For car lovers, importing a stylish model from overseas is the absolute dream. From Italy to Japan, the States to the UK, there are thousands of incredible vehicles to buy, import and add to our collections. However, anyone who has experienced the frustrations of trying to import alone will tell you one thing: it’s a real nuisance!
If you don’t have the skills, expertise, experience and network to navigate this tricky scenario, chances are you will likely end up very frustrated with the process. There are numerous reasons for this, all pertaining to the fact that you are bringing in a vehicle from overseas. The vehicle must be inspected, purchased, quarantined, inspected again (by border officials now) and more before you can finally sit in the driver’s seat.
As you can imagine, this can be quite a tricky process without the expertise, so here are a few reasons why you should never import a car solo:
- It’s hard to tell the quality from afar
The experts know how to make a personal car import to Australia run smoothly. However, if you are attempting it solo and have never done it before, you might find it hard to gauge just how functional your dream vehicle actually is. After all, you might not be inspecting it in person, in which case it can be really hard to tell if the vehicle contains any faults.
Professional importers know exactly what to look out for when it comes to ensuring vehicles are running at full capacity. They have years of experience in inspecting models from afar to ensure that they are, in fact, perfect for their clients. They won’t settle for anything less, and they will work to ensure you truly receive your dream model, and not something you instantly regret during the first spin…
- Navigating customs is tricky
If you have ever watched Border Patrol then you will know how tricky our customs are. Now, imagine that with a 1,400 kg vehicle to inspect – you can see how tricky it will be! Australian customs are notoriously difficult to navigate, with border forces quarantining and thoroughly inspecting vehicles before they finally get the green light to be sent to your garage.
But it’s not just inspections that are tricky. There is a near-endless amount of paperwork that has to be filled out before your vehicle can even be approved entry into Australia. This paperwork can be a real nightmare to deal with if you are new to the game.
However, a highly experienced broker knows the paperwork like the backs of their hands, ensuring you can quickly streamline the paperwork and forget all the stresses of importing your new vehicle!
- You may not have a network of vendors
This is really important when it comes to finding your dream vehicle. If you don’t have a reputable network of vendors at your disposal there are two big problems:
- You won’t have access to an endless array of stunning vehicles, and;
- You might get ripped off by a dodgy seller.
Respected brokers, conversely, have networks of reputable vendors operating across the world. Do you want a sleek Subaru from Japan? They will likely know a few well-known vendors at a few showrooms around Tokyo. Looking for a jacked-up Chevy to take around the bay? They’ll know a few vendors across the States.
Connections are key to this industry, and so it can be really difficult to try and find your dream car without having an expert in your corner!
