Leaving a car in Australia
 

Hi
We are travelling in Australia and hope to spend 6-8 months here, we have booked flights home for Christmas. We have seen on the Australian AA website that if we leave the car here, which came in on a carnet , customs will charge us a lot of money. Does anyone have experience of leaving a carnet covered foreign registered car here while flying out and did you get charged? We would be grateful to hear from anyone who has done it please.
Many thanks
Suede

I planned to leave my motorbike in Australia christmas and new year 2015 and did some research about this issue. On several forums like this one I was told it would be illegal and risky etc. But I didnt belive that so I made a phone call to the Australian border force, national temporary importations and security and explained my situation and that I wanted to leave my temporary imported bbike behind in Australia while travelling to Europe for christmas and new year and then come back in January and pick up the bike and continue the travel.
I was ensured by the staff member I spoke to on the phone that it wouldnt be a problem at all. They just wanted an email with all my details, the bike details and adress where the bike was being stored while I was away.

So I did that - I sent an email with all my details, bike details, Carnet details and name and adress of the place where the bike was stored. I got a very jolly answer where I got safe travels and happy christmas whishes from the senior border officer who answered me mail....:clap:

So if they havent changed their policy I would suppose it wont be a problem for you to do the same. Just send an email to: Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection and explain your matter.

Good luck!

Leaving a car in Australia
 

Hi Snakeboy
Thank you again for your helpful advice, I will do that
Many thanks
Suede