[pete757]

G'day Guys and girls!\

Nothing like a brazen first post eh! Great to join this forum and hopefully I will become a banter filled addition to what looks to be a great community of like minded petrol heads!!

So!!!, I have a question!!

I am an OZ citizen, currently living in the UK, have been here for FAR too long but a 'home run' now seems on the cards! I have owned 4 Lotus' in the UK and am about to re-enter ownership with a view to privately importing my car to OZ to keep and use.

So, does anyone have any ideas about what is involved in this procedure please? Especially tax implications?, and also perhaps conformity issues (it will be a 'K' series Rover engined S1 version!!!)

I would really appreciate any thoughts you guys may have on this one...

Cheers, and looking forward to being 'back home' soon!

Pete.

[mondi]

Hi Pete,

you need to own the car for 12 months while you are there.....

But S4Simon is the expert here, so over to him.   

[futurism]

you will really want to check if its worth it
you could buy one in Australia with under 50,000km for $35k

[andecorp]

you will really want to check if its worth it
you could buy one in Australia with under 50,000km for $35k

Not quite. S1's are extremelly rare, and to find one in Australia that is genuine and complete and running is virtually impossible. I've been trying to find one for years. Also, fully restored concours/museum condition cars change hands for towards 100,000GBP.

[andecorp]

(it will be a 'K' series Rover engined S1 version!!!)

[Staz88]

PM sent.

[andecorp]

 

I just realised that you guys are talking about Elise S1. I was talking about Esprit S1.

Pete, bring something back worthwhile, not things that are a dime a dozen here.

[futurism]

I was a little confused

[mondi]

Just to note, even a Personal Import will need to have a VASS done if it is being registered in Victoria(as the first Rego), which means you will have to spend some money on getting it to comply with ADRs.....

So as it has been mentioned, have to do your homework to see if it's really worth it....

[S4Simon]

To give you a rough idea for an Elise import UK to Oz.  These are actual costs from another guy.

Vehicle import application - $50.00
Shipping cost (20ft container) - $3025.00
Marine shipping insurance - $1892.00
Australian Duty & Entry Fees - $6456.41
Port & Statutory Charges - $489.50
Transport of container (Warf to Depot) - $429.00
Depot Charges (Unpack Container) - $407.00
Australian Quarantine Inspection Services - $193.00
Customs and AQUIS formalities re Motor Vehicle - $412.50
Valuation of Vehicle - $605.00
Transport by tilt tray (Warf to mechanic) - $132.00
Admin Costs at Mechanic & Secure storage - $176.00
Blue slip for imported vehicle - $113.50
Personal Import Plate - $154.00
Visual inspection unit (VIU) at RTA - $187.00
Registration Fee - $51.00
Motor Vehicle Tax - $166.00
Stamp Duty (on a Value of $42,000) - $1260.00
Compulsory Third party insurance - $326.00


This comes in around Au$16.5k to get it on the road.  For my Esprit it cost me Au$15k so really costs will be similar for you.

I supplied 50 pages of supporting documentation to Canberra for my personal import approval.  Sent it from London via courier on a Friday and it was approved in Canberra the following Friday.

The personal import route is well worth it and I'd definately import another given the opportunity.  Just make sure the salt corrosion is at a minimum otherwise you'll be heading for a world of grief.

ADR's were not an issue.   I only had to stick on a high brake light.