UK to OZ customs clearance....
 

help required. I'm shipping my bike from Manchestoh to Sydney using James cargo and they gave me an Oz agent to deal with the customs clearance [it'll be on a carnet]. This agent seems reluctant to tell me what they charge for this service so i'm tempted to deal with it myself. I'm wondering if anyone else has done this? It doesn't have to be from the UK. After all, they do speak English. Sort of.
Also, this carnet thingy, does it give me insurance round Oz? I.E. third party liability? That is damage to other people. If not, where can i get it? Bearing in mind i won't have an Oz address?

cleared my bike at the airport in Perth in -08, had no agent, was pretty easy. Carnet only gives you temporary import, you'll need to get a roadworthiness test for your vehicle, and then buy insurance. But before you can legally ride to the test, you need a temporary (48 hour) insurance...If I remember correctly, the place to get that was the Department of Infrastructure and Planning. Make sure the bike, as well as all your riding gear and everything else are very clean, to pass the quarantine check.

(But remember this was 4 years ago, some things might have changed already).

Yo vinnie,

Me and the missus cleared our bikes (two years ago) ourselves in sydney, it took a bit of ping ponging about, but it was straight forward. You have to book a carnet and vehicle inspection, where they check if your not bringing in bugs or grass. All being well you should be gone in a day or two.

Thing about insurance is we did'nt remember to get it untill we were almost out again 8 months later. And nobody seemed to care. Because we got the bikes in through Sydney, as opposed to perth, they did'nt need to see insurance before you're free to go and thus, at your own risk of course, saving us alot of hassle.

Just our experience off course and take it as you may, but australia being divided into many different administrative ''countries'', the laws change depending on which state your in. Sydney happens to be the most relaxed.

All the best bud!