Old Import Rules EXTENDED 12 more months
It was officially confirmed today that the old import scheme and the interim bridging scheme have both been extended by 12 more months to ease the troubled and delayed transition to the new import scheme. The new deadlines are as follows: Old SEVS – Import Approval application by 30 April 2023, compliance plate fitted by 30 June 2023. Interim SEVS – Import Approval application by 30 Ma...
April 4, 2022 / Australian Compliance, General News, Import Regulations
Bridging Import Scheme Streeeeeetched until June 2023
Latest News 4 April 2022 – the 12 month extension detailed below also applies to the old SEVS. The Govt. has made an absolute mess of the transition from the old to new import scheme (SEVS), to the point where compliance for many popular import models ran out in Oct 2021 and is still not available at the end of March 2022 ! A 12 month “Interim scheme” was intended to bridge the g...
March 30, 2022 / Australian Compliance, General News, Import Regulations
Using ROVER to check import eligibility and compliance
The new SEVS import scheme started in June 2021 and is managed by the ROVER system. To be eligible for import under SEVS a vehicle model: – Must not have been sold new in Australia (in the same configuration) – AND meet one of six import criteria. Before you can import a vehicle the model must be approved for import AND compliance must be available. Check the approved vehicle import ...
March 3, 2022 / Import Regulations
From 2022 We Only Source Vehicles < 15 Years Old
The world has been a wild ride since 2019, with uncertainty, transport delays, supply shortages and rapid market changes now things we accept as normal. The secondhand car market has been affected in significant ways, most notably the large price rises on classic cars – particularly anything with a petrol turbocharged engine and manual transmission. What does this mean for importing cars to ...
January 15, 2022 / Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, GTR, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
Last Orders for OLD SEVS Models
Changes to the import regulations for Australia have been dragging on for so long (over 6 years) that some people may not realise that many popular older models will soon become impossible to import. A whole range of models will be blocked from 1 April 2022, including petrol / diesel people movers like the Nissan Elgrand, Toyota Estima, Mitsubishi Delica, Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire. Petrol...
September 1, 2021 / General News, Import Regulations, People Movers
New ROVER system for import approval applications
After an extended transition phase, the new Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) finally replaced the old Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA) on 1 July 2021. Import approvals will no longer be issued for vehicle models under the old regulations after 31 March 2022 and those vehicles must have a compliance plate fitted by 30 June 2022. More info: Last Chance for Old SEVS models An online sys...
July 12, 2021 / 25 Year Rule, Australian Compliance, Import Regulations
2021 Nissan Ariya EV 66kWh & 91kWh
2023 Update, 2020+ Nissan Ariya is available for import: Nissan Ariya Import Information. Nissan Japan is now taking pre-orders for the new 66kWh and 91kWh Nissan Ariya electric vehicle. The Nissan Ariya is a sedan / SUV crossover style vehicle with better range and performance than the current 62kWh Nissan Leaf. Both the standard 66kWh battery model (B6) and the 91kWh extended range and perfor...
June 16, 2021 / Australian Compliance, General News, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
The Times They are A Changin’
Whew, we’ve hardly had a chance to catch our breath the last 12 months. We have been so busy sourcing cars it has simply left no time for Blogging or FB. Time then perhaps for a quick catch up in between the avalanche of auction inspections, bidding, emails, phone calls and SMS ! Here are our quick thoughts on the last year and what we expect in the next year… The global pandemic triggered...
June 2, 2021 / 25 Year Rule, Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
Last Chance for Old SEVS models
The old SEVS WILL END in the next 12 months. This has been coming for awhile, so what does it actually mean ? Let’s start with what we know. Many popular import models from the last 20 years will no longer be possible to import. The last import approvals will be issued for old SEVS models on 31 March 2022 and the compliance plate must be fitted to the car by 30 June 2022. Petrol and diesel ONLY ...
May 25, 2021 / Australian Compliance, General News, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
Import 2020 Nissan Leaf 62kWh now possible
The 62kWh Nissan Leaf full model range has just been approved for direct import to Australia right up to new 2020 models. At the time of this post, prices for 0 to 15,000 km 62kWh Leafs in new to near new condition ranged from about $42,000 to $51,000 complied, plus on road costs. Obviously this compares very well with the Nissan Australia new price for the lower power / range 40kWh model, which r...
August 21, 2020 / General News, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
4 Latest Models Added to SEVS List
The latest list of approved models under transitional SEVS arrangements is now available. These are models NEVER BEFORE eligible for import to Australia and include hybrid / electric vehicles as well as significantly different versions of locally sold models. NOTE: Inclusion in this list is just the first step to importing one of these vehicles – a compliance package must then be approved...
June 27, 2020 / General News, Import Regulations
6 More Models Added to SEVS List
The latest list of approved models under transitional SEVS arrangements is now available. These are models NEVER BEFORE eligible for import to Australia and include hybrid / electric vehicles as well as significantly different versions of locally sold models. NOTE: Inclusion in this list is just the first step to importing one of these vehicles – a compliance package must then be approved...
June 6, 2020 / Australian Compliance, General News, Import Regulations
NOW TAKING ORDERS – Subaru Forester STi import
With full compliance estimated to be just 3 to 4 weeks away for Subaru Forester STi import to Australia, we are now taking orders ! Forester STi import has been one of the most common requests we have received for any model over the years and now it is finally possible. The Forester was only sold in STi specification for the Japanese domestic market. It was produced in relatively limited numbers...
May 25, 2020 / Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
NOW TAKING ORDERS – R35 GTR Import
2021 UPDATE – Sorry, we are no longer taking orders for the R35 GTR as the prices are now too high in Japan for viable import. With full compliance estimated to be just 3 to 4 weeks away for R35 GTR import to Australia under the new SEVS, we are now taking orders ! R35 GTR import has been one of the most common requests we have received since this model was released 13 years ago. Those follo...
May 23, 2020 / Australian Compliance, GTR, Import Regulations
Import Civic Type R FD2 to Australia
Import Honda Civic Type R FD2 to Australia – just added to the list of approved models under transitional SEVS arrangements on 2 April 2020. The ruling covers the October 2006 to December 2011 Honda Civic Type R FD2 4 door sedan. Browse the last 3 months of Honda Civic Type R FD2 auction sales in Japan Free trial our auction alerts system for the Honda Civic Type R FD2 View example Honda C...
April 3, 2020 / Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
11 More Models Added to NEW SEVS List
The latest list of approved models under transitional SEVS arrangements is now available. These are models NEVER BEFORE eligible for import to Australia and include hybrid / electric vehicles as well as significantly different versions of locally sold models. NOTE: Inclusion in this list is just the first step to importing one of these vehicles – a compliance package must then be approved...
March 27, 2020 / Australian Compliance, General News, Hybrid electric, Import Regulations
First new SEVS imports finally approved !
More models added 26 March 2020 – latest update here Things are finally moving ! – A new list has just been published showing the first vehicle models to be approved by the Australian Govt. under transitional SEVS arrangements. These are models NEVER BEFORE eligible for import to Australia and include hybrid / electric vehicles as well as significantly different versions of locally sol...
February 11, 2020 / General News, Import Regulations
1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Collezione
Looking for a classic car under the new 25 Year Rule, perhaps something like this 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Collezione 4WD auctioned in Tokyo on 21 November 2019 ? Good News ! We can source it for you from Japan. Vehicles are inspected in person just for you on auction day – we check running condition as well as inside, outside and underneath – with more pictures provided and detai...
January 31, 2020 / Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
Honey, someone shrunk the Bentley !
Looking for a quirky 600cc kei car like this cute 1997 Mazda Autozam Carol that looks like a Bentley compact ? Good News ! Any kei car is now possible to import to Australia – right up to new models currently on sale in Japan – under the new import regulations. The only conditions are that the same model was not sold new in Australia and the Micro-car (kei-class car) criteria are met...
January 31, 2020 / Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
SEVS Transition Guidelines provided for 2019 to 2021
Guidelines are now available setting out how SEVS will work (for the import of vehicles NEWER than 25 years) while we transition from the old (MVSA) to the new (RVS) vehicle import regulations. Transition period 10 Dec 2019 –> 1 July 2021. Main points: – creation of separate online registers for vehicles approved (and denied) under the new RVS criteria – how to apply for a mod...
December 7, 2019 / Australian Compliance, General News, Import Regulations
Import Approval – How to Apply for 25 Year Old Vehicles
2021 UPDATE – From 1 July 2021 import approvals under the 25 Year Rule are handled by the new ROVER system. In December 2019 the Aust Govt. provided a 25 Year Rule Vehicle Import – Guidance (PDF) setting out how the new 25 Year Rule would operate under interim arrangements, the type of vehicles that can be imported under this option, and how to apply for an Import Approval. The new ...
December 4, 2019 / Australian Compliance, General News, Import Regulations
Now Sourcing 25 Year Old Cars
Some important points to bear in mind when selecting vehicles to import under the new 25 Year Rule for car imports to Australia which STARTS on 10 Dec 2019: – Prices are rising fast on all classic vehicles The USA has their own 25 Year Rule which allows the import of RHD vehicles. Unlike Australia, American buyers have no reference point for pricing of Japanese imports so are prepared to sp...
October 16, 2019 / Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
25 Year Rule CONFIRMED !
Just confirmed – the new 25 Year Rule for car imports to Australia WILL START on 10 December 2019. Quick summary from today’s official update received today from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development: – The 25 Year Rule will start on 10 December 2019 (applications for import approval won’t be accepted before this date) – Vehicle...
October 3, 2019 / General News, Import Regulations
UPDATE – New Vehicle Import Regulations Delayed up to 18 months
The Road Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 was passed today and gives the Govt. a new flexible deadline to implement the vehicle import regulation changes of up to 1 July 2021 (rather than 10 December 2019 as originally legislated). Behind the scenes the Govt. is indicating to industry stakeholders that it will implement parts of the changes early, such as allowing additional model...
September 10, 2019 / General News, Import Regulations
New Vehicle Import Regulations – Implementation DELAYED
Well… we suspected this was coming from the lack of progress updates from the Govt. in recent months. Before going on, it has to be said – they’ve ONLY had 5 years to prepare for this. * Deep breath * OK, so moving on… Here is what we are dealing with -> the Govt. has officially announced it is unable to meet the 10 Dec 2019 implementation deadline and needs more time. W...
July 4, 2019 / General News, Import Regulations
Import Honda NSX under 25 Year Rule
2021 UPDATE – Sorry, we are no longer taking orders for the NSX as the prices are now too high in Japan for viable import. Want to import Honda NSX to Australia under the 25 Year Rule and not sure where to start ? YES – The new 25 Year Rule has been confirmed and will allow the import of vehicles – including the NSX – that are over 25 years old, from 10 December 2019. Thi...
March 6, 2019 / Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
Import Regulations 2019 RELEASED
So, the new import regulations 2019 were finally released with some major improvements bound to put a grin on enthusiasts’ faces. YES – We have secure indoor storage available now for anyone wanting to get a jump on the market prior to 10 December 2019, which is only 10 months away and will be on us before we know it. Bear in mind that some classics may take months to source so it̵...
February 27, 2019 / Australian Compliance, Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
Import Honda Civic Type R FD2 under New SEVS
Lots of interest lately in the 2007 – 2010 Honda Civic Type R FD2 and whether this model will be eligible for import to Australia under the new SEVS from December 2019. LATEST UPDATE 3 April 2020 – Civic Type R FD2 now approved for import View inspection pics for another auction example The Honda Civic Type R FD2 was a relatively rare model with approx. 13,000 units made during the a...
February 21, 2019 / Classic cars, General News, Import Regulations
New Hybrid & Electric Import Options
Thanks to some pre-emptive changes ahead of the new SEVS regulations which will apply from 10 December this year, we can now import a growing range of secondhand and new hybrid and electric vehicles. Australia is lagging well behind most other high carbon footprint countries on reforming the transport sector to combat climate change, so the new regulations are a very welcome step in the right dire...
February 15, 2019 / General News, Import Regulations
New Import Regulations UPDATE
This seems to be dragging on doesn’t it ? Here’s the latest on the new import regulations which are set to apply from 10 December 2019. 10 days ago we requested an update from the Govt. – today we received the reply which you can read in full below. But first, bear in mind that the Road Vehicle Standards Bill 2018 that was passed into law last year deals only with top level ma...
January 24, 2019 / General News, Import Regulations
I would just like to give my unreserved recommendation to Geoff and his team at Prestige. Late last year I started the quest to look for a E51 Elgrand for the family. After my great experience some years back finding a Stagea RS FOUR with Geoff’s help it was a no brainer to rely on his expertise again. From beginning to end my interaction with Geoff was nothing short of professional. He was prompt, proactive and nothing seemed to phase him.
I knew enough about the import process to be dangerous. Like a typical guy I did not RTFM in the beginning and was making some really bone-headed picks. It would have saved everybody a lot of time if only I read through the material Geoff provided. If it had bothered him Geoff never showed and he patiently repeated the info I needed to make better picks.
There were many occasions when less than ideal vehicles showed up and being somewhat in a hurry to find a car it was tempting to lower my standard just to have something to bid on for the day. Against his best interest Geoff always talked me into walking away from a less than ideal pick. He could have easily taken advantage of my desperation for a vehicle but that never crossed his mind. He said more than once it’s about finding a car I am happy with and he really meant what he said.
The car we found was everything I set out to find, and then some. The right year, low Ks, had the right equipment and very very clean. The final price tag was right on budget and that’s including everything, tyres, on roads, the lot. The gentleman from the compliance shop could not stop remarking on how clean the car was. When my wife saw the car she could not believe it was 10 years old, it’s a stretch to say it feels brand new, but we could not be happier on how clean the car was. Like most imports the car came with many hidden goodies, we are still finding every little thing that came with the 2005 Elgrand. It was an exceptionally good score.
Geoff took care of everything up until the point the compliance shop receive the vehicle, and I mean everything. There was not a point in time I was lost for what to do and all the detail in the background, Geoff and his team took care of it. I know some people think twice about paying a fee to an agent but I can honestly say it’s worth every cent. Twice he chased down some extra savings – one over air con degassing the other over a reduction on customs. He saved me hundreds of dollars that a lesser agent would have probably deemed not worth their time and I probably would not have cared if I didn’t know. Geoff is the best in the business and he took the time to make sure I did get the savings I am entitled to. It’s these little things that makes Geoff’s service exemplary in the industry.
As long as Geoff is offering his service, I will not be buying a car any other way. If you can afford the lead time and a bit of patience, I whole heartily recommended importing your own car through Prestige Motorsport.