Moving from the US to Australia

[whatsit1]

Hello all,

I own a 05 ST3 that I purchased and have been enjoying for the last 14 months in the US. It looks as though I will be being transferred by my company back to Australia within the next 2 months.

Does anyone know if the emissions and specs will be an issue? Also any ideas on how best to ship the bike?

Thanks

[DocMV]

Hi

you need to check out the Federal Dept of Transport web site - they have info on importing motor vehicles.

Normally it is VERY difficult if you do not have an ADR compliance plate, but I think they have an exception if you have owned it and used it overseas for a set period (either 6 months or 12 months, can't remember which).

You will still need to get a letter of compliance with ADR before you can register it - talk with the importer NFI in Sydney, they should be able to help out. Not sure about the US, but European union standards are generally as high or higher than ADR requirements regards emissions and noise (yes, noise - hope you still have the stock pipes!).

A word of warning, you will need to arrange all this before the bike is dispatched. If you haven't Customs are likely to not let it off the wharf/airpoprt, and then charge you for storage etc...

I'd check 1. the DoT website, 2. talk with the Australian Embassy, and 3. talk with NFI to make sure you keep the bureaucrats down under happy... and hope customs don't want to dismantle the bike looking for drugs or arab terrorists...

Doc

PS I once made the mistake of trying to import a bike from New Zealand - and then some smart arse in DoT told me that NZ is not an Australian state.....

[whatsit1]

Thanks - guess it was never going to be straightforward, but it should be worth the effort.

[vincep]

On the old site there was a detailed description of the requirement, written by a guy from NY moving to Australia, about 8 months ago. Try searching that

[ward]

I moved back to Oz from the ME last year with an SS, and SL and an ST4. One was originally purchased in Oz, one was bought in Singapore (but has Oz compliance plates), the third had never heard of Oz!

In that process I learnt everything about this stuff.

It's not the US Dept of Transport that you need to care about, but Oz goverment. It does NOT have to comply with Australian ADRs (one-offs can be imported) and compliance has little to do with how strict it is in Europe or whatever. Compliance has to do whether Ducati (not Frasers) will state that this is Oz compliant or not. I tried to bring in a 749 at the same time as the above: Frasers were helpful, but couldn't issue any letter re. compliance unless Ducati sPa said so. Ducati said, no, sorry, this is Euro Spec, not Oz, so we can't pledge compliance.

Rules of compliance have silly things like whether the windshield shatters or cracks. remember how the first 916s in Oz all had single lens headlights (not the twin lights?) This was a compliance issue.

My SL is not ADR compliant, but can be registered: I get a "Personal Import" compliance plate.

To be honest, unless you really really really think no other ST3 is going to match your own, it's a lot easier to sell it in the US and buy another one here.

Costs: There is a cost of shipping which isn't unsubstantial, but is okay. You have to have it steam-cleaned (and provide evidence of same). If Oz customs don't think it has been, they'll do it for you. At their own $ p/h figure. Then there's the magical formula by which GST is calculated: either on your say so (of the purchase price) or on custom's say so. There's also a pest inspection fee, and possibly fumigation if they think there's a grain of dirt on it. This could also include the removal of the tires if they have tiny cracks in the sidewalls...

I have heard of people who shipped and THEN applied, only to have to face storage costs in Oz customs.

But best of all... you HAVE to be able to prove: a) that you have owned it for the past 12 months; b) show that it was registered in your name in that time; and c) prove (passport) that you and the bike pretty well lived in the same country during that time.

If it's an '05 and is less than 12 months old, don't even bother trying!

PM me and we can email back and forth on it.

[whatsit1]

I had also posted this question in the Australian section - thanks very much again. It all sounds pretty ominous though. Current plan is to wait until the transfer is finalised, then most likely, I'll sell the bike here in the 'states and purchase a new one upon my arrival in Australia.

[ward]

It's probably the easiest thing by far. However, one thing you can do to make yourself happy about parting with your pride and joy is to make a list of goodies you want and then purchase them in the US.

Full aftermarket exhaust system... nice shock... new helmet... whatever. They are mucho cheaper in the US than here, and as you have an ST3 you know what you'd like to do to 'fix it up'.

These bits and bods get carefully packed in your goods and chattels so they come in as personal belongings. Make sure you pack 'em away from where c&e might look: for eg. NOT in the box with the wooden elephant from Thailand listed on the inventory... I think exhausts fit well in boxes full of socks and shoes.