Although there are many great cars for sale within Australia, there are still times when you may need to ship your vehicle in or out of the country. This can be because you’ve been reposted abroad and you want to take your vehicle with you. This is usually the case if you are particularly attached to the vehicle.
Equally, you may have your heart set on another vehicle, such as a classic American muscle car, and want to import it.
Either way, you’re going to need a reliable expert in car shipping and a good knowledge of what border security requirements apply.
Before you go through the list you should note that shipping a car can raise environmental issues. For example, if something were to happen there could be oil or petrol leaked, creating an environmental issue. That’s why many shipping companies demand the cars are emptied of all fluids before shipping.
Import Approval
If you’re planning on bringing a car into Australia then you’ll need a single-road vehicle approval. This states that the vehicle has been approved to be brought into Australia. Interestingly, you can apply for registration at the same time.
You’ll need to prepare several documents in order to get the approval. These include proof of ownership, the technical details of the vehicle, identification, and a declaration concerning asbestos. The state can then provide a certificate that can be passed onto your shipping company.
You should note that the earlier you apply for this the better, the approval will need to be granted before the shipping can be completed.
There are exemptions, allowing you to get an approval certificate easier. But, for this your vehicle will need to be one of the following:
- Be older than 25 years old
- Part of a move to Australia
- Vehicle designed for a specific purpose
- Coming to be modified by a specific registered workshop
- Specific types of trailers
It’s worth speaking to the RVS team for further information. But, to apply you’ll need a ROVER account as completing an online application through ROVER is the only way to apply for approval.
Taking A Car Out Of The Country
It’s much easier to take a vehicle out of Australia as you’re effectively transferring any issues to the destination country.
However, the Australian government will still want to see several documents and your shipping company will want copies before they can ship your vehicle.
- Registration documents for the car – proving it is properly registered in Australia
- Copy of your passport or driving license as identification
- Several photos of the car to help with insurance during transit, if you have requested insurance
- The current odometer reading
- Copy of the bill of sale – this proves ownership regardless of how long you have owned the vehicle
Don’t forget, choosing a reputable shipping company means your vehicle will get to its destination safely and within the agreed timeline. The last thing you want is to be wondering where your car is and waiting months for it to arrive.
