permanent import into australia

[thecanoeguy]

i am bringing my klr back to australia with me i got a quote for this ,it s eems well on e steep side with all the port fees etc ,any one got any info on this ,this is the quote i got
Based on a “standard crate” (2.2 x 1.2 x .9) cubic is 2.376 cbm, indicative costs will be, FOB Buenos Aires to Melbourne ...

Oceanfreight USD522.72 x .80 AUD 653.40
Melbourne Port Charges AUD 367.93
Customs Clearance AUD 275.00
Quarantine Clearance AUD 179.00

I trust this gives you something to work on, let me know if I can assist further. Kind regards

cheers dave

[Elmacaro]

It looks like they are a bit excessive with customs and quarantine, but otherwise reasonable. For reference, I shipped my bike crated into Melbourne this January. Charges were:

Port charges 373
Customs 200
Quaratine ~70

[RogerM]

I assume that Customs Clearance means the customs agent's fee for doing the running around?

Dont forget to add GST @ 10% on the Ocean freight and the value of the bike including the tarrif.

[farqhuar]

That's not a bad price Dave, you can always do the customs and quarantine clearance here yourself and save a few bucks if you want. By comparison, it cost me more than double that amount to ship the Burgie back from Rome last year.

[jc]

Mate, that is still cheap and I'm sure you'll end up paying a lot more than that.
I'm busy with the same prosess here in Melbourne, bringing in my BMW GS and is facing huge costs that I never budgeted for. They dont tell you these thing when you first enquire!
I dont have all the details yet, and will gladly share it here when the process is done, but currently I've paid AUD670 in port handling fees etc (Not quarintine). This added up my total sea freigh cost to just over US$2000 from Valparaiso! I should have flown the bike with Air Freight, as it was cheaper for me with Air Freight to the USA than sea freight it here from Chile!

Anyway, the bike is now at quarintine, and I'm looking at another AUD500 or so by the time thats done. Then comes the courier charges too, another $200 or more.

The import procedure is also not so streight forward. Bike needs to be valued by an authorised validater or someone like that. More $$! The import declaration form that needs to be filled out is complicated, or for me it is, so I'll might have to use an agent.

Hopefully I dont have to pay any import tax on it, as I'm allowed to bring in one personal vechile as a new imigrant tax free. But who knows, I might be in for another surprise?

My dream of touring around Australia before setling down and find a job is now changing to getting a job first and then travel later as all my travel money is going into these huge fees I never knew about.

I'll let you know. . . .

Johan

[jc]

I just found out that I still need to pay the 10% GST (Import tax), so that is the final nail in the coffin on our nearby future travel plans!

Anyway, see below exact costs that we encountered in Melbourne to try and import our beloved bike that has taken us around the world, and when we have money again will take us around Australia one day. . . . . .

Amounts payable to the local Freight company that received the bike here in Melbourne

Import Processing Fee 16.50
Terminal Secrity Fee - Destination 16.50
Quarantine Facilitation Fee 31.35
Aust. Port Service Fuel Surcharge 7.90
CMR Compliance Fee - Destination 27.50
Terminal Handling Charges - Destination 98.73
Aust. Port Charges - Destination 375.16
Sea Cargo Automation Fee 27.50
Delivery Order Fee 66.00

Total AUD 667.14

Additional amounts payable

Customs Clearance Charges $250.00
Quarantine Fees, inspection and attendance $300.00
Transport and delivery to my address $190.00
Customs Processing Fee by hired agent $70.00
Valuation of Motor Bike (arranged by agent) $250.00

The motor bike will be subject to 10% GST on top of everything based on value supplied by valuer.

This brings our total to AUD 1727.14 (excluding GST)

Johan

[jc]

I now have my bike at home! That is step one finished!
The next step is Vic-roads and the local registration.
Called them yesterday and I was told that all I need is the Import Aproval, Roadworthy and of course plenty $$$$$

Interesting thing is that the bike is still registered in South Africa, so it looks like my bike might have a duel citiznship!

Sound almost too easy, but I'll let you guys know how it went when its done.

Johan

[Margus]

Johan,

If you have a Carnet cover you are NOT ALLOWED to register your bike elsewhere than it's "home" country where the Carnet was issued in. At least that's what's written on Carnet. So I reckon it translates as if you register it with new plates etc means you kill the Carnet and your deposit(!?) If you want to use Carnet you have to use your bike as a temporary import.

You should be able ride your bike around it only with a Carnet and a compulsory third-party insurance (pain in the a## to get it for temporarily imported vehicles in Aussie since they all do it only for Oz-registered vehicles). Some states may require that technical approval, but I reckon they aren't exacly sure about it since we spent days on calling different institutions and they themselves aren't sure what they exacly require (pink or blue slip etc) because ALL of them didn't know how to make one for a vehicle that is registered overseas (all the procedures require Aussie registration) - so IF the police really stops you in some state where that tech-approval is required, you say the same: "show me how to get one, mate!". This tech-approval is quite pointless anyway - they only check your bike for working lights and -breaks, if you have enough tire thread left and if you have any oil leaks. That's it! They'd do the same by just looking at your bike for a minute at the spot.

See about insurance here.
See about different states requirements here. (PS: that third party insurance via RTP there is just complete bollox, so don't take everything as truth - we spent days in confusion trying to temp. import our bike in their so called "official" way)

[jc]

Margus, I needed to full-import my bike to Australia as I entended to keep it in the country for more than one year (5 years in fact). My Carnet is in South Africa, and It has been cancelled now, and I should get my deposit back, no problem. We've done it by the book. I eventually will ride the bike back to South Africa via Asia, Europe and West Africa, so will keep my South African regestration allive, as it is so cheap to do anyway compared to what we have to pay here! (ZAR150 per year). And it will be easier and cheaper for me to get a South African Carnet than an Australian, but we'll only know in 5 years time. Have to save up some money first, the hard part of travelling.

Regestering it does not seem to be an issue, was told to get a roadworthy and bring the Import Aproval and the jobs done. We'll see, that should happen by next week friday.

Cheers
Johan