Lexi Webster
Australia's car import market is a significant aspect of its economy, with a steady rise in the import flow of motor vehicles designed for transporting people, including station wagons and racing cars. In 2023, the import value for this commodity group reached $24 billion, accounting for 8.68% of total imports to Australia. The top trading partners for these vehicle imports are essential to consider, with the sources and destinations of these cars playing a crucial role in Australia's automotive industry and trade relationships.
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What You'll Learn
Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is a publicly available online database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) and been approved for provision to the Australian market. The RAV replaced the need for physical compliance (ID) plates to be fitted to vehicles. It also replaces the requirement for vehicle identification plates under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA).
To be eligible for registration, a vehicle must be entered on the RAV. You can search for a vehicle on the RAV by entering the vehicle's 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is usually found at the base of the windscreen (visible from outside the car) or on the door post or footwell of the vehicle. If your vehicle is not on the RAV, you can apply for a concessional RAV entry approval or a vehicle type approval.
Vehicle type approvals allow an unlimited number of vehicles of a particular type to be imported. This option is generally used for commercial importation requirements. The single road vehicle option is suited to importing either one vehicle or a small number of vehicles. You can include up to 30 identical vehicles in one single road vehicle application, except for trailers, which are limited to 4.
Non-RAV vehicles may be approved for certain purposes, including testing or market evaluation. Significantly modified vehicles (for example, a hot rod) or vehicles that will only be imported temporarily may also be eligible under this import type. A reimportation import approval allows the owner of a road vehicle who has previously exported a vehicle to bring the vehicle back into Australia.
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$8.99
Importing without approval
If you are importing a vehicle that is not a road vehicle, such as a quad bike or golf cart, you are not required to obtain road vehicle import approval. However, you may apply to the department for an Advisory Notice confirming that your vehicle is not a road vehicle. Having an advisory notice may help clear your non-road vehicle through customs.
If you are importing a road vehicle into Australia, you must obtain import approval. Under Section 22 of the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA), it is an offence to import a road vehicle into Australia without approval. The department manages the approval process through ROVER, the department's online application and approval portal. There are several types of import approval applications, and you should select the option that suits your circumstances. Applications for approval to import a road vehicle must be made through ROVER.
Should your road vehicle arrive in Australia without import approval, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will not release it from customs control. Storage costs for such vehicles can be considerable, and all costs incurred are the responsibility of the importer.
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is a database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and been approved for provision to the Australian market. The RAV replaces the requirement for vehicle identification plates under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (MVSA). Where a vehicle will not be used on Australian roads, or only in exceptional circumstances, a non-RAV entry import approval may be suitable. Non-RAV vehicles may be approved for certain purposes, including testing, market evaluation, or significantly modified vehicles (e.g. hot rods) that will only be imported temporarily.
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Importing non-road vehicles
If you are importing a non-road vehicle into Australia, such as a motorised wheelchair, quad bike, or golf cart, you are not required to obtain a road vehicle import approval. However, you may apply to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts for an Advisory Notice confirming that your vehicle is not intended for road use. This Advisory Notice may help clear your non-road vehicle through customs.
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is a database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and been approved for provision to the Australian market. Where a vehicle will not be used on Australian roads, or only in exceptional circumstances, a non-RAV entry import approval may be granted. Non-RAV vehicles may be approved for certain purposes, including testing, market evaluation, or if the vehicle has been significantly modified (e.g. a hot rod) or will only be imported temporarily.
If you are unsure whether your vehicle is classified as a road vehicle, you can refer to the 'Not a Road Vehicle' page on the Department's website. It is important to note that if your vehicle arrives in Australia without the necessary import approval, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will not release it from customs control, and the importer will be responsible for any incurred costs, which can be considerable.
The process of importing a vehicle into Australia involves multiple government agencies, each with its own requirements. It is important to familiarise yourself with each agency's requirements and allow enough time for your approval to be granted before importing your vehicle.
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Importing for commercial purposes
If you want to import a vehicle for commercial purposes, you should visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts (DITRDCA) website to find the option best suited to your business needs. Vehicle type approvals allow an unlimited number of vehicles of a particular type to be imported, and this option is generally used for commercial importation requirements.
Vehicles can be imported into Western Australia for either private or commercial purposes. Vehicle import approvals are issued by the federal DITRDCA, where a vehicle satisfies the requirements set out in the Road Vehicles Standards Act 2018 (RVSA), introduced on 1 July 2021. Vehicles can be imported commercially in greater volumes with specific import options that enable this.
If your import application was submitted before 1 July 2021, under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, and decided upon after that date, you may still qualify to import a vehicle under the RVSA transitional arrangements, which ended on 30 June 2023. Vehicles imported without approval must be re-exported or destroyed, or the owner may face substantial fines.
If you want to take your vehicle to use while working overseas, you must contact the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). They can advise if you require a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) document, which they issue on behalf of the Australian Government (Department of Home Affairs). This document is used to identify your private vehicle and allows visitors to a country to import their vehicles for a limited period.
Please note that vehicles over 4,500 kg cannot be licensed in a right-hand configuration unless an exemption applies (e.g. a special-purpose vehicle or dual-control vehicle).
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Importing temporarily
If you are planning to import a vehicle to Australia, you must obtain approval from the Australian government. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts outlines the steps involved in importing a road vehicle.
The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) is a database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and been approved for provision to the Australian market. A non-RAV entry import approval may be suitable if the vehicle will not be used on Australian roads or only in exceptional circumstances. Significantly modified vehicles or vehicles that will only be imported temporarily may be eligible under this import type.
As a tourist or temporary resident, you may bring a motor vehicle, motorcycle, attached trailer, or caravan to Australia for a period of up to 12 months without paying duty on them, provided they are subsequently exported. To qualify for this concession, you will need one of the following: a Carnet De Passages en Douanes issued by an organisation with a reciprocal arrangement with the Australian Automobile Association, or a cash or bank security equal to the amount of duty and GST and, where applicable, LCT otherwise payable.
Vehicles can be temporarily imported and legally driven on Australian roads for the period of carnet validity (or temporary importation period) provided registration is still current in the vehicle's country of origin.
It is important to note that if your road vehicle arrives in Australia without import approval, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will not release it from customs control, and storage costs for such vehicles are the responsibility of the importer.
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