Long visit to Australia: shipping over a 4WD vehicle vs. hiring one

That cell number is American but you would recognise the area code anyway. I see your vehcile is "California"!!!!!!!

Here are 5 links to vehciles due for sale at auctions. They are already set up for use in the outback and you could sell them again after you holiday at no loss or even a profit.

Auctions are in every state but Queensland is the best for a US citizen.



http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0008-7002326/motor-vehiclesmotor-cycles/2003-toyota-landcruiser-100-series-4wd-wagon?spr=true

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0003-7002326/motor-vehiclesmotor-cycles/1993-09-toyota-landcruiser-troop-carrier-ambulance?spr=true

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0006-7002327/motor-vehiclesmotor-cycles/2006-01-toyota-landcruiser-hdj78r-11-seat-troopcarrier-4wd?spr=true

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0019-7002327/motor-vehiclesmotor-cycles/2005-11-nissan-navara-dx-3-0di-d22-dual-cab-utility?spr=true

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0013-7002328/motor-vehiclesmotor-cycles/1997-toyota-landcruiser-troop-carrier-ambulance?spr=true

If you buy a good secondhand vehicle when you arrive you will probably sell it for what you paid for it when you leave. This might be more expensive up front than hiring or shipping but much cheaper in the end. These days you can do most of the research on line before you come so it should not take too long to find a vehicle. People on this forum could give plenty of advice about suitable vehicles and good prices.You certainly don't want insurance or service/parts issues outback. Lynne

Temporarily bringing your car to Australia...

Temporary import rules

Interestingly, you aren't allowed to alter the car.

Further to what John and Lynne suggest:

Australia has about the same land area as the USA, but only 1/10 the population. Most of that population lives in a fringe along the east coast. Most of Australia is very thinly populated.

Depends on where you want to explore, but most of us on this forum would recommend experiencing the less populated areas. Australians contemplating extended travel in these places think about the advantages of adopting the vehicles that are commonly found there. This is partly because the locals know what's suitable, but there's another important reason - spare parts, experience and expertise required for the commonly used vehicles are more likely to be found than for an unusual vehicle.

I strongly agree with John and Lynne's suggestion. Assuming that you do want to spend time in remote or semi-remote areas, I'd look at buying a solid used 4WD, Toyota Landcruiser would be the most common, probably followed by Nissan, and expect to sell it at a small loss when you leave Australia. It is a big initial outlay, but if cared for will cost far less in the long term than renting.

Suggest that, quite apart from compliance issues, bringing a nonstandard, unsupported vehicle into Australia, where there's no spares inventory could have an unhappy ending!

If you do decide to buy, as suggested, make use of the experience pool here.

Oh..!! And enjoy your trip to Australia! It's a good place and you'll find the locals friendly!

Cheers

John

From the document above, it appears that to obtain a temporary import document you need to leave a cash security equal to the value of your car. Add to this the shipping costs...they must be in the thousands for a container...it might be easier to buy a second hand car here, drive it around then sell it in much the same way as the back packers do with the old Falcons. You can afford to take a hit to the value of the shipping costs when you resell and still be even. Cheers

If only being brought into Aust for short periods with no intention of the vehicle remaining then there are few obstacles (don't be confused with the rules for permanent importation) - though there will be a huge bond to ensure the vehicle does actually leave. You would need to ensure your US registration covers the full trip etc. LHD is not an issue.

However I agree with the others - for about the cost of shipping and returning your vehicle to the US you could buy an older Aust 4wd in good condition and use it. Even if you did not sell it on departure you would not loose much against the cost of shipping your own vehicle here and back - and forget this Toyota-Nissan crap (they are very ordinary vehicles) you could get a nice comfortable diesel discovery or defender and travel in style. :-)

Garry

Garry, you forgot the more important reason, the blinkers will be on the right side of the steering column :-) Can't have them driving around putting the wipers on every time they turn a corner...

My blinkers are on the left and wipers on the right.

Sorry, I meant right as in correct. I'm not sure if the Jap cars in the US keep the blinkers on the right or switch them to the American/Euro left side.

You would think that the ADRs would stipulate what side stalks etc had to be so that all cars sold in Aust were the same - when I drive a Japper :-( I am always putting on the wipers when turning.

Garry

With respect to stalks - doesn't matter if LHD or RHD - most cars in Aust are Japanese sourced so have wipers on the left and indicators on the right but cars like Landrovers have lights/indicators on the left and wipers on the right.