Temporary Jeep Import Australia to Europe
 

Hi all

I have a 2017 Jeep Wrangler for overlanding. I want to take it to Europe from Australia in 2020.

What country would be the easiest and cheapest to import into? I don't think Europe requires a carnet but can't find any clear info on what I would need.

I would like to ship to Spain and travel there. If that is too difficult I would be happy to go with UK or Ireland just for the ease of doing it in English. Or really whatever country is going to be easiest to ship to.

Thanks in advance.

Do you just want it to arrive in a container, drive out, spend 90 days or whatever your Schengen visa waiver gives you riding around Europe, then put it back into a container and send it to Oz?

If so, you don't really need to *import* it as such, you'll stay on Oz plates. You just need the services of a customs agent to clear it at the port of entry, and to get mandatory insurance for it. From the legal point of view, it's the equivalent of driving it up to an external EU border and asking to be let in.

The fact that the wheel is on the wrong side should not make a difference, but for courtesy's sake you might want to get the headlights adjusted.

As for which country - you're most likely to end up Hamburg or Rotterdam, just because of how international container shipping works.

Temporary importation to the UK gives you 6 months; to Ireland you get 12 months; in Spain 6months. Probably typical of all EU countries.

As mentioned by AnTyx above - the vehicle keeps the original plates. "Importation" suggests it's more complication than it actually is.

Don't overlook the insurance issue. Will your own ins. policy apply abroad?
I think you will have difficulty getting insurance from a local insurance company as a non-resident. Search other threads here for possible solutions\alternatives.

UK info


[Edit] Costs for Temp. Import: I don't know. Maybe just routine admin charges. Nothing obvious in the above link.

I will already be living in southern Spain next Jan-May/June for work, and was thinking when that completed to ship the Jeep to Europe and as AnTyx mentioned spend 90 days in Schengen and maybe longer in countries out of the Schengen. I am open to different countries/ports, it doesn't have to be to Spain. Then maybe ship it onwards to North America.

I am in a position where I live in Australia but would have to store the car while I am away in Europe for the original 6 month anyways. I am debating whether I should cut my losses and sell the Jeep (don't want to do this though).

I guess then I am not "importing the car" because I had the fees are insane, so maybe just 'shipping' it as a tourist visa.

Whether or not you keep or sell the Jeep, I think you'll spend less money getting an old offroader on local plates in Spain and selling it at a fire-sale price after 6 months, than you will by shipping your own back and forth.

Not really the case with an older vehicle. If you were becoming resident and permanently importing a vehicle there may be no import charges. It will vary from country to country.
In Spain you must be a resident to permanently import.

As mentioned above buying locally will be much cheaper then two shipping routes. Have a look at a Spanish classified advert website to get an idea of local prices. Check for local sales taxes too.
It worth investigating the availabiliy of insurance situation - depending on your status. Lots of ex-pat websites in Spain that should help.

For permanent importation there is also the hurdle of a Cert. of Conformacy i.e does your vehicle meet EU vehicle and emissions standards?