Only personal imports built before the advent of ADRs dont need a vehicle engineer's certification. You cant get a roadworthy inspection completed without the personal import plate being fitted that certifies compliance with the ADRs at time of build. The ADRs dictate what has to be on the vehicle and the roadworthy inspection is to make sure they are working.

This page makes no mention of getting a compliance cert.
Personal Imports Scheme

No the Feds dont have anything to do with it, the state authorities require a vehicle engineer to inspect the vehicle for ADR compliance prior to a roadworthy inspection. Without the ADR compliance inspection you'd get all sorts of weird and wonderful problems - red indicators on some US imports, headlamp lenses with left hand drive focus, non conforming seat belts, etc etc. Some vehicles are impossible to get past ADR inspections - things like side intrusion bars in doors have to be built in, emmission controls and the like. The newer the vehicle the more hassles are involved, thats why the RAWS are very selective about the vehicles they import as they dont want to rebuild a vehicle, just do the minimum required to get them to ADR standard.

You have to remember that Australia is a federation of States and whilst the Feds may give the green light, you end up facing a red light at State level.

IMO the hardest part is getting the VIA. Customs already acknowledged that if i can get this they would allow the importation to go through (paying stamp duty + taxes based on carnet value)

Dont forsee a problem regarding the vehicle compliance. Mitsubishi Delica, from Japan originally. Everything seems to Aussie standards... But the 1 year continual ownership thing looks like it will be my problem.. Sigh, ill keep you posted.

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You may be able to find a RAWS who could help you out with the Delicia as its on the list of enthuiast vehicles.

Read up on what the RAWS has to do to a vehicle to get it passed, its not cheap I know that. All the info on the web.

Hi Guys, Wanted to let you know the outcome of this saga.

Last time I was running out on my carnet and was skeptical I would get my vehicle import approval. My carnet expired but was told there was a three week buffer zone on overstayed carnets. I was going about getting an extension for 3 months on my carnet but told I would need a whole new security deposit. (think this was covered previously in other topics).. I had applied for my VIA but thought it was a lost cause because it wasnt taxed any longer in the UK and because the vehicle was already in aus.. It said that VIA can only be approved for cars not on aussie soil. I applied with a cover letter asking for an exemption based on discretionary approval. I sighted

“the vehicle does not qualify under one of the defined importation schemes (the defined schemes). The defined schemes are established by various provisions of the Act and the Regulations. Each scheme covers a specific class of vehicle or applicant. These schemes exist to cover circumstances where vehicle certification is not a viable or practical option.”

“to cover circumstances where vehicle certification is not a viable or practical option”.

i also got approval from customs via email and included that email in my application. They quoted


“As your residency circumstances have changed, the Australian*Customs and Border Protection have no objections to you applying for a VIA”

All in all this seemed to work (I have the full letter if anybody wants it). They gave me the VIA much to my surprise. Next step was to get my carnet cleared from customs. So I had to put in an application with OzoneRedlines@environment.gov.au for my exemption of pre-charged equipment licence. I had to give all docs including the bill of lading from my shipment. I had to pay stamp duty etc based on the carnet value of £2500. Also they asked for a customs deceleration but I was liaising with a customs person over email and she advised that I was exempt from this as i entered under a carnet...

BTW I was initially given a contact called Peppina in the AAA here in Australia, this was provided by Paul Gowan of the RAC. Peppina from there had appropriate contacts in customs so Basically I used some email declarations from my customs contact to get these exemptions. I took them to the customs office in Adelaide and she signed off my carnet. So that part was over, i sent my carnet back and got it refunded in full..

The next phase was getting through complience etc. And since then I have been waiting for cashflow to get up to scratch. I was advised to put it through inspection, they will fail it and I would have to address the list. So that's exactly what happened. The sighted a few things such as, they didn't like the seats and i needed Original seats. I needed original wheels as mine stuck out a few MM past the guards. Some engine stuff which needed doing anyway, new seat belt and a few other ticky tacky things. I got all that done, got tyre placards got new VIN numbers put on. Took it back they spent about 5 minutes loosely checking over my mods and were satisfied with the work. A Seat & ID label was fitted by the inspectors, it was cleared and Im now registered and on the road, looking forward to tackling some of aus now.

It was dicey there early and thought i would have to crush my beloved Delica. But im glad they saw reason in the end and used some common sense. The system works. But if anybody has any questions specific to this process im happy to detail my process.


thanks all, happy trails.

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