David,
As hundreds (if not thousands) of older US made vehicle are imported into Australia each year, I would be asking US car nuts for help. I did a search and found the following info on the Pontiac Car Club of Australia website: I can't comment in its accuracy, currency, completeness, or usefulness, but it is a start! I have deleted paragraphs relating to importing vehicles younger than a Jupiter and importing vehicles from Japan, UK, NZ, etc. See below:
Here is a rough guide to importing vehicle intended to be registered for use on Australian roads, and to reinforce this in government language one can look at
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... .aspx#five.
But to summarize this in commercial language, basically all vehicles require an import permit before even considering the shipping and customs or quarantine aspect. This should be your first consideration. For a Pdf copy of the application form look at the government website:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... ation.aspx or find it also on a commercial website
http://www.edicustoms.com.au/forms.htm
If your intended vehicle is over 30 years old , one is free to import without major modification, and the vehicle, if desired can be kept left hand drive and registered after minor compliance modification and certification and minor expense. It is becoming desirable for left hand drive models of the "classics" to not be tampered with and kept and driven in Australia as manufactured. From a separate customs perspective, there is nil duty on all such vehicles, but 10% GST applies on purchase price plus freight (plus insurance if included with the freight contract - AH).
Here is some practical logistics advice based on personal and professional experience coming from my perspective as a lifelong customs broker and international freight forwarder that specializes in the shipping of motor vehicles and motorcycles and one who has personally travelled to Japan, Europe and USA purchasing vehicles for personal usage or otherwise acquisition or collection. Any freight figures quoted are approximate at time of writing and should be used as a rough guide only. Prior to importation serious consideration should be given to the cleanliness of the vehicle and possibility of requesting steam cleaning services ahead of shipping if in doubt as there have been some cases of extremely dirty vehicles have arrived without any attempt to ensure cleanliness has resulted in in extreme case the Australian quarantine requesting re-export. Remember also that a VIA (Vehicle Import Approval) must be received
ahead of shipping as in extreme cases DOTARS have requested re-export of vehicle arrived without application ahead of commencement of the application process.
With freighting ex USA the obvious gateway for Australia is Los Angeles where a container cost is US$2000/20' and US$2800/40' and the pack, haul and document cost is US$600/20' and US$900/40'. Cars can be hauled to Long Beach across USA via car haul specialists at costs from US$500-1000. Alternatively there are east coast drive on drive off vessel services but the services can be sporadic and can be heavily booked. Costs are lesser than containerised however the security aspect is lost and from USA containerised movement is the sought after option.
On arrival in Australia to clear a car off a drive on drive off vessel one should allow approx A$500-800 in total based on vehicle being released by Quarantine on initial examination. If containerised then the container units must go to a licenced warehouse for unpack and allow costs all up of approx A$1500/20' and A$2000/40' covering all costs on release after initial quarantine inspection. Subsequent steamcleaning under quarantine direction is performed as guided on hourly basis. Once cleared customs and quarantine then it is over to a mechanical engineer who will charge approx A$500 for minor modification and certification under national road regulations ahead of state registration and then it is over to the state registry for the registration to use on roads at local registration cost.
Hope this info is of some use.
Andrew
