Hi all,
I'm heading back to the UK for a holiday later in the year, and would love to bring a Rover Mini back with me. Has anyone done this from the UK? If so, what sort of cash is involved in getting a car over here?
Cheers!!!
Daz

You need to own the car for 12 months to qualify for personal import, or if not, pay the full duty...............

Feralsprint could help you with this.......

_________________
Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Any sort is fine, you just need a lot of it.

The customs website has a lot of information.

Tim

What sot of money?
Well if you spend a quarter of your budget on the car the rest will cover fees.

I brought my 1990 Cooper over in Sep 2005, it took til Aug 2006 to get it on the road and cost about £2000/$5000 all up to ship it including taxes, customs fees, compliance etc...(the car only cost me £1000 plus £3000 in repairs since i bought it)

Graham in Aus is right - the only reasonable way to bring it in is as a personal import - this means that you need to be an Australian resident and own the car in the UK for at least 12 mths before applying for the import permit to bring it here.

You also need to be sure that the licensing state will allow it to be registered (having permission to import is thru the Commonwealth but licensing/registration is down to the state/territory). Every time i ever called the RTA about this they would always remind me that having a permit to import was one thing but was i sure it could be complianced and that I should check with their technical section!!

In the end i'm not sure if i'd go thru it again - probably just buy a decent one that's already here or come from Japan and not ravaged by weather and salt-grit like anyone from the UK would be. My car had a lot of bodywork done in the uk to get it through it's MoT but the rust on the doors was unacceptable for NSW roadworthiness blue slip!!

That said if you've got the patience and money it could be done a lot better and quicker than I did it although I think the whole 12 month ownership thing is still necessary for a personal import - as to whether there's another way i don't know but don't think it's easy or cheap!

Good Luck....

If you want to import a Rover Mini Japan might be a bit cheaper. But I am not too sure on the import rules or laws as they are changing every 5 minutes.

_________________
DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT

http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/motor/st ... index.aspx

Try this web site about restrictions and such on vehicle import laws. Also much as I hate to say it the Jap import sites are very informative on what and how, a few of the specialist importers might even look at helping you out, no doubt for a fee.
Vehicle compliance once it gets here seems to be one of the hardest things and some of the importers have a side company that does the inspections for compliance.

http://www.vicaa.org.au/

Haven't read much of this but it seems to have a lot of info and contacts for you.

Good luck.

Hi all,
Thanks so much for your advice, it’s been a great help!
I’ll look into the Japan thing, my partner is from Japan and we are going there too on the way over to the UK. That may be a better option, if not I’ll just have to keep looking over here, there‘s gotta be some cool cars around in sunny Perth. Should have kept hold of my Cooper before leaving the UK!!!
Thanks again!!!!
Daz

If you want a Mini that will one day be something special and will not cost you a fortune to restore you will seriously look at this one that I have for sale. Why give money to the Customs department and all that ? At least you can put some money into this and have somthing worth while. There are not many of these Gems left. Ask Chris Zerial. The other thing is they have 1275cc engine , Disc brakes and long range tank. You save yourself money in them alone. Why buy a Mini that needs all things bought for it after ! It is not a round nose, but what the hell one day they will be rarer than a Coopre S. and we all know that. I just hope that someone sensible buys it.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... &rd=1&rd=1

_________________
DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

I'm fairly sure that not only do you have to of owned the imported car for 12 months but you need to of been with it as well.

this means you can't buy one 12 months before you go and then bring it back with you. Nor can you buy one while you are there, come back to Oz and then 12 months later import it.

Steve

If I recall correctly, All you need to show is ownership and registration, so you don't physically need to be with the car but i think you do need to have it rego'd in the UK for the year, keep the receipt for purchase and also provide proof of identity/address. I think this would mean that you'd need to have the car registered at an address in the UK for the year as well as having bank statements, bills or something also at that address in your name.

Best to check with DOTARS - that was what we provided them with but that's also cos we had all that anyway!!

While the idea of buying your Mini overseas, holidaying with it then shipping it back haome sounds great, the reality may be a lot of hassle and is probably more expensive than you think.

Another thing you need to remember - Minis after 1988 cannot be imported anymore, unless as a personal import (12 months O/S ownership). Nobody yet has RAWS compliance for 1989 onwards cars. So that rules out all 1275cc Rover models (unless they have had an engine swap).

You need to prove residency overseas for 12 months with Visas, utility bills, rent agreements, paperwork like that for a personal import. You can't just fly over on a holiday visa, buy a car and stick it in storage, then come back 12 months later for another holiday and ship it back.

If you have your heart set on a Rover and don't mind a 998 engine, you're better off buying one already here, such as the ones Brickworx regularly has available. If you want 1275cc SPI then you will have to find one that's already here, as you can't import one unless you can prove 12 months ownership.

Cheers,

_________________
Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Hi all,
Thanks so much to everyone for your info and advice! I'm gonna shop over here for a Mini, looks like far too much hassle to import!
I'm really looking for a Rover, I've had quite a few Mini's over in the UK and loved my Rover, also I don't have any time to work a resto job.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Daz

So why not buy a decent Rover Mini and leave it with a trusted friend for 12 Months..then go on another holiday???

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Daz, There is a place in east perth (a japanese car importer) who has a ocuple of Rover mini's for sale. I cant remember the name of the place but I think it's something like Auto Wholesale. I have never dealt with these guys so I dont know what they are like, but I've seen rovers coming and going from there. It's sort of on the corner of Guilford Rd and Walcot Rd. When you look in your street directory you'll know what I mean by "Sort Of"

If you cant find it, give me a yell

Peace.

_________________
-Wasabi
1972 Clubman - Daily Driver
1962 850 - EW1 Powered