Im pretty new to this adventure motorbiking and I was wondering if u need a Carnet for Australia.
Also for insurance would I get it in the U.K or when I get to Australia.

Cheers

Get ready for this.
I have just heard from a fellow biker that Australia has changed its importation requirements. All motorcycles are to have a carnet or if not then one must go through the process of getting a vehicle import licence from Australia. see www.dotrs.gov.au
This process can take several weeks.
Can someone please look into this as I am in NZ now and I am Australia bound next month and have no carnet.

I looked at the Australian Government Documentation on their website Importing Vehicles to Australia - Page 10, and read the following:

OVERSEAS VISITORS TO AUSTRALIA
In accordance with the provisions of certain international conventions on road traffic,
Australia recognises the temporary import of vehicles for a period of less than 12
months by visiting foreign nationals of signatory countries who hold a visitors visa
In this category vehicles may be allowed entry in one of two ways:

(a) By presenting a valid Carnet de Passage en Duane at port of entry to
Australia, in which case no Vehicle Import Approval is required.

(b) By submitting an application to import a vehicle accompanied by a copy of
current overseas registration document valid for the period of the visit and
passport pages showing nationality, personal details and valid Australian
visitor's visa.

The way I read this (just my interpretation, YMMV), you can do it the 'hard' way, with the old fashioned carnet, or you can do it 'their' way, by filling out a form and asking for permission in advance. My guess is that if you and the bike appear to them (on paper) to be bona fide visitors who are just passing through, they will grant you a permission in advance, without requiring you to get a carnet. If they think you plan to import something that is not available or allowed in Australia (Hayabusa, 400hp street racer, exotic crotch rocket tax unpaid, etc.) and then sell it, they'll probably ask you to post a bond or get a carnet.

Let us know what you find out.


[This message has been edited by PanEuropean (edited 25 March 2002).]

You might also like to check out this gem. Once you have imported the bike, you then need the Unregistered Vehicle Permit to take it on the road (inludes 3rd party insurance) and even better, it looks like each State has its own . . . .

I imagine many travellers decide not to go to the trouble ??

http://www.aaa.asn.au/pages/import.htm



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Hi Kevin and Julia

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a lot of paperwork, but I note the link you posted is dated January 1998, so doesn't sound like things have changed recently. Maybe they're just getting pickier about their regulations?

Have you contacted the individual states? From the link, it sounds like several of them require third party insurance cover. I wonder if that's available for all of Australia, or if you have to buy it in each state?

Please let us know what you find out.

Thanks
Susan

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Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com