How to Obtain an Import Car Valuation
If you have imported a car to Australia from Japan, UK, USA or another country that was bought some time before the import date and has depreciated since then (or was bought from a friend for a nominal value), then you won’t be able to use your original purchase invoice or paperwork for Customs valuation when it comes time to import your car.
You will then be left asking “Who can provide an import car valuation ?” or “How much is my car worth for the calculation of import duty and GST by Australian Customs ?”.
So how DO you provide Customs with an import car valuation if you don’t have a recent purchase invoice ?
In this situation Australian Customs will ask for an alternative car valuation method and your car will almost always go “redline”, meaning further information / investigation by Customs is required prior to clearance.
Your pride and joy will be stuck on the wharf until Customs is satisfied.
Considering wharf storage can cost between $40 and $100 per day, you will want to provide all requested information as soon as possible so your car can be quickly cleared from the wharf and delivered to you before incurring any unnecessary costs.
Sure, you could obtain a free valuation from some online car value guides such as the red book car valuation, but online guides for used car values like this won’t be accepted on their own by Customs in Australia as an expert car valuation for the purposes of Customs duty calculation.
What Australian Customs want is an accurate valuation from a reputable car valuation expert. After all, even if Customs Officers had access to comparative pricing for similar vehicles, they don’t have time to research this for you (and frankly it’s not their job to value cars).
We are a licensed motor vehicle dealer specialising in imported vehicles.
We provide expert valuations for imported cars whether they are a modern or classic car.
Our professional valuation can be immediately used when submitting your Customs entry, and costs only $220 + GST:
- We email your car valuation to you in PDF within 24 hours
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We are available to Customs Officers at any time should they require more information
Other import car valuation services charge up to $500.
What we require from you so we can accurately value your car:
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Pictures of your car
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Details of condition, kms, extras fitted, past repair history and any existing damage
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Origin country
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Previous value when purchased
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Copy of registration paperwork
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Your contact information
Geoff,
My Caldina has arrived in great condition with no transport damage so good job by all involved. I spent most of yesterday afternoon looking over and playing with everything in the car. It’s a great car and has lots of high end after market goodies. Thanks for the assistance in buying this car it has been a good experience so far and should be for the rest of the time I own it. I will send thru some updated pics when I’ve given it a bath.
I just wanted to touch base again and let you know the Caldina I bought is terrific and that the compliance went very well and the guys there were very helpful. The car is very smooth and quiet with plenty of grunt for a 2.0L all wheel drive. I average between 500km to 550km on the highway and approximately 400km to 450km around town (that could have a lot to do with my driving style).
Thanks for all your help and knowledge with importing my car I am very happy with how smoothly everything went and am already considering importing my next car when the time comes.
Cheers
Shane