The Different Importing Schemes
There are number of different schemes through which you can import a vehicle to Australia. These are summarized below. The full requirements can be found on the DoTaRS Imports web site.
Personal Import Scheme
If you are an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident it is possible to bring a car into the country as a 'personal import'. For a car to qualify, however, you must have owned and used the vehicle in its country of registration for at least 12 months. The car still requires an import approval to be granted and registration and insurance information must be provided to prove that you have owned & used the car. Usually there are a number of minor modifications required to bring the vehicle to the standard required for registration by your local registering authority. The Transport Department in your state is the best contact to find out the specific requirements.
Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS)
The RAWS Scheme operates to allow for the importation and compliance of used vehicles that are less than 15 years old. To be imported under this scheme there are a number of requirements. Firstly, that the vehicle appears on the SEVS Register and secondly, that a RAW either has the vehicle on its schedule of approved vehicles or is prepared and able to add it. To see a list of vehicles that are currently eligible for import and which are on a RAW's schedule click here. Once the vehicle is in Australia a RAW must comply the vehicle to meet the Australian standards and fit a Used Import Plate. Once this is done and any local requirements for registration are satisfied you can take the vehicle to be registered.
Low-Volume New Scheme
The Low Volume New scheme allows the Low-Volume Compliance Plate Approval holder to comply a maximum of 100 new vehicles for each category per year. To import and comply a vehicle under this scheme it must be listed on the SEVS Register and have a company either hold a Low Volume Compliance Plate Approval for that Make and Model or be prepared and able to add it. If you are interested in finding if anyone holds Low Volume approval for a particular type of SEVS eligible vehicle you need to seach the RVCS. To go to the RVCS Certification Unit Search click here.
The "15" Years Rule - Vehicles manufactured before 1/1/1989
The 15 Year rule was significantly altered as of 11 May 2005. Under the ammended rule if you import a vehicle which was manufactured before 1 January 1989 then it doesn't come under the SEVS ruling and does not need to be complied by a RAW. The vehicle may be imported and modified under a different set of criteria, with an engineer providing a report which demonstrates that the vehicle complies to the ADRs that were applicable at the time the vehicle was manufactured. Generally compliance for importing cars under this scheme is relatively inexpensive.