Anyone shipped from UK to Melboure or want to buy a bike??

**MikeS** · #1 11 Nov 2007

Haven't seen much info on the shipping page here for people who have shipped a bike from UK to Australia. (Well ok, there is one from 7 years ago!) Can't believe no one on this site has shipped there. But then I submitted a full account our shipping from Colombia to Panama to that page about a month ago which never got posted.....

So I'm at a crossroads- I'm moving to Melbourne from Scotland at the end of December and have a bike problem. I haven't been able to find anywhere to store my trusty GS1150 for the time I'll be away (up to 3 years) so I either have to ship it out there or sell it. Fast.

I'm very loathed to put it up for sale but if anyone is after a UK reg ready-to-go, kitted out bike with Jesse panniers, Ohlins etc please PM me (plenty of pics on my website), otherwise I'll need to look at shipping and soon!

Any advice mucho appreciated!

**gperkins** · #2 12 Nov 2007

Gooday Mike, I shipped from Meltham, West Yorks to Melbourne five years ago with Neal Bros. They come highly recomended by myself. They were efficient, understanding and as cheap as any. Check them out at Export Packing
I have no association with them whats so ever, were just very impressed with their service. I hope this helps, cheers.

Graeme.

**IanJ** · #3 12 Nov 2007

We used Tradelanes to ship our bike to the US. The contact was Stewart Garmey, from conversations I had with him about other destinations I think that he would be able to help you

Home: Tradelanes Global Solutions

Alternatively check out these guys

GetRouted : Bike shipping and Tour Operator

Ian J

**MikeS** · #4 12 Nov 2007

Dave- Thanks for the offer but my flight is on 29th December so need to get something sorted PDQ! Do you have a rough 'per bike' price for your July shipment in any case?

I've started contacting the shippers so will see how that goes. Thanks for the info!

As far as 'importing' my bike is concerned, I was told that I can't extend a Carnet over 1 year so it would need to be 'imported as a Temporary Resident'.

importing a motor vehicle

I'm waiting on Aussie customs clarifying what this entails but if anyone has experience of this, please let me know. Do I need a 'Vehicle Import Permit' or is this only if it is to be permanently imported?

**MikeS** · #5 13 Nov 2007

Thanks Dave.

It looks like I can't import the bike as a temp resident anyway (I read the small print on the customs website) so its either extending the Carnet (I have emailed the RAC here who issue them about this), selling or storing it. This is no fun!

**Dave Milligan** · #6 14 Nov 2007

MikeS,

You say you're coming here for "up to 3 years". That should allow to bring your bike here as a immigrant with a Visa. I assume you have a Visa for that period.

My Customs Broker advises me you can bring your R1150GS to Australia under the Import Approval scheme as long as you have owned it for more that 12 months prior to the arrival of the vessel it arrives on.

You will need to pay GST on the value of the bike (plus freight & insurance), but at a depreciated rate because it's not a new bike. You will need to provide a receipt for it's purchase (which should also prove when you bought it) and furnish that to Aust Customs when the bike arrives.

My guess is you will have less than $500 (£200 on todays rates) to pay in GST on the bike when it arrives, but of course it depends on what you paid for it, back when.

Contact the Dept of Transport & Regional Affairs in Canberra for applications forms for the Vehicle Import Approval. email: Vimports@aqis.gov.au

So apply for the Import Approval (should take 3 weeks assuming you supply the correct info) and then arrange the transport for your bike. If you can wait till July next year I can bring it in one of my return shipments.

Good luck.

**MikeS** · #7 14 Nov 2007

Yeah, have been emailing the Customs people, I would have to permanantly import it to Australia in order to have it there for more than 12 months. I'm planning on working there for a couple of years (on a 457 Long Stay Business Visa) as my girlfriend is Australian and then we'll ride back to the UK.

My prefered option is to store my own bike here in the UK and buy something like a 650 single in Australia but I'm having a total nightmare finding somewhere to store it for that length of time.

**Roi** · #8 14 Nov 2007

G'day!

My girlfriend I will be emigrating to Australia early May 08 on a permanent work/resident visa leading to Citizenship.

I would like to know aswell as belonging, can i ship my 2 bikes out with me and ifso what sort of duty/tax would i have to roughly pay on a "06 r1200gsa" and "89 Kawasaki gpz1000rx"

any horses mouth info would be appreciated.

Thanks
Roi.n.Bron.

**Nomadic1** · #9 14 Nov 2007

For what its worth, im moving to Melbourne too and flying out 5th Dec.

We found that the cost of shipping the bikes was prohibitive, and as residents you'll need to undertake a new bike test etc in Australia.

Figured we'd cut our losses, sell our bikes and buy new when there.

You're in luck though that with the mcgregor and booring chappies going to Africa, sales are picking up again.

On £10k's worth of bikes, we lost £2k in depreciation. Not bad going.

**kzdero** · #10 14 Nov 2007

I have imported vehicles to aus with carnet's and with import permits.
The import permit is pretty easy to do. In your case, because you cannot apply to import the bike as you are not a permanent resident (or have applied to be one) you wont get the permit. However, your girlfriend can import it for you. She is your spouse right!

For shipping, try anglopacific, google it. Its about £400 including crate. They are located in acton.

**MikeS** · #11 16 Nov 2007

For what its worth, I've now been told by 'mr carnet' Paul Gowen of RAC that it is possible to extend a Carnet, for up to an extra year. This is all very confusing as I was told by Australian customs that a carnet can't be extended.

Aparently before it runs out, you contact the equivalent RAC club in Victoria and ask to extend your carnet, who then contact customs.The RAC in the UK (issuer of the Carnet) then issue a letter of no objection and confirm that the carnet is still underwritten (guess you have get another bank security) and that should be it.

**Roi** · #12 20 Nov 2007

Thanks for the info Mike,

Will be contacting RAC later today for relevant info and maybe seeing what family can do in Aus.

Roi.n.Bron.

**MikeS** · #13 23 Nov 2007

Last minute reprive- I managed to find some secure storage for my bike for a couple of years so will be looking to buy something when I get out there.

Slightly off thread but:
Nomadic- have you had much luck finding accommodation? My girlfriend is there just now and is seems like a nightmare finding a flat to rent (one 15min viewing window and 30 people turning up!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomadic1

For what its worth, im moving to Melbourne too and flying out 5th Dec. We found that the cost of shipping the bikes was prohibitive, and as residents you'll need to undertake a new bike test etc in Australia. Figured we'd cut our losses, sell our bikes and buy new when there.

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