Anyone with import experience?

Found me a good "in the meantime" runabout, and now I'm looking for an f-car here. And boy howdy are they expensive. Been looking at importing a lhd 456. 1994. Anyone know their way around the import process? How bad am I gonna get screwed?

 

Just google it - there are several websites with all the info. I can connect you to a good LHD 456 that's already here. PM if interested.

 

I've Google, but lots of conflicting info. Best I can tell:

Rhd conversion: not needed due to age.
Gst: 10%
Luxury tax: not needed due to age

Shipping customs etc is what it is.

Am I missing something?

 

LCT is price related. If the landed value, including GST + shipping is over the threshold of $69,152, the amount over that is taxed at 33%.
https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/luxury-car-tax-rate-and-thresholds/
A 1994 LHD 456 in Australia will be virtually saleproof. And it will be as expensive to maintain and repair as RHD example.

 

Not concerned with resale. It's for me to enjoy. I can always ship it back stateside later.

So I still have lct even with the age of the car?

 

Sadly yes

 

Have a look here

https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/importing/how-to-import/types-of-imports/importing-a-motor-vehicle

 

Are you classified as a tourist or temporary resident?

https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/importing/how-to-import/temporary-imports

 

Yes. It's value based, nothing to do with the age.

 

Temp resident, applying for perm.

 

Having imported a non F car in April, let me just say there are many hurdles and then there is the cost. Having an agent handle process isn’t a requirement but makes life easier.
First of all you need an import approval and don’t even think about going ahead unless you get one. A LHD that was built in 94 there is a 25 year rule for classic cars However NOT in NSW
You need to have the car inspected and certified Asbestos free by an approved inspection facility in the country that the car is purchased, not here.
At the moment the freight cost forgetting taxes is now 4 times that of January.
The taxes are complicated and all get compounded, add then there is the LCT on value over 67,000 AUD it’s not a straight forward calculation.
Under the RAWs programme it needs to be modified to meet the Australian ADRs when 30 years old LHD is no issue but that’s stated dependant.

My advice a cheap 456 in LHD the cost and headache will cost more than a reasonable RHD one here. PS there is a Reason they are cheap....

 

Thanks for sharing Graeme, sounds like he should consider purchasing the LHD 456 that is already in the Country that IanB is talking about.

 

I would talk to Ian..Last state you want to import anything into is NSW..WA would probably be the best state to import…I think I even saw a LHD 550 for sale not long ago posted here..

 

Don't do it

Signature www.pless.com.au/mechanics.htm

 

use this calculator, it may be useful....

https://tauruslogistics.com.au/car-shipping/australia/australian-gst-duty-lct-calculator

 

Thank you for the insight.

For what it's worth, I'm not looking for cheap. And I prefer lhd. It looks like a good rhd 6mt example here is north of 200k, where a ldh in the states is sub 100k. Which at first blush seems to indicate an import may be worth it. But after reading your post and doing some more digging it may just not be worth the hassle.

I'm learning some things though, which is always good

 

Would you get all the taxes back? If not, it'll be the most expensive of the model in America!

 

Or perhaps you can take your rant to P&R where it belongs instead of hijacking a thread.

 

Or you can use the search facility , this has been discussed here ad nauseum

 

Anyway.....

 

What are the rules on driving LHD in NSW? I find it a real PITA driving LHD on Aussie roads...

 

As far as I know it's fine...

I do much better with LHD. I lived in St Thomas years ago, and it is LHD and drive on the left on the island. I got used to that much faster due to the spatial relations learned from decades of LHD.

For example, I am conditioned to look up and to the right for a rear view mirror. To use the left stalk for a turn signal. To shift with my right hand. To rest my left arm out the window. Even just the space occupied in relation to the outside of the vehicle when parking, turning, etc.

It's much easier to re-learn the side of the road than all the other things combined.

 

the only drawback of LHD here is carparks which have the payment/access machines on the right. The Vette is small enough that I can reach over from the driver's seat, but a 456 would be a big stretch. The open road issue is having to hang well back when looking to overtake on a single lane country road. But having plenty of grunt makes up for it and a 456 pulls like a monster at high speed. They're a great drive, but be prepared for high ownership costs.

 

Sent you a message

 

You know some of that makes no sense?
Never mind.
I used to drive a LHD car here quite a lot...it's fine.