Gday all,
i currently am staring in the face a prime opportunity to import a mini for myself from England, (piggy backing on someone importing some higher end vehicles), but i've seen several times that people say they can't register cars newer than 1989? or something.
Does anyone know if there is a restriction what the deal with it is? any info would be greatly appreciated, een just a link to a official website or something.
Oh, I'd be registering it in Victoria.
Thanks

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1275LS regrettably sold to move to Canada, but now moving back and need my next mini. - I want a K

G'day Gaffa,

Mate, i've got my 1992 Rover registered and am happily driving it on Victorian roads. Admittedly the previous owner registered it after importing it from England in 1997. It was a private import and has a Yellow Compliance Plate ( i believe the colour is important although i don't know what it means).

With a correct compliance plate it's just a standard rego - i just rocked up to Vicroads (you need an appointment to do it) and they checked VIN numbers, gave me my plates and i rolled on outa there.

So, that's it for a personal import - i assume it's different for a business import, but not sure.

Best of luck!

PM or reply if you've got any other q's...

I think we need an FAQ for this, it comes up pretty often.

Read the VicRoads webpage on imports:

http://tinyurl.com/83gvt

It has a link to DOTARS which controls the federal import laws. You will need to read that too.

Regards,

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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

Basically, ever since 2004 you can't bring in any post 89 car.
If somebody has a 90s rover here now, its cause it was imported before the import law was changed.

Gaffa Tape, the car can be brought out here, but can't be registered.
It could only be raced.

If you are the first person to be registering the car in Oz, be prepared for frustration and the pile of bureaucratic nonsense that will come your way. It's as if the prime reason for motor vehicle authorities' existence, is to prevent vehicles from other parts of the world, driving on Australian roads.

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Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT www.mm7056.wordpress.com

just put clubman body numbers on . (no i didnt just say that )

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lookin for another clubby

As far as I understand you can still bring in late 1990's minis but only as a private import not through a business.

Private imports are different in that they have rules for how long you must own the car in your name in the country that it is coming from.

If you are importing it through a business then it's a different story. As the others say they are no longer allowed to be imported.

Good luck.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

u can bring in any year car as a private import if you have owned and lived in that country for more than 12 months. other than that u can buy a car already here and registered like my 1994 cooper. The private import car with the yellow plate might have a restriction on slae, some times u have to keep the car for a period of time b4 selling it .

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn...that was fun!"

Or you can wait approx six months until all the RAWS ruling and ADR inspections are complete?

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Miniworx Centre 0883741299
Sooperdooperminicooperexpertengineering
Online BMW Mini Shop

Wow, is it really that close? I had been led to believe that it wouldn't be happening for a long while yet (talking in years, not months). It would be great to be able to import more Rovers, though it would kind of present a pricing conundrum. What happens when an older Rover Cooper S cost more than a newer BMW Cooper S??

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"I'm sorry, but a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part!"

Thanks bnicho and everyone else,
Certainly helped me find the right info. the Federal customs websites really have none of this info on there, just what tax you will have to pay. NO mention of any restrictions. Could easily catch some one out.
No worries, i'll be bringing it in as a personal vehicle, just have to figure out how to demonstrate 12months of use, rather than 12 months of sitting in a garage. Do you think 12extra kms from the speedo statement on receipt of purchase will qualify. 1km per month. letter box and back or something.
Thanks again,

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1275LS regrettably sold to move to Canada, but now moving back and need my next mini. - I want a K

Well that's already happening. There are several 2000 model Rover Coopers which were imported from UK here in Vic alone and they cost more than a BMW Cooper S by the time they were imported, rego'd and complied.

Depends what type of car you want to drive I guess.

I know which one I'd take hands down!

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

Hi Gaffa_Tape, you don't need to prove use of the car, just that you owned it for a continuous period of 12 months.
Have a look here http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/vsb/vsb_10.aspx#5.06

note; Copies of the following documents must be provided to establish ownership and use of the vehicle overseas for twelve consecutive months, or more:

every page of your passport including all blank pagesstatement of travel. This involves supplying details of any absences from your main country of residence during the relevant qualifying period for ownership and use of the vehicle. If your travel was for business reasons you must supply a letter to that effect from your employer.
purchase documents
overseas registration documents in your name
Driver's Licence

The only way round that I can see is if someone registers the car in your name for a year before you get it

Then you passport would have to show that you went to England to buy it
Check DOTARS above carefully, not just VicRoads
Good luck mate.

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

I think you will find they want copies of the blank pages of your passport to prove you stayed overseas with the car for 12 months. Otherwise anyone could rort the system - fly to the UK, buy a car, register it in their name at a relative/friend's address and put it in storage. Fly back to Aus. Then simply fly back 12 months later and arrange shipping as a personal import.

You also may find the UK require proof of your UK address to register the car in your name (eg: working visa, utility bill in your name etc).

Hey, if you have a common name like "John Smith" it may be easier to find a car already registered in "your name".

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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

oh.. don't forget shipping and tax... people

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