Clearing airport customs with a motorcycle
 

Gday every one. We are flying our Aussi registered bikes from South America into Brisbane airport. I am looking for information on how to clear customs for the bikes and am having no luck. Has anyone done this at any airports in Oz? Will we need a broker because we prefer not to. Is it as simple as turning up and asking for the AQUIS inspection and then getting the bikes?

Any info will help us out. Cheers

Hi, I sent my MC from Bali to Perth, but this was in early 2008, so things could´ve changed. Also my MC was EU-registered. I would advice to get in contact with the customs (and probably AQIS as well) in advance. Note, that the vehicle has to be CLEAN AS NEW, inside out, for the quarantine inspection. I don´t think that has changed, and I don´t think registration matters here. Just a regular wash won´t cut it, you need to dismantle stuff and spend several hours to do it properly. If it does not pass the AQIS inspection, they´ll send it for further cleaning, and then another inspection, all of which naturally happens at your expense.

There was an old bus (!) from Finland a few years ago making a RTW-trip, but those people never got it imported to Oz because it always failed that AQIS inspection. As you can imagine, cleaning something like that thoroughly is practically impossible, even though they tried for weeks in Darwin (I think). In the end they had to re-route it onwards from Oz, and they rented another bus to tour there.

Hey Mate,,
You dont need a broker for the customs or AQUIS side but you will need one for the Airport side. Some strange ruling that mean you can no longer do it yourself. So it wont be any cheaper to do it your self..

Did you take it out on a carnet? Did you get an Export Declaration?
You will need import approval
here: https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicl...dividuals.aspx

steps here: https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicl..._overview.aspx


I did it myself just before the changes.. but I can recommend Bikes abroad. Ivan on 613 9310 5315

Hi,
Xander is correct - best to use an agent. If you want to go it alone then you will spend the time being educated in the processes (that you may not use for some time and may change - better to spend your time riding and looking at the country!)

Cleaning the motorcycle is an absolute must. I shipped Aus to NZ and NZ to Aus this year. I fully appreciate the focus on a clean motorcycle coming into Australia or NZ - both are island countries a fair distance from other lands (and so not impacted by wind directed plants/seeds) and are very keen to minimise future biodiversity problems.

I think the issue of self clearing comes from needing to have access to "airside" of the airport freight terminal. In theory you need security clearance now.
It is/was a simple process to clear anything through customs and AQIS at any port (air or sea);
Pay any additional airline fees - terminal/handling/storage - get clearance certificate.
Take that to Customs with copy of your air/sea weighbill - proof of ownership.
Pay anything that might be due (tariffs and GST), carnet stamped, pay AQIS fee, get release authorisation.
Book AQIS and Customs inspection times.
Be present or agent be present at inspections, get release authorisation stamped by Customs and AQIS.
This is the risky point where the agent can collude with AQIS for an additional clean at your cost and nothing actually gets cleaned other than your wallet.
In all States except NSW you are supposed to take your vehicle to an inspection station before riding on the road and have an overseas registered vehicle permit issued, buy compulsory third party injury insurance.
Ride off into the sunset.
In NSW you can ride off into the sunset without needing additional permits.


Its not rocket science, the agents make it sound like it is complicated. They do it all at a keyboard nowadays whereas to do it yourself you might have to trudge around for a day or more - airports are hard because most of the Customs and AQIS offices are inside the security zone - hence the need for an agent.

Hi everybody,

I want to share my experience with everyone who wants to clear his bike on his own.

Shipping German registered bike from Santiago de Chile to Melbourne.

Agent used on Chile side: Julio.harboe@dydcargo.com

I received the information from Julio that my bike is ready for pickup at Melbourne Airport. He sent me the Air Waybill and Shipping declaration. I had no further information on the process, I simply went to the customs office and was at the correct spot there. (-37.676103, 144.851917)

I was sent upstairs. A lady processed my carnet de passage for customs, then she told me to go to the other counter and talk to quarantine. They did some paperwork and made me pay their bill via telephone. They also told me, to call another number to schedule the inspection. I was lucky to get an inspection on the same day (2h later), because it was still before lunch time. The quarantine people also checked where my motorcycle is stored at the airport and then sent me to the Qantas freight office. (-37.677295,144.850412)

There I waited for the quarantine inspector to come around. With him I went through security to enter the freight area. Customs office and Qantas Freight office are outside the security zone. You need to wear safety boots and a high vis vest, so bring that with you, otherwise they don't let you in. No other requirements to enter.

You are escorted by security and have the bike inspected by the Quarantine Inspector.

The inspections guy went through my panniers, tent, sleeping bag, mattress and boots. He looked into every hole and crack of the bike with a torch light and checked the pallet for the stamp, which shows its treated wood. Make sure there is a stamp on the pallet before you send off the bike at your departure location to avoid an extra fee and hassle.

The bike should be spotless clean, I spent about 15 hours cleaning everything in Chile before driving to the airport , first with pressure cleaner then with cloths, removing crash bars, plastic covers, sump guard and radiador protection. Then cleaned tires and boots again at the airport and gave the motorcycle another wipe. The bike was clean as new.

He will look everywhere (without removing parts or covers), but he looked under the seat as well. Even though there was a bit of debris under the radiador it passed the inspection without further cleaning. Tarmac spots on the sump guard were OK. Most important is that there is no mud, grass or other organic stuff. (I heard other Airports like Sidney and shipping via container is more strict on the quarantine inspection.)

He will enter into the system that your bike passed quarantine. You are escorted back outside.
Go back to Qantas, pay and get all the shipping paperwork. At this point the bike is yours again.
Go again to the bike. For some reason me and my friend were not allowed to walk there this time, we had to drive inside with my friend's car. At that point we were not escorted by security.

They brought the pallet with everything out of the warehouse to the loading area. The workers helped with a forklift to pull up the bike to install the front wheel again.
They were very nice and interested, so it should not be a problem to get a bit of help from them lifting the bike.

Then I put the rest of the bike back together and drove off the lot. Luckily I was not out of fuel (shipping requirement is 1 liter or less in the tank) and could drive to the gas station a kilometer away.

I was never asked to show ownership document or proof of insurance.

I paid 80AU$ at Customs and Quarantine and 213 AU$ at Qantas Freight.

It took me, six hours to do everything: 2 hours carnet /customs, talking to quarantine people and schedule an appointment, 2 hours waiting until the appointment, 1 hour quarantine inspection, clearance from Qantas and payment, 1 hour putting everything back together.

I'm happy I did everything on my own and did not pay a lot of money an agent like bikes abroad.

All above information might change anytime and for any other airport or harbor.

Good luck and safe travels!

Thanks for the info :)