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Eligibility Criteria

Vehicles manufactured before January 1989
Trailers
Trucks and Buses
Letter of Compliance
Personal Imports
1. Personal Import Plates
Vehicles with Australian Id Plates
Overseas Visitors to Australia
Racing Vehicles
Off Road Vehicles
Importing through a Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW)

1. Vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1989 - Part 4 on Application Form

You can import any vehicle manufactured before 1 January 1989 without restriction, but you still need a Vehicle Import Approval for it to enter Australia and the Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle Form must be used.

You might have to modify the vehicle to meet registration requirements. You should contact the Motor Vehicle Registration Authority in the State or Territory where you intend to register the vehicle for information on their requirements.

To apply for an import approval under the arrangements for older vehicles, you must provide:

a completed Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle;
the application fee, $50.00 Australian Dollars, by cheque, Money Order, or credit card (MasterCard or Visa only), if paying by cheque from overseas, seek advice from your bank on the correct process;
copy of the vehicle purchase document(s);
photographic identification of the person making the application or, for a company, the responsible officer, the photograph must be certified by an appropriate person (see the section later in this brochure) as being that of the applicant, if you have not submitted an application to import a vehicle within the last 12 months you will need to provide the photographic identification;

If you have owned and used the vehicle for some time, you might be able to apply to import your vehicle under the Personal Import arrangements. Read on further to see if this applies to you and your vehicle.

What if the vehicle was manufactured before 1 January 1989 and you have owned and used it for at least one Year?

If the vehicle was manufactured before 1 January 1989 and you have owned and used it for at least one year, you may be able to apply for approval to import the vehicle under the arrangements for older vehicles (read the previous section) and the Personal Import arrangements (read the next section).

In some cases, the registration requirements for Personal Import vehicles can be less complex than for the older vehicles. These requirements are determined by the individual vehicle registration authority.

Before you make your import application, you should contact the registering authority in the state or territory in Australia where you will be registering the vehicle for the first time for advice on the different requirements for older vehicles and personal import vehicles, contact details for the registering authorities are at the end of this brochure.

2. Trailers - Part 5, 6 and 7 on Application Form

Any trailer designed for towing behind a road motor vehicle must have a Vehicle Import Approval granted so that it can enter Australia. The trailer may be as small as a motorcycle trailer, a caravan or as large as an oversize trailer used for moving heavy machinery or loads.

Importers should be aware that trailers manufactured for other markets may need significant modifications to comply with the applicable ADRs. This may include replacement or testing of braking systems, replacement of trailer couplings such as ball couplings or fifth wheels, replacement of wiring or connectors, replacement of trailer lights and adjustment to axle group positions to reduce rear overhang.

Abbreviations and Glossary

New and Used Trailers up to 4.5 Tonnes Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)

These trailers may be approved for importation to Australia subject to the trailers being modified according to the requirements of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) before being sold or registered for use on public roads for the first time in Australia.

Details of the requirements are given in VSB 1 Building Small Trailers.

Note: If the trailer cannot be made to comply with the Australian Design Rules then it must be exported or destroyed.

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
a completed Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle
purchase document
If the ATM is greater than 3000kg - please provide a copy of the original manufacturers' specifications.

Note: if the trailer is originally manufactured in the United States of America - Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is equivalent to ATM
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again)

Some further information that may be required after assessment of the application:

Brochures showing the original manufacturers specifications for the trailer
If the proposed ATM is different to the original manufacturer's ATM (or GVWR), you will need to complete the justification for de-rating. If possible include engineering justification such as test results on the capacity of the tow coupling or suspension components that show that they are not capable of meeting ADR requirements or Australian conditions;
In the case of caravans, the justification must include the number of berths in the trailer and the mass of grey and black water that may be carried in the caravan.

Note: If the ATM is less than or close to the tare mass an Import Approval will not be granted.

Trailers with an ATM greater than 4.5 tonnes

These trailers may be approved for importation to Australia subject to the trailers complying with the ADRs applicable at the date they are first supplied to the market or first used in transport in Australia.

New trailers must also have an Identification Plate fitted in accordance with an approval issued by the Administrator of Vehicle Standards.

Used trailers must also have a section 16(2) approval issued by the Administrator of Vehicle Standards.

Certification schemes for trailers with an ATM greater than 4.5 tonnes

1 - Single Trailer (Low Volume) Approval Scheme (only applicable to new trailers)

This scheme allows the certification and supply to the market of only one new trailer every 12 months. If you wish to import more than one trailer within the 12-month period, the trailers will need to be certified through the Full Volume Approval Scheme.

Registering as a Licensee in the Road Vehicle Certification Scheme (RVCS).
You must first register before making a vehicle import application.

The Registration form for a Licensee can be downloaded from the RVCS website. You will be given a 'Licensee number' (four-digit number prefixed with the letter 'L') this is to be filled in the Licensee number box on the vehicle import application form.

An Import Approval for a Test and Evaluation Vehicle may be granted for this trailer on the condition that the trailer will be modified and tested to demonstrate compliance with the applicable ADR's.

If for any reason the trailer is unable to meet the ADR's then it must be exported for destroyed.

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase document
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again)
a signed declaration that the trailer will be modified to comply with the ADRs that apply at the date the trailer is first supplied to the market or first used in transport in Australia
a letter from an Australian State or Territory Registering Authority that they will allow the trailer to be used on public roads. (If the trailer is over dimensioned (e.g. more than 2500mm wide etc.).

2 - Full Volume Approval Scheme - (only applicable to new trailers)

You must use this scheme if you wish to import more than one new trailer over a 12-month period.

You can only import one trailer if you do not have an Identification Plate Approval (IPA) under the Full Volume Approval Scheme.

An approval for a Test and Evaluation Vehicle may be granted for this trailer on the condition that the trailer will be modified and tested to demonstrate compliance with the applicable ADR's. If for any reason the trailer is unable to meet the ADR's then it must be exported for destroyed.

If you have not already done so, you must first register the Licensee, the Production Facility and Design Facility in the Road Vehicle Certification System (RVCS) before making a vehicle import application. The Registration forms for a Licensee, Production Facility and Design Facility can be downloaded from the RVCS website.

Complete these forms and mail or fax them to this Office.

If you are already have a Licensee ID you can use this ID on the vehicle import application form.

For the purpose of the IPA, the importer is considered the manufacturer and must have quality management systems in place to ensure that each trailer fitted with an identification plate is of the same specification as that of the trailer approved in the IPA. Once you have gained an IPA you can apply to import unlimited numbers of the trailers covered by the IPA.

Note: If you cannot use this IPA to import different make and models of trailers. You will need to go through the same process of applying for importation of one Test and Evaluation vehicle for each of the different make and models.

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

a completed Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle
$50.00 application fee
purchase document
if a test trailer, supply your Licensee number, Production Facility number, Design Facility number
if you already hold Identification Plate Approval supply the IPA number
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again)
a signed declaration that the trailer will be modified to comply with the ADRs that apply at the date the trailer is first supplied to the market or first used in transport in Australia
a letter from an Australian State or Territory Registering Authority that they will allow the trailer to be used on public roads. (If the trailer is over dimensioned (e.g. more than 2500mm wide etc.).

3. Used Trailer Certification Scheme

This scheme allows the certification and supply to the market of only one used every 12 months. Trailers that are up to 4.5 tonnes ATM are not eligible.

An Import Approval may be granted on the condition that the trailer will not being used on public roads until it has been modified to comply with the applicable ADRs that apply at the date the trailer is first supplied to the market or first used in transport in Australia and you have obtained an approval under section 16(2) of the Act.

If for any reason the trailer is unable to meet the ADR's and/or obtained a section 16(2) approval then it must be exported for destroyed.

For information on obtaining a Section 16(2) approval contact:

Mr Bob Seow on 02 62 74 7504

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

completed Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle
$50.00 application fee
purchase document
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company (if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again)
a signed declaration that the trailer will be modified to comply with the ADRs that apply at the date the trailer is first supplied to the market or first used in transport in Australia
a letter from an Australian State or Territory Registering Authority that they will allow the trailer to be used on public roads. (If the trailer is over dimensioned (e.g. more than 2500mm wide etc.)
Abbreviations and Glossary

3. Trucks and Buses

Trucks less than 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and buses with less than 12 seating positions

If the vehicle is built on a conventional truck chassis it will be classed as a truck. If the vehicle has more than 9 seating positions, including the driver's seat, it is classed as a bus.

Trucks having a GVM less than 12 tonnes and buses with fewer than 12 seating positions need to meet the ADRs applicable at the date of original manufacture.

These vehicles must have an identification plate fitted. Importers will need to obtain either:

1. A letter of compliance from the approved identification plate holder. A list of approval holders is available at: See also the section on Letter of Compliance for more information.

You need to perform a search for the Make and Model of vehicle you wish to import; OR

2. The vehicle will need to be modified by a Registered Automotive Workshop holding the appropriate approvals to meet the National Standards (Australian Design Rules). A full list of RAWs is available.

Note: If you are using a RAW then the RAW must make the application to import OR

3. A letter of agreement from an organisation who holds New Low Volume approval. To search to see if there is a Low Volume Approval Holder go to http://rvcs.infrastructure.gov.au/ Vehicle/RVD Search

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase document
letter of compliance (1 above)
or Letter of Agreement (3 above) trucks Gross Vehicle Mass or number of seats for buses
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company
if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again

Trucks over 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and buses with more than 12 seating positions

These vehicles must have a plate fitted. Importers need to obtain either:

A letter of compliance from the approved identification plate holder. A list of approval holders is available at: (See the section on Letter of Compliance for more information).

You need to perform a search for the Make and Model of vehicle you wish to import; OR;

The vehicle will need to be modified by a Registered Automotive Workshop holding the appropriate approvals to meet the National Standards (Australian Design Rules). A full list of RAWs is available.

Trucks over 12 tonnes GVM to be imported and fitted with a Used Import Plate by a Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) and buses with more than 12 seating positions need to meet the ADRs applicable when the plate is fitted.

Note: If you are using a RAW then the RAW must make the application to import OR a letter of agreement from an organisation who holds New Low Volume approval. You can search to see if there is a Low Volume Approval Holder Vehicle/RVD Search

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase document
an original letter of compliance (1 above) or
letter of agreement (4 above)
GVM for trucks or number of seats for buses
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company
if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again

4. Letter of Compliance - Part 9 on Application Form

Dealers and distributors do not have authority to sign a Letter of Compliance. A Letter will only be issued by the manufacturer where a vehicle was originally built to Australian specifications (ie to comply with the Australian Design Rules).

A Letter of Compliance states that a vehicle complies with the applicable ADRs at the time of the vehicle's original build date. Only the authorised Australian representative of the manufacturer, or the organisation holding the Plate Approval for the particular vehicle model, can issue a Letter of Compliance for the vehicle you intend to import. It is therefore only in exceptional circumstances that a Letter of Compliance can be obtained.

You are only permitted to import 1 vehicle in a 12 month period under these arrangements.

The plate is supplied by the Administrator for affixing to the vehicle before registration in your State or Territory. There is a charge for the supply of this plate by the authorised plate engraver.

Details of companies that have approval to place identification plates on new vehicle and therefore are permitted to issue a Letter of Compliance are available from the Road Vehicle Certification Scheme / Vehicle/RVD Search

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase document
original Letter of Compliance
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company
if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again

5. Personal Imports - Part 10 on Application Form

The following persons are not eligible to import a vehicle under the Personal Import Scheme:

visitors
temporary residents
foreign diplomatic personnel
companies and
corporations

To be eligible for a personal import the following mandatory criteria must be satisfied:

the vehicle has been owned and used by the applicant for a continuous period of at least 12 months (3 months where ownership and use of the vehicle commenced before 8 May 2000);
at the time the vehicle is imported, the applicant is:
i. an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident; or
ii. a person who has applied to become an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident;
the applicant is of an age that entitles him or her to hold a licence or a permit to drive a road vehicle of that type;
the applicant undertakes to comply with any requirements as to road safety that are imposed in respect of the vehicle by the Administrator; and
the applicant has not imported a road vehicle owned by him/her within the year ending on the day on which the vehicle in respect of which the application is made is landed in Australia.

If an applicant has imported a vehicle under any other provisions in that time, approval will not be granted.
The criteria outlined at (a) to (e) are mandatory criteria as included in Regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations 1989. The criteria will be strictly enforced.

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 pages
statement 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
a $50 application fee must also be provided.

Applicants importing from Japan must include the following additional documents:

overseas registration certificate, from time of purchase, to time of deregistration, in the applicant's name
overseas de-registration certificate, in the applicant's name, showing the date that the vehicle was deregistered in Japan if applicable
a parking approval in the applicant's name showing that the applicant had permission to park the vehicle
compulsory tax and insurance
the applicant's driver's licence -international or as issued by Japanese authorities.

410 & 457 Visa holder and New Zealand Citizens

Regulation 13 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Regulations states that the applicant must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident or a person who has applied to become an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident. The Administrator has recognised that people travelling on 410 Visas are unable to apply for permanent Australian Residency, even though they are permitted to remain and live in Australia. The Administrator also recognises that New Zealand citizens and people travelling on a 457 Visa are unable to apply for permanent residency until they have migrated to Australia and have met certain immigration requirements. The Administrator will consider applications to import personally owned vehicles from applicants who are entering Australia under these arrangements.

Note: In these cases, all criteria other than (b) in relation to citizenship, must still be met.

Applicants from New Zealand and those travelling on a 457 "Long Stay Business Visa" will need to demonstrate their credentials as genuine migrants by way of:

employment details - letter from employer stating where you are working
rental agreement/purchase agreement for property in Australia
opening of Australian bank account
shipment of household goods
australian telephone/electricity accounts
australian tax file number
medicare card
enrolment of children in an Australian school
sale of property in home country
resignation from work in home country
cancellation of rental property in home country
entry stamp into Australia -until you arrive in Australia your Vehicle Import Approval is unable to be granted. (This only applies to New Zealand passport holders)

This list is a guide only, and you may be required to provide further evidence of your migration status.

Applicants travelling on a 410 "Retirement Visa" will need to demonstrate their credentials as genuine migrants by way of:

rental agreement/purchase agreement for property in Australia
opening of Australian bank account
shipment/quotation of household goods
medical insurance for Australia
australian telephone/electricity accounts
australian tax file number
sale of overseas property
resignation from work in overseas country
cancellation of overseas rental property

This list is a guide only, and you may be required to provide further evidence of your migration status.

All Applicants

Further details may be requested to substantiate claims of ownership and use of the vehicle during the qualifying period.

Other documents that may be required include:

previous owner's deregistration certificate for the vehicle
vehicle insurance documents in the applicant's name
documents, in the applicant's name, in relation to the purchase of the vehicle, for example, cheque butts, bank statement/credit card statement, ATM withdrawal document, receipt from vendor of vehicle
documents, in the applicant's name, showing that the applicant paid for any maintenance or repairs to the vehicle
the applicant's passport with exit and entry stamps that indicate when the applicant left and returned to Australia and show that the applicant was continuously with the vehicle in the overseas country for the required period
proof that the applicant is currently resident in Australia
proof that the applicant returns to Australia with the vehicle
the applicant must produce a copy of both passports when dual passports are held
proof of the applicant's physical presence, continuously or intermittently, during a twelve month period in the country where the vehicle was purchased and primarily used prior to lodging a Vehicle Import Application to import the vehicle to Australia
evidence of the frequency, regularity and duration of visits to places outside the country where the vehicle was purchased and used
evidence of the maintenance by the applicant of a permanent place of abode in the overseas country during absences (eg telephone accounts, electricity bills).

documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation certified by a member of an accredited agency such as the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters.

You may be required to submit original documentation (not photocopies) to confirm eligibility under the Personal Import Scheme. If the applicant declines to submit the documents requested, the Administrator will take this into account in assessing the bona fides of the application and may, as a result, refuse to issue a Vehicle Import Approval.

Applicants can contact the Department for advice on acceptable authorities to witness documents in the country where the vehicle is registered and/or used. These persons would hold an authority to witness documents similar to that of a Public Notary or Justice of the Peace in Australia. Refer to Persons Eligible to Certify Documents.

Under the Personal Import Scheme, modifications to bring the vehicle up to minimum safety standards can be deferred until you wish to register the vehicle.

For Australian registration purposes a vehicle imported under this category must:

be roadworthy; and
meet minimum safety standards

if you are eligible, a Personal Import Approval will be issued. The approval papers comprise four parts:

one copy clears the vehicle from its point of entry to Australia;
one allows you to obtain a Personal Import Plate;
one is for the registering authority; and
the fourth is for your own records and should be kept with the vehicle.

Personal Import Plates

A Personal Import Plate is evidence that the vehicle is an approved vehicle import and allows it to be registered.

Before applying for a Personal Import Plate, the vehicle must be brought up to acceptable ADR standards and the original Vehicle Import Approval headed "This copy authorises the issue of a Personal Import Plate" must be completed.

Some registering authorities will inspect your vehicle and sign a statement of compliance. Others will refer you to an authorised signatory for inspection.
The statement of compliance must be signed on the appropriate three approval documents by an authorised person.

The original signed statement of compliance which is marked for the plate engraver must be sent to the plate engraver whose address is given on the Vehicle Import Approval. There is an additional cost for the engraving of the Personal Import Plate.

Contact your State or Territory Motor Vehicle Registration Authority for details about how to have your vehicle inspected and the statement of authority signed. Full details are available on the Contacts page.

6. Is an Australian Identification Plate already fitted to the vehicle or are you returning a vehicle that was originally exported from Australia? - Part 8 on Application form

Any road vehicle, that is being imported into Australia must be covered by a valid import approval, a valid carnet or be subject to an intergovernmental agreement such as a Status of Forces Agreement before it may be cleared for entry into Australia by the Australian Customs Service.

There are many reasons that people take their Australian vehicle overseas, perhaps for a vacation, a particular event, to live overseas for a while or even to have work done on the vehicle. This section explains the different processes that may be followed to allow vehicles back in to Australia.

Vehicles fitted with an Australian Identification Plate that have not been modified before being re-imported to Australia

An Identification Plate (also known as a Compliance Plate) is fitted to a vehicle by the manufacturer to confirm that the vehicle complied with the applicable Australian Design Rules when it was first supplied to the market in Australia. Figure A shows what an identification plate looks like. Identification plates are normally fitted on the firewall on passenger cars and on the frame head on motorcycles however, some vehicles may have identification plates fitted in the door frame or in the luggage compartment. Older identification plates were made from stamped aluminium, modern plates are adhesive labels.

Typical Motor Car and Truck Identification Plate

Typical Motorcylce Identification Plate

If your vehicle is fitted with an identification plate, an import approval may be able to be issued to allow you to import your vehicle. You must complete and submit the application at the end of this guide and provide the following information:

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

a completed Application for Approval to Import a Vehicle
the application fee – $50.00 Australian Dollars – by cheque, Money Order, or credit card (MasterCard or Visa only) – if paying by cheque from overseas, seek advice from your bank on the correct process
a copy of the vehicle purchase document(s)
Details of the plate, including a photograph showing:
- Vehicle Make
- Vehicle Model
- Date of Manufacture
- Vehicle Category
- Number of seats
- Identification Plate Approval Number
photographic identification of the person making the application or, for a company, the responsible officer – the photograph must be certified by an appropriate person (see the section later in this brochure) as being that of the applicant – if you have not submitted an application to import a vehicle within the last 12 months you will need to provide the photographic identification

Vehicles fitted with an Australian Identification Plate that have been extensively modified while overseas

Vehicles that have been extensively modified while overseas may not be eligible to be imported under this provision. Extensively modified vehicles may be considered new vehicles for the purpose of the Act because the original identification plate no longer describes the vehicle, for example in the case of a passenger car that has been stretched into a limousine with additional seats, the vehicle category may have changed and the number of seats listed on the plate may be incorrect. If your vehicle has been modified at all while overseas you must provide details of the modifications.

Where the modifications do mean that the identification plate is not valid, there are several alternatives under which an import approval may be granted:

For vehicles that were not used in transport in Australia (not registered), and not used overseas, the modified vehicle must be demonstrated to comply with the Australian Design Rules and approval must be issued under the Act to allow a new identification plate to be fitted. An application may be made to import the vehicle as a test vehicle (see section 4.1 and 4.2 of the guide for information on new vehicle certification).

For vehicles not used in Australia, modified and then used overseas, importation may only be granted under the Personal Imports Scheme (Section 5.5) or the Registered Automotive Workshops scheme (Section 4.3)

For vehicles that have been used in Australia and then exported and modified, an import approval may be granted if advice can be provided from the state or territory registration authority where the vehicle is to be registered that they will consider the vehicle for registration under their modified vehicle scheme. Import approvals issued under this arrangement will prohibit use in transport until a state or territory has registered the vehicle as a modified vehicle. People considering modifying their vehicle overseas should discuss registration requirements before exporting their vehicle.

Non Standard Vehicles not fitted with an identification plate

If an import approval had been issued in the past to allow a vehicle not fitted with an identification plate to be imported into Australia, you cannot assume that it will be allowed back into Australia. A vehicle that was imported into Australia and then re-exported will need a new vehicle import approval before the vehicle can be imported back to Australia.

Please be aware, before you export the vehicle overseas you will only be issued with a new vehicle import approval if you satisfy one of the criteria contained in this document.

Exemptions From Import Approval

Carnet

If you have exported your vehicle from Australia, say for a trip, you will probably have obtained a Carnet. In Australia, Carnets are issued by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). A Vehicle Import Approval is not required for a vehicle returning to Australia if it left Australia on a Carnet and is being returned on that Carnet, and the Carnet is valid and current.

If the Carnet has expired or is no longer valid you will need to obtain a Vehicle Import Approval if you wish to bring the vehicle back to Australia.

Status of Forces Agreements

Australian service men and women may be entitled under status of forces agreements to export Australian vehicles for a period of service overseas and to then bring that vehicle back to Australia without obtaining an import approval.

7. Overseas visitors to Australia

The Carnet

If you are visiting Australia on a vacation, you may temporarily import your vehicle to Australia by presenting a valid Carnet de Passage en Duane to the Australian Customs Service at the port where the vehicle arrives in Australia.

A carnet is similar to a personal passport and contains all the relevant information about the vehicle - make, model, colour, engine capacity, seating capacity, registration number, owner and value. Carnets can be obtained for motor vehicles, motorcycles, campervans, four wheel drive vehicles, caravans and trailers.

Your Vehicles' Carnet must be obtained from the motoring organisation in your country of residence before you leave home. (For USA residents, carnets are available from the Canadian Automobile Association in Ottawa.)

Conditions of Use

A carnet is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Vehicles imported under a carnet may not be lent, sold, mortgaged, hired, exchanged, given away or otherwise disposed of while in Australia;
The vehicle must be exported from Australia prior to or on the expiry date of the carnet; and
The vehicle that is covered by a carnet must not remain in Australia when the owner is not in Australia.

Vehicles imported without a Carnet will not be permitted to clear customs until an import approval is issued. Import approvals can only be issued in accordance with the circumstances set out in the Regulations as documented in this bulletin.

If you do not meet any of the circumstances, an import approval will not be issued and you will be required to have your vehicle exported or destroyed at your own expense.

Note: this Office does not issue Carnets and is unable to assist with any questions on Carnets, please contact your motoring organisation in your country for the issuing of a Carnet and information on a Carnet.

8. Racing Vehicles - Part 11 of the Application Form

Rally Use/ Closed Circuit Racing

Before approving a Vehicle Import Application, the Administrator needs to be satisfied that the vehicle will be only used for rally/race purposes

Vehicle Import Applications for rally/race use will only be considered where the vehicle will be used in serious competition, generally at professional level. Where a particular vehicle model is readily available in the Australian market, a Vehicle Import Approval will not be granted unless there are compelling reasons to justify why it is necessary to import a vehicle to compete in events in Australia. The fact that a vehicle may be on an eligibility list for an event is not, of itself, a reason to justify the granting of a Vehicle Import Approval.

At a minimum, the following criteria must be met:

eligible vehicles for rally/race use are those homologated by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). A list of homologated vehicle models is available.
under normal circumstances applicants will be restricted to importing a single vehicle and acceptable reasons will need to be provided to import another vehicle for rally/race use.
road vehicles for rally use are imported on the condition that they will only be used in the course of competition, practice associated with competition and transport to and from a rally location.
the applicant must include a statement with their application that the vehicle will only be used for rally purposes together with a copy of a current CAMS R3 or higher grade licence.
For closed circuit racing the applicant must include a statement with their application that the vehicle will only be used for closed circuit racing purposes together with a copy of a current CAMS C3 or higher grade licence.

In addition, the applicant will need to provide evidence of a professional or high level involvement in rally/race sport, including:

details of events in which the applicant has driven a rally/race car;
details of specific events in which the applicant proposes to compete in the car for which the Vehicle Import Application is submitted;
details of the rally/race club or organisation of which the applicant is a member and the length of membership; and
if the vehicle is a model available in the Australian vehicle market, justification for the need to import the vehicle (cost of the vehicle in the domestic market will not generally be considered an acceptable justification).

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase documents
copy of CAMS R3 or higher licence or CAMS C3 or higher
evidence of participation in rallying or closed circuit racing and
evidence of vehicles homologation,
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company
if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again

9. Off Road Vehicles - Non Transport Equipment - Part 12 on Application Form

Note: Before a Vehicle Import Approval may be issued for a vehicle, it is first necessary to determine whether the vehicle is a 'road vehicle' for the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act). For the purposes of the Act, 'road vehicle' means:

a motor vehicle designed solely or principally for the transport on public roads of people, animals or goods; or
a motor vehicle that is permitted to be used on public roads

It is important to note that the Act does not take into account the intended use of the vehicle. If the vehicle is a 'Road Vehicle' it will require a Vehicle Import Approval regardless of whether it is to be used on or off road.

Vehicles imported for off road use must have been originally manufactured as off road vehicles, eg four wheel agricultural bikes.

Vehicles that are based on a conventional truck chassis are subject to normal compliancing requirements. You will need to meet one of the Eligibility Criteria outlined.

Vehicles which are built from the "the ground up" as special vehicles, eg rough terrain cranes, will continue to be treated as special purpose vehicles and may be granted exemption from the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.

Cranes

All special purposes-built cranes are required to gain Vehicle Import Approval.

If your crane is mounted on a conventional truck chassis it is not classed as a special purpose-built crane.

If the crane is permitted to be used on public roads you are required to submit with the Vehicle Import Application a letter from an Australian State or Territory Motor Vehicle Registration Authority stating that they will allow the vehicle to be used on public roads.

Pocket Bikes

All pocket bikes require a Vehicle Import Approval to enable clearance by the Australian Customs Service.

To gain Import Approval generally the seat height must be not more than 600mm from the ground to the saddle (where you actually sit) for classification as a Pocket Bike. A manufacturers brochure including design features must be attached to the Vehicle Import Application Form. Vehicle Import Approval does not indicate compliance with Australian Standards.

Motorised Scooters and Pedal Cycles

All motorised scooters and motorised pedal cycles require an Import Approval.

Motorised scooters or pedal cycles with a maximum power output not greater than 200 watts fall into the AB vehicle category (Pedal assisted cycles) in the National Standards (ADRs) and are not subject to the Australian Design Rules. However, they must still have an Import Approval, before they can be imported into Australia.

If your motorised scooter or pedal cycle exceeds 200 watts it falls into one of the following vehicle categories (as determined in the National Standards (ADRs):

LA (Moped)

power output exceeding 200watts
not exceeding 50ml capacity
not capable of exceeding 50km/h

LC (Motorcycle)

exceeds 50ml Capacity and/or
capable of exceeding 50km/h

The Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 applies to both LA and LC category vehicles and unless you meet one of the Eligibility Criteria outlined earlier you will be unable to import such a vehicle.

Mobility Wheelchairs

The requirements to import a mobility scooter are:

must be self propelled (ie propelled by a mechanism other than by human power);
can only accommodate a single person;
are designed so as to be not capable of a speed exceeding 10km/h on level ground;
have more than 2 wheels; and
have an unladen mass not less than 40kg

Motor Bikes

Other countries may classify off road bikes differently to Australia.

Generally if a bike was designed principally for 'on road use' and has lights, blinkers, side mirrors and provision for a number plate, it is regarded as a ON ROAD bike. However there are cases where some bikes are manufactured with the above features but are still regarded as an off road design. Below are examples of off/on road bikes:

	Example of an off road bike

	Example of a bike with on road features but could be also classed as off road bike

	Example of a pure on road design bike

If your bike falls into the category where it has some on road features but is predominately an off-road bike, the Administrator may grant Vehicle Import Approval if you agree to the following:

Direction indicator lamps are not fitted at time of importation nor at any time later;
Registration plate holder is not fitted at time of importation nor at any time later;
Tyres suitable for off-road use only are fitted at time of import and at all times later; and
A durable self adhesive label is affixed in a conspicuous position immediately after taking delivery of the vehicle in Australia. The label must include the words "this motorcycle is not certified to comply with the Australian Design Rules and may not be registered for normal on road use".

Documents required to be submitted with the application form:

$50.00 application fee
purchase document
a brochure showing manufactures specifications of the vehicle and picture
certified picture ID of the importer or responsible officer if a company
if you have not imported in the last 12 months you will need to provide your ID again

10. Importing, Modifying and having an Australian Identification Plate Fitted by a (RAWS)

An important warning: Beware of any used vehicle that is, or could have been, damaged. Under the law, a Used Import Plate cannot be fitted to a vehicle that has been damaged beyond specified limits, even if it has been repaired. This is because the damage may affect the structural safety of the vehicle. A damaged used imported vehicle which enters Australia must be exported or destroyed - it cannot be dismantled for parts.

If the vehicle is used, you may be able to have it imported under the Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS). RAWS caters for specialist and enthusiast used imported vehicles not available in Australia in full volumes by mainstream manufacturers. Under RAWS, eligible vehicles can be imported and modified to meet the Australian vehicle safety standards - the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Only approved workshops can apply to import RAWS vehicles and only approved workshops can carry out the work to make the vehicles comply with the ADRs.

A vehicle is eligible for import if it meets the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) criteria and it matches the eligibility entry in the Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (the Register). An import approval will not be issued if the vehicle details do not match the Register entry.

You can check the Register details yourself and then contact an approved workshop, or you can simply contact a workshop to advise and assist you from the start. If your vehicle is not on the Register, or if the details do not match, you will have to make an Application for Entry on the Register, or a workshop can make an application. Do not take for granted that a particular vehicle is, or will be, eligible.

You can find out about the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme on the Departments website. You can also check the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme Register.

Remember, only approved workshops can apply to import used vehicles and only approved workshops can carry out the work to make the vehicles comply with the ADRs. Unless you are intending to become an approved RAWS workshop, you must contact a workshop to see if they are interested in handling your vehicle.

You can find out about RAWS, search for approved workshops and the vehicles they are approved to modify.

You will need to contact an approved Registered Automotive Workshop with the details of the vehicle. If the vehicle is eligible, and the workshop wishes to handle your vehicle, the workshop can make an application for a Vehicle Import Approval.

If a Vehicle Import Approval is granted, it will be sent to the workshop in their name. The vehicle can then be imported and must then go to that workshop for modification. When the vehicle is modified, and meets the ADR requirements, an approval is issued to the workshop to fit a Used Import Plate to the vehicle. This plate indicates to the registering authorities that the vehicle is approved under RAWS. The vehicle must also meet any requirements applied by the registering authority, such as roadworthiness, for registration.

Discuss with the workshop any questions relating to the actual import of the vehicle, import costs, modification costs, timing, and similar issues.

Vehicles for Dismantling
The importation of complete vehicles for dismantling purposes is not permitted.