Importing Japanese used cars to Australia

THE JAPANESE IMPORT PROFILE

Check out the forums on importing Japanese used cars to Australia as well to find more information

Low-volume Japanese imports fall into three major categories. Among the most expensive are luxury and/or high-performance passenger models represented by the Toyota Soarer and Chaser, Nissan GTS Turbo and 300ZX, the Toyota Supra, Mitsubishi 3000GT and Eunos Cosmo. Offering similar performance but in a smaller, less costly package are sporty coupe and hatchback models including Nissan's 180SX and Silvia, the Mazda Familia 4WD, Nissan GTiR and Toyota Starlet GT.

In volume terms the dominant force has been turbo-diesel 4WDs, headed by the Toyota Surf, Nissan Terrano and Isuzu MU. Complementing the off-roaders are 4WD 'people-movers' like the Toyota Estima and Mitsubishi Delica. Until recently, the market also supported declining numbers of medium-sized passenger cars - the most prolific of these being 1990s Toyota Coronas.

"Nobody insures imports" is a tactic still used by dealers to discourage potential buyers from comparing high-kilometre domestic models with the row of hardly-used Japanese imports on offer in competing yards. And, in the case of most mainstream insurers, the statement is founded in fact. However, moving down a level on the motor insurance food-chain you'll find a string of reputable, independent companies and insurance agencies which welcome the vast majority of Japanese imports. Ironically, some of these agencies are underwritten by the very insurers that will hit the 'decline' button a moment after the phrase 'Japanese import' is uttered by a potential client.

Among the largest insurers of low-volume Japanese imports is AAMI subsidiary Just Cars. This company is also one of very few to accept under 25-year-old drivers of high-performance models - subject to acceptance and at appropriate premiums. Others in the market include Lumley subsidiary Torque Underwriting , Unique Car Insurance, Dawes Underwriting and Australian 4WD Insurance. Classic vehicle insurer Shannons will accept some imported vehicles provided the driver presents as a bona-fide motoring enthusiast. Membership of a recognised enthusiast vehicle club will help your case. Of the mainstream insurance companies, only the Queensland-based Suncorp still offers import-vehicle cover but places restrictions on acceptable vehicles and driver age.

Insurer reluctance to jump on the LVI bandwagon was spurred by fears of unavailable parts and most companies' inability to determine 'market' values for these vehicles. However Brisbane-based broker Insurance Advisernet that deals with a range of companies says that it can now arrange policies with insurers which offer agreed value cover and even excess-free windscreen replacement.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO IMPORT A VEHICLE TO AUSTRALIA

The following are different ways you can import a vehicle to Australia. At least one of the following criteriamust be met to be eligible to import a vehicle into Australia

Each heading is a different way you can qualify to import a vehicle..

1. Vehicles built before 1 January 1989 - Part 4 on Application Form

Vehicles built before 1 January 1989 may be imported to Australia without restriction. An import approval is still required and the enclosed application from should be used.

The vehicle must be built prior to 1 January 1989 unless it meets the transitional arrangement below:

• If you made a financial commitment and purchased a 1989 or 1990 vehicle prior to 7 February 2005 you may apply to import your vehicle until 31 December 2005; but

• If the vehicle is a 1990 year of manufacture you may only apply on or after the month when the vehicle turns 15 years old, eg a vehicle manufactured in September 1990 can be applied for import in September 2005 provided there was a financial commitment before 7 February 2005.

Please note that the Import Approval is an Australian Government requirement and vehicles are not exempt from State or Territory registration requirements. You should contact the motor vehicle registration authority in the State or Territory where you intend to register the vehicle for information on their requirements. Contact details are included at the end of this bulletin.

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee, purchase document, certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again). Transitional vehicles will need to provide evidence of payment prior to 7 February 2005 if the year of manufacture shows the vehicle to be a 1990 manufacture you will also need to supply evidence of the month of manufacture, eg registration/deregistration showing date of first registration, confirmation from the vehicle manufacture or any other evidence available.

Note:

If you meet the Personal Import requirements (see page 8), you may find it advantageous to import your vehicle under Part 8 on the application form rather than Part 4. Your local State or Territory registration authority can advise you on any differences in the registration process for vehicles built prior to 1 January 1989 as opposed to Personal Import Vehicles.

Dealers and distributors do not have authority to sign a Letter of Compliance. A Letter will only be issued by the manufacturer where a vehicle was originally built to Australian specifications (ie to comply with the Australian Design Rules).

A Letter of Compliance states that a vehicle complies with the applicable ADRs at the time of the vehicle's original build date. Only the authorised Australian representative of the manufacturer, or the organisation holding the Plate Approval for the particular vehicle model, can issue a Letter of Compliance for the vehicle you intend to import. It is therefore only in exceptional circumstances that a Letter of Compliance can be obtained.

You are only permitted to import 1 vehicle in a 12 month period under these arrangements.

The plate is supplied by the Administrator for affixing to the vehicle before registration in your State or Territory. There is a charge for the supply of this plate by the authorised plate engraver.

Details of companies that have approval to place identification plates on new vehicle and therefore are permitted to issue a Letter of Compliance are available from the Internet at

http://www.dotars.gov.au/rvcs
Vehicle/RVD Search

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee, purchase document, original Letter of Compliance, certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again).

Personal Imports - Part 8 on Application Form

Visitors, temporary residents, foreign diplomatic personnel, companies and corporations are not eligible to import a vehicle under the personal import scheme.

To be eligible for a personal import the following criteria must be satisfied:

1. the vehicle has been owned and used by the applicant for a continuous period of at least 12 months (3 months where ownership and use of the vehicle commenced before 8 May 2000);
2. at the time the vehicle is imported, the applicant is:
   i. an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident; or
   ii. a person who has applied to become an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident;
3. the applicant is of an age that entitles him or her to hold a licence or a permit to drive a road vehicle of that type;
4. the applicant undertakes to comply with any requirements as to road safety that are imposed in respect of the vehicle by the Administrator; and
5. the applicant has not imported a road vehicle owned by him/her within the year ending on the day on which the vehicle in respect of which the application is made is landed in Australia. If an applicant has imported a vehicle under any other provisions in that time, approval will not be granted.

The criteria outlined at (a) to (e) above are mandatory criteria as included in Regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989. The criteria will be strictly enforced.

Copies of the following documents must be provided to establish ownership and use of the vehicle overseas for twelve consecutive months, or more:

• every page of your passport including all blank pages
• statement of travel. This involves supplying details of any absences from your main country of residence during the relevant qualifying period for ownership and use of the vehicle. If your travel was for business reasons you must supply a letter to that effect from your employer.
• purchase documents
• overseas registration documents in your name
• Driver's Licence

A $50 application fee must also be provided.

Applicants importing from Japan must include the following additional documents:

• Overseas registration certificate, from time of purchase, to time of deregistration, in the applicant's name
• Overseas de-registration certificate, in the applicant's name, showing the date that the vehicle was deregistered in Japan if applicable
• A parking approval in the applicant's name showing that the applicant had permission to park the vehicle
• Compulsory Tax and Insurance
• The applicant's driver's licence -international or as issued by Japanese authorities.

All Applicants

Further details may be requested to substantiate claims of ownership and use of the vehicle during the qualifying period.

Other documents that may be required include:

• Previous owner's deregistration certificate for the vehicle
• Vehicle insurance documents in the applicant's name
• Documents, in the applicant's name, in relation to the purchase of the vehicle, for example, cheque butts, bank statement/credit card statement, ATM withdrawal document, receipt from vendor of vehicle
• Documents, in the applicant's name, showing that the applicant paid for any maintenance or repairs to the vehicle
• The applicant's passport with exit and entry stamps that indicate when the applicant left and returned to Australia and show that the applicant was continuously with the vehicle in the overseas country for the required period
• Proof that the applicant is currently resident in Australia
• Proof that the applicant returns to Australia with the vehicle
• The applicant must produce a copy of both passports when dual passports are held
• Proof of the applicant's physical presence, continuously or intermittently, during a twelve month period in the country where the vehicle was purchased and primarily used prior to lodging an application to import the vehicle to Australia
• Evidence of the frequency, regularity and duration of visits to places outside the country where the vehicle was purchased and used
• Evidence of the maintenance by the applicant of a permanent place of abode in the overseas country during absences (eg telephone accounts, electricity bills).

Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation certified by a member of an accredited agency such as the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters.

You may be required to submit original documentation (not photocopies) to confirm eligibility under the Personal Import Scheme. If the applicant declines to submit the documents requested, the Administrator will take this into account in assessing the bona fides of the application and may, as a result, refuse to issue an import approval.

Applicants can contact the Department by phone (calling within Australia 1800 815 272 or from outside Australia 61 2 6274 7444 or by e-mail to Vimports@dotars.gov.au) for advice on acceptable authorities to witness documents in the country where the vehicle is registered and/or used. These persons would hold an authority to witness documents similar to that of a Public Notary or Justice of the Peace in Australia.

Under the Personal Import Scheme, modifications to bring the vehicle up to minimum safety standards can be deferred until you wish to register the vehicle.

For Australian registration purposes a vehicle imported under this category must:

• be roadworthy; and
• meet minimum safety standards

if you are eligible, a Personal Import Approval will be issued. The approval papers comprise four parts:

• One copy clears the vehicle from its point of entry to Australia;
• One allows you to obtain a Personal Import Plate;
• One is for the registering authority; and
• The fourth is for your own records and should be kept with the vehicle.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Make sure that all necessary documents and the application fee are included with your application.

Extra application forms are available on request, or you may obtain one from the Internet site at: www.dotars.gov.au/rvcs

It is important that applications are complete and that copies of all supporting documents are securely attached to your application. Any documents in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation. Incomplete applications will cause delays that can be costly and inconvenient to you.

Please provide an Australian address to which your approval can be sent. Original Vehicle Import Approvals will be mailed to the importer at the nominated physical address.

Any matters regarding taxes/duties should be directed to the Australian Customs Service. Addresses details are included at the back of this bulletin.

You should be aware that the information you provide in the import approval application may be provided to Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. A consent authority is included in the application form.