Importing 2 90 Defenders

[aliread]

Hi
New to the forum and come out with a question straight away
I am moving the Brisbane later this year. (wife from Brisbane and i am a pomie)
We both have a 90 each and want to bring them with us. But i need to ask some questions as i can't seem to get the answers out of the pages of info on the Aus Gov webb site

What major differance is there between Uk 90's and your 110 (apart from langth,) i know i have to change the tail pipe from Passenger to drivers side, but is the any other little changes done .

The wifes truck is standardish , but has seats in the back , which we are going to take out to make easer to get in to Aus.But mine is a challenge truck so has, Lockers (ARB) Maxi drive Half shafts, Winch front and rear , And soon to have ARB front bumper (as the one i have on now does not have the rolller fairlead protector or indicators in the bumper, which i belive to be Aus Law), full roll cage and is no a Ute (on have pic at the moment as full hard top) , OME surpension, and 35" Simex extreme treckers

I understand they charge you import tax on the trucks ,
Does this appliey if you are emigrating as i am or as my wife is , going back home after 6 years in the UK.
I have owned my truck for 3 years and my wife has had hers for 18 months (does this make it cheaper, as we are tasking them over to be our cars and not to sell)
I has also read that they value the trucks and charge you tax on this and then add all the add ons and then tax you on that , But as most of my add ons come from Aus to start with can they charge me import duty on ARB, Maxi Drive and OME stuffI already know they have to be spotless , The wifes is as it has been rebuilt but mine will take a little time to do
this is my wifes truck
http://www.reads4x4.com/3002.jpg
And this is mine
http://www.reads4x4.com/aliwater.jpg
Thank you in advance for you help
Cheers
Ali

[daddylonglegs]

Give Anthony Jonson a call on 03 97299943. He has imported used 90's before and knows all the pitfalls.
Bill.

[Maxtd5def]

Talk to Customs. They'll point ypou in the right direction.

But coz the 90 is now sold here, you'll need to bring them up to Oz ADR specs. Seat belts, pollution gear, no tinted windscreens, sway bars etc etc.

The duty will be interesting. I brought a car in a few years ago, and if the rules are still the same:

Your wife as a returning resident will be wholloped. What year is an M reg? If its under 5 years old, expect mega $$$

Don't muck them around with the value of the car - they have their sources, and theres no appeal from a Customs decision.

Can't tell how old your car is, but a new immigrant may not have to pay duty. But you can't sell it for twelve months or so. And there may be a bond.

Get every trace of mud off them before you leave, so it only gets steam cleaned here once.

Thats my recollections when I did it. Its an ordeal, get those fact sheets from Customs.

Cya
Max P

[Maxtd5def]

How could I forget.

You'll need an engineering certificate for the mods on your car to get it registered. Do a search on this site, theres plenty of discussion about QLD certificates.

Regards
Max P

[turps]

Since you have owned them and lived in there current country, it shouldn't be to hard. Well this is what I read from some article on bringing in Jap cars.

If you cant find any good info on the customs site, email them with the details. They will eventualy get back to with the answers you seek.

[Maxtd5def]

That rings a bell.

With mine they knocked off 1% for every month I owned it. But they went through my passport and didn't count the time overseas. Which was a lot at the time.

[aliread]

well thank you all for your quick replies

To clear up some points
The M reg is a 1995 300 Tdi truck and mine is a 1991 200 Tdi truck


Maxtd5def wrote

Can't tell how old your car is, but a new immigrant may not have to pay duty. But you can't sell it for twelve months or so. And there may be a bond.


Due to British insurance being so high both the trucks are in my name (due to wife having an Aus driving lincense) , and part of the deal of me moving to Brisbane is that i take my toy with me . So i won't want to sell it any way , as it has taken me long enough to get it the way i want it. My wifes 90 was made for us and was a white van. So as she had it bulit to the way she wanted it then she does not want to leave it behind or sell it.

Maxtd5def wrote

You'll need an engineering certificate for the mods on your car to get it registered. Do a search on this site, theres plenty of discussion about QLD certificates.


Can that be done in the UK or does it need to be done in Queensland?
Again thank you for your help

[ISUZUROVER]

As others have said it should be a bit easier since you have owned them for a while, and you may be able to avoid some of the taxes on those grounds (are just bringing posessions with you when emmigrating).

As I understand it (has been a few years) for imported cars - you will have to change things like catalytic converter, tyres (if not approved for OZ), possibly seat belts, and maybe headlights.

Since your wife's car is stock that one should be reasonably easy. For yours, you will have to get a 2nd set of wheels (7.50's or 235/85's), because apart from 35's being too large to be approved for a 90 (and mod plates for tyres being hard to get), you can only legally fit cross plys to a vehicle sold with them by the factory (so that means OK for a series but not for a defender). SO get yourself a cheap set of legal 31/32" tyres - lots of people run tyres like that in Brisbane, but they usually just hope the police won't notice (and they usually don't) - but if you really want to, once you have it in the country you can get modification approval for the 35's. For the other mods, if it doesn't look too different from stock they will hopefully slip under the net. Things like diff locks and aftermarket suspension don't need approval (as long as you just fit new springs and shocks and don't change the links or structural components), but you will need modification plates for the cage and any replacement (non factory) seats and things like that - but hopefully they will slip under the net. Make sure the plates on both vehicles show the seating capacity the same as the number of seats in the car. You can't get modification plates for QLD outside QLD, so you will have to wait until you arrive.

And as others have said - make sure it is 100% spotless, they will probably quarantine them for a while anyway - but you don't want to have to pay extra fees for cleaning.

[aliread]

ISUZUROVER wrote
(are just bringing posessions with you when emmigrating).


Yeah the idea is to put the 2 90's into a 40 foot container and then put other personal bits around the cars, no furntiure.

I was going to put it on a set of road legal 750's and put the tyres at the back of the container and make the surpension as stand as poss and then change it back 6 months after it is in the country and regestered. I have discolating back springs (OME) which have to come off (well put back to non discolating)

ISUZUROVER wrote
lots of people run tyres like that in Brisbane, but they usually just hope the police won't notice (and they usually don't)

mm that is pretty much what it is like here in the UK:-)

Cheers
Ali

[ISUZUROVER]

There should be no import duty on spare parts you bring with you - tyres, springs, etc.

[daddylonglegs]

As I suggested before, give Anthony Jonson a call. He had the very first license to import used 90's from the UK. Even after changing stuff like stop/tail lamp lenses, some glass, seatbelts etc and getting engineers reports on standard 90's in Victoria registration was refused in NSW and I think QLD. It will only cost you one phone call and you will have the info.
He's a pom too, and easy to talk to.
That is Victoria Aust O3 9729 9943.

[ISUZUROVER]

As I suggested before, give Anthony Jonson a call. He had the very first license to import used 90's from the UK. Even after changing stuff like stop/tail lamp lenses, some glass, seatbelts etc and getting engineers reports on standard 90's in Victoria registration was refused in NSW and I think QLD. It will only cost you one phone call and you will have the info.
He's a pom too, and easy to talk to.
That is Victoria Aust O3 9729 9943.

The number will be +61 3 9729 9943

Sorry Bill, but I don't believe that he was refused reg in QLD. There was a QLD company called Rover Direct that imported a number of V8 90's (When I spoke to the guy he said they weren't allowed to import TD/TDi models because of parallel import restrictions at the time - were deemed to be too close to the 110?!?!?!). I have seen a few imported 90's getting around Brisbane.

And a former member of the Brisbane club did a personal import on a TD 90. Not very many problems and he didn't have to change much.

[cmcd]

i know i have to change the tail pipe from Passenger to drivers side, but is the any other little changes done .

Do you? My Commodore has the exhaust pipe on the passengers side, as does my Rangy. I can't say I've paid enough attention to Defenders here to remember if the pipe is on the drivers side though.

It's always struck me as odd that Holdens have the exhaust on the PS, and Fords have their exhaust on the DS.

Anyone else clarify?

Macca

[daddylonglegs]

Cheers Ben, It may have been just NSW. I believe Anthony had to buy one vehicle back from a guy he sold it to in NSW because the Authorities there would not register it.
Most privately imported from the UK cars and LandRovers I have seen over the years seem to rust away within 12 months of arrival here.
Do the ships tow the containers behind them on a rope ?
Bill.

[aliread]

About the exhaust, i got the info from the Queensland Transport Dept
I checked it and found that the 110 Aus spec exhaust comes out Driver side where as all the others come out Passenger side. Also the Aus spec 90 is the same

Most privately imported from the UK cars and LandRovers I have seen over the years seem to rust away within 12 months of arrival here.
Do the ships tow the containers behind them on a rope ?


mmm no just the crap and stuff they put on the roads here seem to do the job fine on their own

thanks for the number, i will give the chap a call later , (when time is right)
Again cheers for all your help

[ISUZUROVER]

The exhaust issue seems strange - you can probably get away with it. My 1968 IIA has the exhaust outlet on the Drivers side after the rear wheel (factory) while my 110 County has the exhaust exit on the rear corner on the Passenger side!!!

Maybe it depends on whether they count it as a side facing or rear facing exhaust. If they exit prom the passenger side near the rear crossmember then you can probably argue that it is a rear-facing exhaust (or add a new tip to make sure it is) and not have to change it.

Your 90's should only have to comply with ADR's for the year they were made, not the ones for the current 90's.

[aliread]

Your 90's should only have to comply with ADR's for the year they were made, not the ones for the current 90's

Ah yeah course , that will make a dfifferance.
Oh well give it a bash, from what i understand they just ask you to change it there and then if they don't like it or it does not meet rules. And when you have done this they then let it go though. This goes for most bits

[ISUZUROVER]

Just had a look at your pics.

Spotlights are only allowed to be mounted 1.4m above the ground - so you will have to remove yours, and it looks like the front ones protrude forward from the bullbar, so they will have to be removed also. Spotlights also must be wired so that they automatically extinguish when you dip your headlights. They will probably not worry about the roller fairlead for the winch.

To see if your current suspension is legal, do a search on the regulations, there is something about the maximum amount you can alter your suspension in bump or rebound mode...

[aliread]

Just had a look at your pics.

Spotlights are only allowed to be mounted 1.4m above the ground - so you will have to remove yours, and it looks like the front ones protrude forward from the bullbar, so they will have to be removed also. Spotlights also must be wired so that they automatically extinguish when you dip your headlights. They will probably not worry about the roller fairlead for the winch.

To see if your current suspension is legal, do a search on the regulations, there is something about the maximum amount you can alter your suspension in bump or rebound mode...

Not a problem to take off the lights on the cage
My front bumper is coming off (it is a BRB an english copy of an ARB, bloke that makes them calls them BRB to stand for British Roo Bar, beacuse like alot of pomie's he thinks ARB stands for Australian Roo Bars, which of course it does not)
I have an ARB bumper ready to go , due to the fact that QLD transport rules state you have to have a covered roller fairlead and indicators in the front bumper. Which the ARB has. This will also sort out the problem of the lights sticking out the front.
The rules about the lights being automatically extinguish when you dip your headlights is the same here and they are already set up to do that

My surpension is Old man Emu 784's alround with OME shocks. But on the back axle i have bent rear radius arms, Drop shock mounts (which drop the chassis mounting 2"down for more travel) , and i also have discolation cones (which replace the springs back into the seats when come back down from full travel). But these mods are going to come off and going back to the standard OME set up but with out the shock mounts and bent rear radius arms and the standard bits. This is beacuse again, the Queensland transport states that the rear surpension on Coils in not alowed to become unseated on axle travel. Tried to keep with OME as it is Aus so should be the best way to get the truck in Aus and pass Aus rules

Cheers
Ali

[Maxtd5def]

Like the others have said, I think you've just got to meet the regs in force as at the time of manufacture, 1991 & 1995. The banger I brought in was 1972 vintage, I just had to add rear seat belts.

I doubt the exhaust pipe will be an issue, that was just for the TD5 models when being homologated.

There is one snag if both cars are in your name: you might just might only be allowed to bring one in. Some money to DVLC & change the cheaper one into your wife's name? Customs here will probably cross check with Swansea, so don't stretch how long Car No.2 has been in her name...

And you're right, mine had a lot of surface corrosion when it arrived, and mould on the leather. I thinked the containers are sealed in a high humidity environment, and then or course the container is cooked through the tropics on its journey here.

But its worth it..

Regards
Max P

[auto_eng]

The only way you will be able to import these vehicles is to import them as “Personal Import”. You can only import a vehicle under that scheme if you have owned and had it registered in your name overseas for a 12 month period. There is no leaning on these rules as they require copies of your passports so you can’t fly somewhere, register a car, fly back and go and get it in 12 month. It seems you will be OK on this.

To the have vehicle released from the dock you will require a valid import approval. You can download the application from for this from

http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/vsb/vsb_10.htm

When you are filling out the import approval I would recommend you nominate an Australian address as the address on the import approval is the one the “Personal Import Plate” will be sent to.

I would also strongly recommend you have your air con degassed and have some documentation to prove this. You now require a permit to import R134a or any other A/C gas now. This permit costs $3000 so it is better to just have it degassed. R12 is a prohibited import and if your vehicle has this your vehicle will can be refused entry to the country and you will have to ship it somewhere else. You may get around this but its hardly worth the risk.

Your vehicle is not required to meet the ADR’s applicable to its date of manufacture. This would be true if it was imported under the RAWS scheme or as a over 15 year old vehicle but as yours will have to be done as a personal import it only has to meet the requirements of a LO3 certification as it receives some exemptions from the Motor Vehicle Standard Act.

Once your vehicles get here you will have to have them certified by an Approved Officer. I will send you a PM with some contact numbers. Any modifications to the vehicle will also have to be certified but an Authorised officer holding the LO3 code will more than likely be able to certify your other mods too. As said above you will have to swap tyres an some mods may not be permissible

As for the exhaust, if the pipe exits the rear of the vehicle and can be anyside. If the pipe come out the side of the vehicle it has to be on the RHS. (ADR 42/03 Clause 11.1 if you want more info)

I would not bother removing anything from the vehicle until you get the vehicle here. You may end up having to pay duty on the parts separately then. If something has to be removed you can do that here once the engineer has initially evaluated the vehicle. Under this import scheme there are not requirement for any non-compliant components to be exported or destroyed. Other import schemes do.

Once you get the vehicle here, take it to an approved officer, they will do the LO3 certification and endorse the copies of your import approval (DO NOT LOOSE YOUR IMPORT APPROVAL – BIG HEADACHES). You then send the import approvals and payment, about $70, to the company that issues the plate on behalf of the DOTARS. This company is Niddrie Nameplates in VIC and their address and contact details will appear on your import approal. They then send you a yellow “Personal Import Plate” which will get riveted onto your vehicle near the LO3 plate. You then go and get a Safety Certificate from an approved inspection station and you can register the vehicle. You will still have to pay 2% stamp duty when you register it.

When you import the vehicle you will have to pay import duty and GST on the total of the vehicle value + Duty value + Shipping costs. You can nominate value of the vehicle by depreciating what you purchased it for over the time you have owned it or have customs do the valuation themselves. The only vehicle exempt from duty are those over 30 years old but they are still not exempt from GST.

Wash it, wash it again and then wash it again before you ship it. Take all four wheels off and wash everything and take out your spare and wash it too. Make sure there is no loose grass or seeds in your radiator or A/C evaporator or air filter.

[Pup]

IMPORT ONE FOR ME!!! im fed up of the zook, want something with a bit more class!!

nice trucks be good to see some d90s running about brisbane

[DFND90]

My 90 came from Anthony Johnson in melbourne. I believe its the one Bill mentioned as having been bought back due to it be unregisterable in NSW. I purchased it after that and tried again to register it with no luck. However the reaon it could not be registered is nothing to do with ADR its the fact that it has no compliance plate, which in itself is not a problem but the conditions on the import papers that make it unregisterable.

[Pup]

how did you get on with importing the two 90's? be good to see them out and about on a trip or something

[aliread]

how did you get on with importing the two 90's? be good to see them out and about on a trip or something

Have not sent them yet. In the middle of stripping down mine and cleaning it big time. And then a full respay from the bottom up. And replaced bits that i know the Aussie's won't like. due to be shipped in Feb now

[Pup]

dont get rid of the bits ur taking off, hang onto them and put them back on once you get here

also sounds like a very expensive exercise, but i guess it will be worth it cos ull have a 4by that you dont see very often in australia

[aliread]

dont get rid of the bits ur taking off, hang onto them and put them back on once you get here

also sounds like a very expensive exercise, but i guess it will be worth it cos ull have a 4by that you dont see very often in australia

yeah plan to do just that. apart from the front bumper which i changed to an ARB one, as the one i had was not legal. Also putting on new doors and rear wings as they are dented (as i am going to respay anyway) . Sort of in for a penny in for a pound

[cols110]

Ali, as for rebuilding your 90 before you go it might end up costing you more in duties etc, I have been toying with doing a similar thing with our Camel, but have decided against it as I want the lowest valuation possible when it gets assesed, my understanding is you pay import duties on the value of the vehicle when you brought it, non adjustable for depreciation etc, and if you cant provide proof of purchase price they revalue it, and charge the appropriate fee`s etc.

You may also run into probs without having your second one registered in your misses name for at least 12 months.

I`m interested to see how you go especially with your misses being a returning resident.

[aliread]

Hi Cols110
Few things as for the import duties.
If you are perminately moving to Aus you are allowed to bring one car (per year) in as part of your moving stuff. This they claim will be tax free.
Also all Aus citizens returning from living aboard are allowed to bring one car back with them too , as long as they can prove the car is theirs and they have lived with it for the past 12 months.
My 90 , i have the invoice when i bought it in my name and log book.
My wifes, we have an invoice for the sale in her name and the log book for the car is in my name (for insurance ) Same address. But this is not a problem as the Log book is the keeper of the car and does not relate to the owner of the car. So the invoice proves that the car is my wifes as she paid for it.
So hopefully we can get both cars in with little import duty. But we are prepared for the worse.

As for doing my truck up , i will just give it a coat of paint and a few newer wings. the spray job is going to be a 10 foot job (ie it will look ok from 10 foot). but the main thing is i am doing it to clean it as the customs get really anal about that . So i am going to clean it and then respray the underneth so it looks clean and tidy.

[cols110]

I`m interested to see how you get on, as it`ll give me a better idea of what to expect, researching the internet is one thing, but actually doing it is another, the other thing that is hard to find is examples of returning residents, most are emigrating or just importing.

Hope it goes well for you.