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Importing Harley
tdegens - December 25th, 2005 at 07:32 PM

Anybody know anything about importing used motorbikes from america? Cost, Freighting, Shipping Containers, Duty etc? Any Ideas at all/
Cheers Tom

Hertz - December 26th, 2005 at 07:29 AM

there is always a full page ad in just cars magazine, for some joint that runs a container service from the west coast, I think they said $1000 for a bike, and they can organize the permits and duties, etc.
Hope this helps. .Josh.

Volkswagenboy - December 26th, 2005 at 08:02 AM

My father just imorted a Mercury Cougar from the states, all up it cost around 3k to get it into AU (Mind you, it's as long as a limo) so a motorbike should be much cheaper. Your best bet would probably be contacting somewhere like California Image (The mob dad used) and asking if they ship bikes, places like that usually handle the import papers.

5PL1TDCS10N - December 26th, 2005 at 10:42 AM

Bikes in the US are left hand drive too!:P

pete wood - December 26th, 2005 at 10:53 AM

darn, you mean he'll have to convert it over the RHD! :smilegrin:

shaihulud - December 26th, 2005 at 04:43 PM

Be certain to check all of the costs associated with importing a motor vehicle before you do it. I recently imported a used Meyers Manx SR body, which cost me US$1000 to buy. By the time it was on my front lawn it had cost me AU$5000.

david - December 26th, 2005 at 08:22 PM

this is my little bad boy

Unity-28 - December 26th, 2005 at 08:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by shaihulud
Be certain to check all of the costs associated with importing a motor vehicle before you do it. I recently imported a used Meyers Manx SR body, which cost me US$1000 to buy. By the time it was on my front lawn it had cost me AU$5000.


Of course it did....Did you expect it to be any cheaper...Roughly 3k for the shipping and documentation, 1250 (roughly for the body) and give of take a few hundred depending where in Australia it went to....People dont ship for nothin.

N!

shaihulud - December 26th, 2005 at 11:05 PM

Of course I expected it to be that expensive. Don't forget 53% taxes. I'm just mentioning it in case some people are not aware of the true costs of importing a vehicle.

tassupervee - December 27th, 2005 at 09:50 AM

Another thing worth investigating is compliance issues as far as rego is concerned.
This can sometimes make life miserable.
L8tr
E

shaihulud - December 27th, 2005 at 10:50 AM

Gentlepersons. This occured in 1999. If things have changed, I am not aware of the changes.

No taxes, Eh!!!??

Cop this young Harry!!!

Original cost of car body US$1000
Australian Customs conversion factor (currency exchange rate ) 1.625755, so
Cost AU$1624.57
Duty rate 17.5% of cost $278.44
sub total $1903.01
Sales tax rate 22% of sub total $509.52
Other charges $33.20
Total taxes and Customs charges $830.16

Total is 53% of the cost

Note. They added duty and then taxed me for an imagined sales profit. Therefore they taxed a tax.

As I said, make sure that you know ALL of the costs of importing a vehicle, before you do so.

modulus - December 27th, 2005 at 11:44 AM

You should go to the customs.gov.au website and obtain
"Guide to the importation of privately owned motor
vehicles or motorcycles"

As you will see. duty on motorcycles is 0%, there is no luxury car tax applicable, but you will have to pay 10% GST.

shaihuld, things have changed since 1999.

Shipping, insurance, registration costs etc. are outside of this of course.

hth

seagull - December 27th, 2005 at 11:59 AM

I like three wheels , so I dont fall over when I get to the lights

make your own like I did