:confused1:We are 2 Aussies who want to buy 2x BMW GS bikes in the UK, ride through west (mostly) Africa and ship them back to Australia. We will be touring for 4months.
so...
1) We need to get import approval.
- cannot do on personal imports scheme as not had the bikes for 12months, and they wont be old.
2) can apply using "all other imports" application form and need to have aust. compliance plates fitted and / or letter of compliance - where do we get this? What is the likelihood of getting approval?
3) We need to pay GST of 10% on the total of bike value +shipping+insurance
4)we dont need to pay VAT onpurchase in UK as are exporting
5) need to register and insure bikes. How/ where do we do this is we live in Au and buying in UK?
6)need carnets for transiting African countries. Can get 25 page CPD in UK and some countries can be arranged at borders. Can we send the documentation back to the UK to get security bond back?
7) need to clear quarantine in Australia.

If you can answer my questions, tell me what I've wrong or what I've forgotten, please let me know. I have been reading up so much on all of this and e-mailing so many different government departments (who generally dont answer) that I feel like I'm not getting anywhere.

Thanks,
Carolyn

For Oz import you should contact the horse's mouth: Oz customs.

6) of course, you just get the last page of the carnet correctly filled in once the bikes are imported into Oz.

7) partially dismantle the bikes before shipping and remove all specks of dirt, tar, etc.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

1) We need to get import approval.
- cannot do on personal imports scheme as not had the bikes for 12months, and they wont be old.

As you've said they will not be eligible for import until you've owned them and been with them overseas for 12 months. Do a weblookup on VSB1 from dept of Infrastructure (used to be called DoTARS).

2) can apply using "all other imports" application form and need to have aust. compliance plates fitted and / or letter of compliance - where do we get this? What is the likelihood of getting approval?

Nil.

3) We need to pay GST of 10% on the total of bike value +shipping+insurance

True, value is based upon the purchase price at the time you bought it - which after a trip through Africa may well be a lot lower than the real value.

4)we dont need to pay VAT onpurchase in UK as are exporting

True, but you need to buy from a company that is setup to do VAT exempt sales - not all businesses in the UK will get involved.

5) need to register and insure bikes. How/ where do we do this is we live in Au and buying in UK?

To register a UK vehicle you must have a UK address and drivers licence - it used to be so simple when anyone could just register a vehicle at 1 Buck House!! Best buy in Germany which has "export plates" valid for one year and comes automatically with green card insurance. The rego documents will be for your address in Australia - makes it easier. Have a look at mobile.de - Deutschlands größter Fahrzeugmarkt. Suchen, kaufen oder verkaufen Sie Neu- und Gebrauchtwagen for used bikes/new bikes. German ADAC website has plenty of info about CDPs and buying export vehicles.

6)need carnets for transiting African countries. Can get 25 page CPD in UK and some countries can be arranged at borders. Can we send the documentation back to the UK to get security bond back?

Yes.


7) need to clear quarantine in Australia.

Do a weblookup on AQIS and vehicle cleaning standards to give you an idea of what will be required by AQIS. Not a big deal as long as there are no signs of soil or seeds.

Thanks guys !
So... am is it impossible to bring the bikes back if we havent had them for a year....



:-(

surely other people do these kind of trips without having to buy here and ship ther AND back...?

Crlyn

The only way a private individual can import a vehicle nowadays is to either own it overseas for a year or more (and you must be with it for that year) or to purchase a vehicle built before 1989. Pre '89 built vehicles can be imported as a right - BUT only one vehicle every five years since last month (Feb 2010).

Complain to Anthony Albanese who is the polistocrat in charge of making things as hard as possible. The reply will come from a civil servant and will be full of platitudes about road safety, design considerations, your safety, etc etc.

You can of course offer a donation to the Labor Party and see where that gets you.

###&&&@@@@####!!!!

stupid pollie bastards!!!!