How to Apply for an Import Approval in Australia
If you plan on importing a car, you have to get import approval first before bringing a car into Australia. This process ensures that the vehicle possessed complies with the Australian safety, environmental, and anti-theft requirements before it is imported. The following guide will outline the steps and requirements that have to be met when applying for import approval to make the process as smooth as possible for the importers of vehicles.
Step 1: Confirm Vehicle Eligibility
Let’s talk about Eligibility. The first step is to make a preliminary check and find out if your car can be imported. Not every car can be imported into Australia and they have to fall under some categories. One common pathway is the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) which enables the importation of specific vehicles that are not common in the local market including vintage cars or cars that are not available in the country. Another type is what is referred to as concessional imports which may be older models or those which may have some specific features such as classic models of vehicles.
Cars must conform to the Australian Design Rules; these include safety measures, environmental compliance and anti-theft standards. Make sure that you evaluate the criteria and standards that are set so that you do not waste your effort in the next steps.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
The next step is to gather all relevant documents once you have confirmed that your car model is admissible for importation. These documents are useful in proving that the vehicle that you are importing meets Australian standards and also that you have a permit to import. You will need:
- A bill of sale or registration document that shows that the person is the owner of the car.
- Safety and environment compliance certificates that certify that your vehicle complies with the Australian Design Rules.
- General information about the vehicle such as make, model and year of manufacture.
It is crucial that all the documents are correct, contain all the necessary information, and are updated. If you provide wrong information or fail to provide some information at all, your application can be delayed or rejected.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Once all your documents are ready, you can apply through the Road Vehicle Regulator (ROVER) application. This is the online portal where you will be entering all the relevant vehicle information, uploading your papers and paying the application cost, and application fee, which is around AUD 50.
To apply for this program, you have to register on the ROVER platform, input your car details, and submit relevant documents. Upon submission, the Department of Infrastructure will have access to your application to inspect. The timing of the review can take several weeks depending on the type of vehicle and the complexity of the application, therefore it is wise to apply early enough.
Step 4: Receive and Use Your Import Approval
After processing your application, you are granted import approval which is a legal document that permits you to import your car in Australia. You will need to display this approval when your vehicle gets to the Australian customs. However, it has to be emphasized that the process of getting the import approval does not necessarily conclude that the vehicle is now ready to be driven on the roads of Australia. Once you have imported your vehicle, it will be required that it undergo a test and registration exercise so as to conform to the laws of your state or territory.
FAQ
- How about all the vehicles, do I need approval for all of them?
Yes, all vehicles including cars, motorcycles, trailers, etc. need import approval to be allowed into Australia.
- How much time does it take for the concerned authorities to grant approval?
It can take about several weeks to get the approval and therefore it is advisable to apply some time earlier.
- What documents are needed?
You will be required to provide documents such as proof of ownership, compliance certificates, and other pertinent information about the vehicle, including make model, and year of manufacture.