Shipping an Australian Registered Vehicle Back to Australia

We chose and have continued to choose Colless Young Pty Ltd,  3/7 Miller Street Murarrie Brisbane 4172.

Phone +61 7 3890 0800

http://www.collessyoung.com.au

Our most helpful contact is Allan Colless. E-mail allan@collessyoung.com.au


Allan can quote on Containers, Flat-Rack and Ro-Ro from almost anywhere. He will also research the best rate from a number of shipping companies.


Colless Young have contacts in foreign ports to arrange shipping back to Australia, and can provide quotations. You can either pay in the foreign port or have all (or most) of the charges revert back to Colless Young. Thus paying in A$ when you collect the vehicle.


Note: Importing or re-importing a vehicle into Australia is the most expensive we have found globally ! So be prepared.


Step1:

Contact your import agent here in Australia, in our case Colless Young.


Step 2:

For Australian Registered Vehicles ONLY follow the procedure here, unless the vehicle is under an Australian established carnet de passage.:

https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/import_options/rav.aspx


  1. •A completed application form available from the Department's web site. Ensure you include the year, make, model and vehicle identification number.

                   Sample :     VEHICLE IMPORT APPLICATION.pdf

  1. •A $50 non-refundable lodgement fee. Payment options are set out in the application form (Credit card (visa or mastercard only) for online payments. Cheque or money order in Australian dollars from and Australian financial institution are accepted for manual payments).


  1. •A copy of the driver's license or the identity page of the passport to confirm that the applicant or company representative is a genuine person.


  1. •A clear photo of the Australian identification plate fitted to the vehicle. (It is wise to have this photograph on file as if for some reason your vehicle is overseas and you wish to apply then it cannot be done until you have the photograph)

                Sample: Aust Compliance Plate.jpg

  1. •Proof of ownership document (i.e. purchase invoice/receipt, statement, registration documents).


  1. •Evidence required (additional to above):

  2. •If using an agent—a letter signed by the applicant or company representative (on company letterhead) stating that the agent is authorised to act on behalf of the applicant for this import application, setting out responsibilities of the agent;

  3. •If you are applying as a company please attach advice on company letterhead that the company representative is authorised to act on behalf of the company for this import application;

  4. •If you have applied previously you will need to quote your previous application number;

  5. •If the vehicle has been or is to be modified—a statement setting out what modifications have been made to the vehicle.


DO NOT SHIP YOUR ROAD VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR IMPORT APPROVAL


Sounds simple but you will also need these documents

    A letter authorising your agent to act on your behalf ... Agent letter re Authorisation.pdf

    Copy of the Registration papers

    Statement re air conditioning  Statement re Air-Con.doc

    Unaccompanied Goods Statement Unaccompanied Effects Statement.pdf

    Vehicle non- modification Statement   Vehicle mododification doc.doc

    Also a vehicle contents list.

            This is where we can unstuck. If you have a first aid kit in your vehicle regardless if the contents have been purchased in Australia, then being it back personally NOT in the vehicle. For some reason you can fly in with a first aid kit but you can not do so as an import. It cost us 2 hours of quarantines time and us extra $$’s even though in the end they concluded there was nothing prohibited ??!!?


Preparing the vehicle for shipping:

Loading:

Some ports may allow you to loading yourself, in others it will be a fee based system. So that it was done to our liking occasionally we paid but did the work ourselves as the labourers stood and watched !


Check the container before loading that the side tie down points are not broken and that you have attachments that will fit onto your vehicles frame and the container tie downs.

Also check that the container does not have rust holes so sea water does not come in if it is deck loaded.

We ratchet strap our vehicle down in a cross manor using 2000+ Kg rated straps. Ensure the metal ratchet is returned to its locked position.


Arrival into Australia:

On the containers arrival we requested to unload the vehicles ourselves. That was STRONGLY denied although we were allowed eventually to be near by so as we could pass on instructions.

Customs were officious and a bit ‘over the top’ in the security process.

In the end we drove away in about  4 hours of our arrival at the unloading depot of


Cargo Clearance Brisbane:

Interport Cargo Services

97 Freight St

Lytton Q4178

Ph 07-3308 8888




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