imported through the Personal Imports Scheme. This plate shows that your car has been approved for import. You will need another copy of the Vehicle Import Approval to give to the plate contractor. The car must be roadworthy and meet minimum safety standards.
Arrange to have the car transported from the port of entry to the RAW, since you will not be permitted to drive the car. The RAW will carry out any necessary modifications so that the car complies with the ADR. It will then issue a used import plate. Finally, have the car registered with the local registering authority. You will need the third copy of your Vehicle Import Approval to do this. The fourth copy is for your own records and should be kept with the car.
