Australian Import Approval, Carnet, Customs, Quarantine, Registration & Insurance Link

Upon arrival in Australia your Motorcycle will need to be inspected by both Customs and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS).

Australian Customs and AQIS must have access to all compartments of your Motorcycle.

Your Motorcycle and riding gear, including boots and helmets, must be immaculately clean. Particular attention must be paid to the underside of your Bike. AQIS will check the underside of your mudguards, engine and frame, as well as the front of the engine and any radiators or oil cooler. Your boots will be checked as well. All your gear and equipment must be free of mud, grass, dirt or insects.

• Australian Customs and Border Protection Service:  Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS):   www.aqis.gov.au        motorcycles Importing a Vehicle Fact Sheet_Nov09

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  You will need (VIA) or a Carnet De Passages en Douane (CPD carnet)

   

• UK Carnet.  Available in the U.K. from the RAC: www.rac.co.uk/plan-a-trip/carnet-de-passage

The simplest way to bring your overseas registered Motorcycle to Australia on a temporary basis is by Carnet De Passages en Douane (CPD carnet).

Carnets are available from the motoring organisation in your country of residence. If you are going to use a carnet to temporarily import your vehicle into Australia you must obtain the carnet before the Motorcycle 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.

A carnet is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. There are a number of conditions attached to the use of carnets in Australia. Some of those conditions are: The vehicle must be exported from Australia prior to or on the expiry date of the carnet.

It is a condition of use of a carnet in Australia that you, do not leave the vehicle that is covered by a carnet in Australia while you are not here. Should you do so, this is a breach of the provisions of the Customs Act 1901 and Customs Regulations 1926. Once a breach has occurred, the security amount equivalent to the duty and GST (and Luxury Car Tax (LCT), if applicable) will be called up by Customs.

• Riding & driving in Australia. The Australian  Automobile Association is an excellent source of information:www.aaa.asn.au/touring/bringing.htm

If your Motorcycle is registered in your home country, and you are licensed to ride your bike in your home country, you are permitted to operate your vehicle in Australia. It is compulsory to carry your licence when driving in Australia. If the licence is not written in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an English translation must also be carried with your licence. I strongly suggest you check for the latest information with the NSW Roads & Traffic Authority. Their web site has information on Drivers License and Registration requirements as well as details of the Road Rules applicable in Australia: www.rta.nsw.gov.au

The following text has been cut and pasted from the NSW RTA web site:

Vehicles temporarily visiting NSW from overseas

Overseas visitors and tourists may import their vehicle into Australia for a temporary period of up to 12 months by obtaining either a Carnet de Passages en Douane (carnet) from their local (overseas) motoring organisation, or a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). In either case the document must be obtained before the vehicle arrives in Australia. Registration in NSW is not required, but the vehicle must be exported from Australia within the specified time limit.

Vehicles temporarily visiting NSW from overseas must have current overseas registration. Number plates and labels from the country of origin must also be fitted to the vehicle. It is also recommended that the overseas registration certificate be carried when using the vehicle.

These vehicles are exempt from NSW registration and cannot be issued with an Unregistered Vehicle Permit.

Vehicles exempt from NSW registration, are also exempt from Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. A NSW third party personal injury claim involving a vehicle visiting from overseas is made against the Nominal Defendant Scheme. This scheme is administered by the Motor Accidents Authority (MAA).

Vehicles entering NSW under these circumstances can be right or left-hand drive, and do not need to comply with the Australian Design Rules. However, the vehicle must be roadworthy. Left-hand drive vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 4.5 tonnes must display the words ‘left-hand drive’ on the rear of the vehicle in letters at least 75 millimetres high, with a colour contrast background.

If the vehicle was originally imported under a VIA and the operator remains in Australia and wants to keep the vehicle beyond the VIA’s original expiry date, they may apply to DIT to have the VIA amended. If an amendment is approved, the vehicle may then be registered in NSW providing it meets all of the applicable vehicle standards for registration in NSW. See “Getting rego for an imported vehicle”.

If an amendment is not approved the original import conditions apply and the vehicle must be exported. A vehicle imported under a carnet cannot be registered in NSW and must be exported before the specified time limit expires.

A vehicle that is in New South Wales (NSW) temporarily is exempt from NSW registration requirements providing that vehicle is registered in another, state, territory or in a foreign country (if you drive into one of our other state/territories it is compulsory to have Third Party Insurance).

If the operator of an overseas visiting vehicle requires Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) will collect payment through motor registries on behalf of QBE Insurance Ltd and issue a receipt to the operator.

Police in NSW may not understand the regulations pertaining to overseas registered vehicles.
If you find yourself in such a situation, it has been suggested to quote COPS event number
E 40952466 to police to assist them.