Importing A Car From The U.s.a

[CLuTZ]

Hey everyone,

I am looking to buy a Cadillac from Colorado that is on ebay at the moment as a weekend cruiser/lowrider project. Has anyone here had any experience when it comes to importing cars? I wanted to try and reduce cost by cutting out the middle man, but am stuck on who to choose for shipping the car from the West Coast, to Melbourne. There seems to be a fair few cowboys in the industry.

If anyone could shed some light on the topic, it'd be much appreciated....! I will still consider a broker if someone has a recommendation that is well worth the extra money....

[PAZZ]

Have a look here http://www.infrastru...cles/index.aspx

Then for your shipping.

http://www.schumache...e-shipping.html

And for your custom agent in Melbourne.

http://www.freightnet.com.au/index.asp

Haven't used either as yet, but hopefully in the very near future I will be. They come well recommended.

Copied and paste this for you.

1.Find a car. (US E-Bay is a good place to look believe it or not)-check the dollar conversion rate daily and watch trends before you commit to a car-have 3 or 4 choices on hand.

2 Get ISD if you don't have it and speak directly to the seller(s).Check the time zones of course.Americans are generally fairly informative and happy to spend time with an aussie on the phone.

Try to avoid cars from snow affected states and have all your VIN numbers/codes on hand if you're after something built in lesser numbers so that you can check for colour,transmission changes etc .

2.Have the car inspected.

3.Make sure the car has clear title and ask for an email copy.Your importer will need a copy too.He will have a legal contact in the states who will need to process the original.The car cannot legally travel across international borders without it.

4.Find an importer

Check their credentials thoroughly.Ask if the car is coming direct( West Coast USA to Australian eastern seaboard) or via Asia which takes almost twice as long ie.up to 8 weeks..

Get a commitment up front that you will be regularly informed of transit progress- ie at least twice a week.

Find out which shipping company the importer uses and ask for the container number-you can keep track of the container's progress live on Lloyds Shipping MU.

Find out who the freight forwarder is in Australia and ask if you can be in attendance when the car is taken out of the container-some will let you be present

Buy a car on the West Coast if possible-transit from central or eastern states takes time and money.

5.Contact DOTARS Canberra on line for an import permit well before the car arrives.

6. Make sure as soon as you buy a car that you have it insured-the importer can help with this.

7.Make sure you have calculated the full cost of the car landed inc GST,cleaning ete etc so you're not caught short.

8.Lastly-unless you're prepared to convert a car to RHD and have it engineered then try to look for a car that's basically stock or has after market parts which can be easily removed.

A car with minitubs etc etc is going to be pretty tough in some states to register as left hand drive.

That's the short hand version- but there are lots of details in the above steps which need to be addressed as the process unfolds.

A good import agent will help with most of this.

[Vevapower]

I bring heaps of cars into OZ mate, happy to quote you up if you like!

I mainly do Drag Cars but I just recently did 2 x Mustangs and 1 x SS Camaro Z28!

Pm me if you want I have 3 offices in the states and one in all main ports in oz!

[CBXRT]

As Pazz says (in brilliant detail) above, also investigated this and that's an excellent guide. Its an absolute minefield no question, but may be worth it in the end for you if you have the time?

Best of luck with it regardless, awesome idea for sure as not many cooler cars on our roads that the stars and stripes variety (Mustangs/Vettes/Camaros/Challengers are my go personally, wish I lived in America only for that reason! lol)

[Memo]

Have a look here http://www.infrastru...cles/index.aspx

Then for your shipping.

http://www.schumache...e-shipping.html

And for your custom agent in Melbourne.

http://www.freightnet.com.au/index.asp

Haven't used either as yet, but hopefully in the very near future I will be. They come well recommended.

Copied and paste this for you.

1.Find a car. (US E-Bay is a good place to look believe it or not)-check the dollar conversion rate daily and watch trends before you commit to a car-have 3 or 4 choices on hand.

2 Get ISD if you don't have it and speak directly to the seller(s).Check the time zones of course.Americans are generally fairly informative and happy to spend time with an aussie on the phone.

Try to avoid cars from snow affected states and have all your VIN numbers/codes on hand if you're after something built in lesser numbers so that you can check for colour,transmission changes etc .

2.Have the car inspected.

3.Make sure the car has clear title and ask for an email copy.Your importer will need a copy too.He will have a legal contact in the states who will need to process the original.The car cannot legally travel across international borders without it.

4.Find an importer

Check their credentials thoroughly.Ask if the car is coming direct( West Coast USA to Australian eastern seaboard) or via Asia which takes almost twice as long ie.up to 8 weeks..

Get a commitment up front that you will be regularly informed of transit progress- ie at least twice a week.

Find out which shipping company the importer uses and ask for the container number-you can keep track of the container's progress live on Lloyds Shipping MU.

Find out who the freight forwarder is in Australia and ask if you can be in attendance when the car is taken out of the container-some will let you be present

Buy a car on the West Coast if possible-transit from central or eastern states takes time and money.

5.Contact DOTARS Canberra on line for an import permit well before the car arrives.

6. Make sure as soon as you buy a car that you have it insured-the importer can help with this.

7.Make sure you have calculated the full cost of the car landed inc GST,cleaning ete etc so you're not caught short.

8.Lastly-unless you're prepared to convert a car to RHD and have it engineered then try to look for a car that's basically stock or has after market parts which can be easily removed.

A car with minitubs etc etc is going to be pretty tough in some states to register as left hand drive.

That's the short hand version- but there are lots of details in the above steps which need to be addressed as the process unfolds.

A good import agent will help with most of this.

Great write up Pazz, thanks for that very informal...

[CLuTZ]

Thanks for all your replies guys...!

I have sent my import approval application off to DOTARS today. I have also found an importer (Schumacher) to take the car from Colorado to Melbourne for $2625 fully insured. That is the best quote I have got by far.....!

I've got a friend that is handling the car as soon as it gets into Melbourne. I even get to be present when they are unloading it out of the container.

I'll make sure I'll keep you all posted with how it's coming along...!

[PhilMeUp]

Some day, if mankind ever invents a time machine, we will be able to go back in time and belt the living daylights out of the idiot that decided that American cars had to be left-hand drive. (I think it was Henry Ford)

[ALF05T]

What about USATOAUS.COM

A bit more expensive though. I want to buy a 1970 Camaro but in Adelaide the car has to be completely standard if not converted to right hand drive.

Also I have to off load my BA!! XR6T which is worth chicken feed these days toward my American muscle car.

[bluprinturbo]

ive seen a few left hand drive cars around brizzy. whats the go, do they have permits and are permanently able to use the vehicle as lhd or is it only to get to a shop or home from the docks?

[Never had any say Panda]

There is a couple mustangs getting around CQ. I think they get a permit to allow them on the road as LHD. I think there may be a sticker they have to have or something.