Embrace the removal of Australia car import restrictions
From 2018 consumers will be able to personally import a new car from another country up to once every two years. To meet the new importation rules the car must: be right hand drive passenger vehicle, be no more than 12 months old, have no more than 500 km on the odometer.
In simple terms:
- There will be a lift of car import restrictions
- Australian consumers will have a direct access to the UK car market
- Most UK cars are EURO 5 and EURO 6 enabling you to import cars from the UK to AU in a simple way
- The cost of cars will be cheaper overall
Which changes can I expect?
Australians will be able to bypass local car dealerships and directly import cheaper new and almost-new cars from the UK under changes implemented by the federal government in 2018.
Legal restrictions will be removed to allow drivers to buy a new car once every two years, providing it is no more than 12 months old and has no more than 500km on the odometer.
The changes will apply from 2018, when local car manufacturing is scheduled to end, and according to the Australian Automotive Association, there will be a huge demand in European high end models, which the middle class consumer will be able to afford.
The major projects minister, Paul Fletcher, said the government expected about 300,000 Australians to make use of the provisions and personally import new cars, mainly from United Kingdom and Japan.
The government will also change the rules for importing used classic and collectible cars to allow them to be brought into Australia if they are at least 25 years old or are on a register of specialist and enthusiast vehicles. They will also remove a $12,000 duty on these imported used cars.
New imported cars will no longer have to affix an identification plate, but rather be registered on a searchable online database, something Fletcher says will save the industry more than $70m a year.
For now cars will be able to be imported from the UK because they are right-hand-drive, judged to have similar safety standards.
A survey in an October 2014 submission by AAA found popular car makes up to 20% cheaper in the UK, but more expensive in Japan. Apart of that all the UK cars are VAT qualifying where you can reduce the cost by 20% using the VAT recovery service http://www.ozukcars.com/finance/
Prepare now for the market opening in order to collect more benefits later!!! Due to our long presence on the market we currently assist our UK partners / UK car dealers to establish long term partnerships with the AU car dealer / AU buyers.
Please get in touch for more details of how YOU can benefit from becoming part of our UK AU network for car dealers.
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Are you based in Australia?
There are already dealerships set up in Australia who are getting ready for these changes in regulations and they are trying to build up partnerships with UK based dealers. Due to our long-term presence on the market and expertise we managed to create partnerships with very reliable car dealers in the UK, who can source any vehicle at competitive prices. Contact us today if you are interested in a partnership.
How you would benefit:
- Increase of the number of imported used cars [4]
- Access to well-priced late model cars [5]:
| Australia | United Kingdom | |
| Mercedes-Benz C250 sedan | $67,900 | $56,200 (£32,285) |
| Lexus RX450h 4×4 | $82,900 | $77,500 (£44,495) |
| Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe Manual | $206,500 | $127,800 (£73,413) |
| Ferrari 458 Italia | $526,950 | $310,700 (£178,451) |
| Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe | $1,019,000 | $509,400 (£292,600) |
Source: www.caradvice.com
- Increase your choices[6] [7]
- Cheaper second-hand vehicles[8]:
| Australia | New Zealand | |||
| Examples | Kilometres | Price ($A) | Kilometres | Price ($A) |
| 1 | 93,000 | 13,500 | 94,072 | 12,688 |
| 2 | 98,000 | 13,500 | 97,980 | 11,941 |
| 3 | 106,000 | 12,000 | 103,170 | 10,225 |
| 4 | 110,000 | 12,900 | 110,061 | 8,583 |
| 5 | 114,782 | 13,500 | 112,200 | 10,446 |
| Average | 104,356 | 13,080 | 103,497 | 10,777 |
Examples of prices for second-hand Toyota Corollas (auto, hatchback, 2006 model) in Australia and New Zealand. Source: Australia: www.carsales.com.au; NZ: www.autotrader.co.nz (25/04/2011).
Those are some of the benefits that New Zealand has experienced with its restrictions removal in the 90’s [9]. Imported used cars are now extremely popular in New Zealand because they offer consumers extra choice and better prices [10] [11]. This change has led New Zealand to have the highest level of ownership in the world.
In particular, luxury and sport cars will benefit from the removal of car import restrictions [12]. Prices of sport and luxury cars in Australia are twice or three times more expensive than overseas [13] [14]. The rule changes will put the prices down and the Australian market will become more appealing to import prestige cars from the UK. Actually, the Productivity Comission wants to bring Jaguars, BMWs, Audis and other brands coming from the UK.
Are you looking for reliable sources of supply? We can help you to find the most reputable UK car dealers. Sign up now and get more information.
Are you based in the UK?
With the lift of car import restrictions in Australia, there will be a new car market opened for right driven UK cars.
A few years back New Zealand removed similar restrictions and now imported cars are extremely popular. Everybody expects that there will also be a honeymoon period in Australia once the market is deregulated.
Australia is estimated to import around 300,000 vehicles per year. As cars will need to be right hand drive, the obvious choice for new vehicles imported will be the UK. Besides, most UK cars are EURO 5 and EURO 6, which enables you to import cars from the UK to Australia in a simple way.
There are already dealerships set up in Australia who are getting ready for these changes in regulations and they are trying to build up partnerships with UK based dealers. Are you interested in a partnership? If so, sign up today and take advantage of the opportunities that the deregulation of the Australian car market offers you!
Contact us today and learn all you need about importing cars into Australia.
[1] http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/mv_standards_act/
[5] http://www.caradvice.com.au/250589/australian-car-buyers-getting-ripped/
[8] http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-magazine/2011-spring/27-3-11-gene-tunny.pdf (See page 19)
[11] http://queenslandeconomywatch.com/2011/04/24/let-in-those-cheap-second-hand-japanese-cars/
[13] http://www.caradvice.com.au/250589/australian-car-buyers-getting-ripped/
[16] http://www.motoring.com.au/news/scrap-lct-and-allow-more-grey-imports-says-pc-45612
[17] Lenore Taylor, “Treasury ignored on car cash for Bracks review” The Australian (20 June 2008).
[18] “Analyst predicts Ford next to quit Australia car industry” International Business Times (19 March 2010).
[19] Stephen Ottley, “Is the Falcon going the way of the dodo?” Drive (4 March 2011).
[20] Ben Packham & James Massola, “Ford to cut 240 jobs as sales of larger vehicles drop” The Australian (14 April 2011).
[21] http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-magazine/2011-spring/27-3-11-gene-tunny.pdf