Shipping a Vehicle to Oz

Hi there,
in a couple of months I'll be shipping my Land Rover "Bluey" to Australia to start our 8/9 month tour of Western Australia then settle down in Dubbo NSW.

I've got two quotes so far, one for a container and one for a Roll On Roll Off ship. The container will cost £1845 from Manchester to Freemantle, the Ro Ro will cost £1345 from Newcastle to Freemantle.

I live in Barnard Castle, Co.Durham so obviously Newcastle is just up the road ( ~50miles) and I would be saving £500 but is parking the Landy on a ship for 6 weeks a good idea?

The quote says Bluey would be below decks in a "hanger" protected from the elements whereas the container is obviously sealed and safe from theft etc. However with the roof tent and solar panels the container only gives me a few inches clearance height wise. The Ro Ro wouldn't have this restriction.

So my question is - Which would you go for?

Bluey is pretty secure, window grills, van locks and security film so I'm keen on the Ro Ro from the cost and closeness but I'm always open to good advice.

here's the link to the photos of Bluey's rebuild http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyrosy/sets/72157626647486309/

Andy

I am not sure if I am right, but if you ship Ro-Ro you have to leave car key with them.
You can put bars behind seats, lock your back door with different lock and leave nothing in the front. This way no one can go to the back of your Landy.
Good luck with your travel.

Hi Andy - Good looking Landy you have there. Tell me, where did you get the swing-away wheel carriers from?

We shipped our 5m long, 2.2 m high VW T4 SWB camper from Southampton to Auckland in September 2009 and then from Auckland to Sydney in September 2010 and fully researched the two options- here are our thoughts.
We were advised that ro ro shippings do NOT permit ANY personal items to travel with the vehicle - if your shipping company say otherwise get it in writing and check with the vesel operator as well as the captain can refuse a load.
Containers are secure and available if necessary as a hi cube giving you more height but vehicles are securely lashed so do not move about. Apart from dangerous goods (gas cylinders, fuel etc.) and the obvious things like perishables and banned items - check anything wooden etc (bio security)- you can take what you like in the vehicle and should. We brought over all the gear needed to live for two years across a range of climates and conditions, sports equipment, books, guides and all tools, spares and service items. Things are expensive in OZ especially WA and given the strong dollar so bring what you can - K Mart do cheap clothing and, as well as Mitre 10 or Bunnings are cheap for gas bottles when you get here. Generally the camping stuff here is more robust but it is expensive. Bring extra air and fuel filters as there is a lot of dust here and check to see if OZ spec Landys were the same as UK - we found even with VW that the oil, air and to a lesser extent fuel filters were unobtainable as were brake calipers although we did get rear pads for double the price at home ( seized calipers wore out our replacement set very quickly and this was almost certainly caused by the caustic cleaner used by AQIS to disinfect the vehicle on arrival - see later.)
Before you send the vehicle clean it and the contents thoroughly including the engine compartment, spare wheels (you MUST bring a full second spare with you as the gravel roads and washouts are very demanding and tyre stockists far apart) and bear in mind that a LR chassis has many hiding places for dirt so get underneath and do a proper job. Whatever your shipper says clean it in the UK as we were told not to bother from NZ to OZ and nearly had to pay for the van to be rejected and return to NZ - AQIS may well order it to be cleaned anyway at your cost but you may be lucky.
Incidentally your quote seems very low - does it include port handling fees at both ends, packing and unpacking fees, AQIS inspection charges and customs clearance - don't want you to get a shock in OZ!
Before loading the van make sure it is as dry as possible - we put an electric heater on for a few days inside to get it bone dry to avoid mould as we had a 5 week crossing and it emerged as good as new - a good wax polish will help protect the outside, disconnect anything that may drain the battery (even a clock etc. and turn door lights to off in case one is left ajar) but leave it driveable and if there are any quirks to get her started leave an obvious note on the dash. You will need to leave a key with the vehicle as you will not be there when it is unpacked and inspected and I hid a spare outside in case it was lost - make sure all keys you have can start and unlock the vehicle. VW did me a new key but cocked up the coding and it wouldn't start the engine - discovered before we left fortunately.
It seems that you are bringing the LR in to Oz permanently so best check that it will meet Australian Vehicle Import Approval standards (they use km here so will a mileometer etc be OK?) and check if you register it in WA that you can register it again in NSW - all states/territories have different rules and even the locals get confused and face hassle - incidentally insurance is different here as the compulsory third party insurance for vehicle registration only covers bodily injury to people - vehicle damage needs a separate 'comprehensive' policy that does not cover physical injury!
Bear in mind that distances in WA are huge - we have done a loop from Perth to Darwin, down through Alice and by the time we get back to Perth will have covered 14,000 miles - our whole Oz trip will reach almost 30,000 miles. Service intervals crop up very quickly and again labour costs are high especially in the booming mining areas eg Port Hedland so do what you can yourself. Roadside recovery services exist but only tow you very short distances and then the costs become frightening so prepare your vehicle fully - I would strongly suggest you change any suspect components especially rad, water pump, starter motor and alternator - bring the old ones as spares if you have space and check all those bushes, ball joints and shocks as the gravel roads can be very corrugated - a decent 12v compressor is useful as you will need to lower and reinflate regularly. Carrying a third spare tyre (ie not on a rim) is a good idea as you can then get it fitted even if your size is unavailable. Consider some form of emergency communication (we have a SPOT device) and heed the warnings about food , water and informing people of your intentions.
From your post it looks like you will arrive late spring or summer - if you are heading north then it will be humid, very hot and many roads will be impassable (with big fines for even trying !) - if you are crossing the Nullarbor and heading east the Eyre peninsula is well worth it, the Flinders and north amazing, Tasmania wonderful - allow at least a month and do the West Coast Explorer via Corinna, and then enjoy all the Great Dividing Range - our favourite bit!
Well aware that this is becoming a very long reply - apologies and PM me for more info. if you need it. Best of luck
www.sastt.blogspot.com

Call that an answer? Pah! Didn't even give inside leg measurements!

30 inches - usually.

Hi there,
wow thanks for the replies,

the spare wheel carriers were bought from Frogs Island a few years ago. I've had alot of interest in them, Frogs don't make them any more as the demand wasn't there. I've uploaded loads of photos of them on my Flickr account and have some drawings with measurements scanned in.

The landy has been totally rebuilt by me and I purposely haven't been off roading with him since to avoid too much muck getting in those hard to get to places.

Drying him out isn't an option - its a landy so its pointless!! What I was going to do was give him a really good clean then before shipping spray the inside liberally with Dettol spray. We've bought some caravan type water absorbants for the roof tent.

Rosy (my wife)is an Aussie and has done a 8/9 month trip round Oz before so she is in charge of route/timings.our rough plan is to spend the vast amount of our 8/9 months touring WA as once we settle in Dubbo NSW it'll take too long to drive back to WA. Rosy used to live in Perth as well so she knows most of the places to go and when to go!

We're hoping we've thought of everything we'll need to live out of Bluey for the trip without too much modifications. We intend to fit a two way radio once we get into Perth - the SPOT thing does look a good alternatine though.

I'm quite prepared for AQIS to send me to steam clean Bluey - I don't mind, I'll fiercely protect Oz when I get there too!

Good point on filters, I'm carrying two oil and fuel filters, should I carry more? I'm only carrying one spare air filter. Spares wise I'm carrying all the easily changed stuff - starter motor, alternator, water pump, wheel bearings, UJ's, brake pads, belts, gaskets, nuts and bolts etc. I've obviously got two spare wheels as well as my own tyre changing/repair equipment.

I'll have to look into the personal stuff on the RoRo as if we can't then its no good! I am hoping we can as the £500 saving would be useful!

I'll keep you posted on how we do

Thanks

Andy, Rosy and Abby

I shall make my own spare wheel carriers for the Rangie ambulance-soon-to-be camper, but it's always good to see how other have done it in the past. Eddie Priscott of Frogs Island does a good job on things like this, so if you're gonna copy something ...

On the VW its an oil and filter change every 6000 miles then air and fuel at the 18,000 oil and filter change but we found that with dust a 12000 mile air filter change was a good idea - but this very much depends on the amount of dust you encounter and whilst the stated service interval for the fuel filter is 24000 miles it clogged up early which I put down not to dirty fuel directly but the fact that the air that is drawn in to the tank as you use up the fuel is dusty.
Anyway sounds like you are all prepared and should have a great trip - as a guide we have covered 30000 miles in 11 months (and we do not generally like driving all day but have put in a few longish days around WA) with 12000 of those being a loop from Adelaide round to Perth, up to Darwin, back to Adelaide and across to Perth again - 'tis a big place I tell eeee!
Final thought are you petrol or diesel as in some remote indigenous areas you have to use opal fuel as a replacement for petrol - I presume a good old petrol landy would have no problem with it - apparently it is a direct substitue.
www.sastt.blogspot.com

Hello again,
you were right about the RoRo ferry - personal effects are not allowed so that option has been ditched - pity! So we're back to a container.

What did you do about insurance whilst shipping your vehicle? Did you bother? If you did what level did you go for and who was it with?

I've just had a look through your photos, they are brilliant, can't wait to get there and start exploring myself.

Andy

Asked for it on the Southampton - Auckland leg and the Auckland to Sydney leg - neither time did it appaear on any invoice so I guess I didn't have any - you will be amazed/alarmed at how little paperwork you get when sending a vehicle - and the invoice is usually only settled once your vehicle has cleared all customs and quarantine formalities and the fright company issue a release document so it is hard to know if insurance is in place. I believe it is usually levied at 3% but of what ( value of vehicle or vehicle plus contents or the whole transaction )I don't know. For the return to Southampton at the end of August from Perth my shipping company (Famous Pacific) claimed that Oz law does not allow them to offer or even advise on insurance so we are not bothering - do NOT google shipping container accidents on You Tube if you are of a nervous disposition.
On another matter I guess you will not be using a carnet as you are staying in OZ so check what DVLA will need to get you off the register as a SORN is not applicable, if there is ANY chance of you not staying perhaps consider a 'temporary removal from the register' - Paul Gowan at the RAC carnets dept. can help with this as he supplies a pro forma letter - PM me if you want a copy.
Have a wonderful trip - we will return one day so may see you in Dubbo!

Well we've made it to Australia - in fact we're into our fourth week now - unfortunately still in the same place where we arrived!
Here's the story so far......................

In a galaxy far, far ........... - no thats a different one

The actual shipping of Bluey ended up as a 5 day rush when our Eurorail tickets couldn't be activated when we wanted but at a set date so Bluey had to go before that date - we got him in a container on the Friday and we left the following monday - this was without the import licence as I'd only applied for it about a month before we left!

When I drove it to the container terminal in Manchester I was informed that it wouldn't fit into the container with my Maggiolina and roof rack on so I had to quickly unbolt them and unhook the electrics to the lights and solar panels, luckily a truck driver had a plentiful supply of bubble wrap to protect the roof tent in the container.

We then enjoyed a five week rail journey round Europe - Den Haag, Brussels, Lyon, Arles, Nice, Genoa, Florence, Naples, Rimini, Zurich, Salzburg, Vienna, Krakow, Wroclaw, Prague, Berlin, Bonn then Frankfurt from where we flew to Perth. During the trip we had our rucksack stolen in Poland so we lost all of our clothes, sleeping bags,toiletries, souvenirs, Abby's fourth birthday cards and presents,copies of the shipping documents and the spare set of keys for Bluey.

We arrived in Perth the day after the ship arrived with Bluey. Our Customs Broker, Les, swung into action and after 4 days managed to get the container to a bonded warehouse. We then had to wait for the container to be unpacked.

In the meantime the caravan park where we were staying ( just a couple of hundred yards up the road from the warehouse) in a chalet was now fully booked due to an Olympic sailing qualification event in Fremantle so after a week of waiting we had to go out and buy a tent and sleeping gear to stay in the park as there was no where else available to stay!

In the meantime Les was sending paperwork everywhere to organise the customs and quaratine people to inspect Bluey once he was unpacked. Walking back from the beach one afternoon we spotted Bluey parked outside the warehouse(but still within the perimeter of course).

Because we had prepared a VERY detailed inventory of everything and its location in the Land Rover (the only things i didn't list was pens, pencils and stuff like that, the customs people didn't inspect the landy (although we were of course charged for inspection.) Next was quarantine - the biggy!! I had to be there at 8.00 sharp so I was! The inspector and les were already there. Les said that as soon as he saw it was a Land Rover he said "fail" as landies always go off road so it won't be clean. However as he got closer and inspected it he realised I'd cleaned it very well and hadn't been off road since I'd rebuilt it. I think he was expecting a dirty engine bay but even that was very clean. He was impressed by our inventory list as well and checked a few bits of our camping equipment and passed it!! Les and I were very happy - Les was very amazed but did compliment me on the preparation on the landy.

So I arranged some insurance and a movement permit and I drove Bluey back to the caravan park. The container people hadn't done anything what they said they would ie disconnect the batteries and drain most of the fuel so I had 3/4 full tanks and a completely drained (and damaged I think) main battery. I started him off the aux battery.

So a week later we have Bluey here with us which obviously means we can camp in comfort but we are still waiting to get him road legal. We took him for test last Monday. We were expecting a detailed examination but ended up with a half arsed MoT test which lasted about 10 minutes but he still failed!

No Australian VIN plate(obviously!!)
Oily gear box!!!!
and they weren't happy with the child seat we had - booster seat with 4 point racing harness.

We had to get our import license papers stamped (received whilst in Genoa) by the inspector to send off to Victoria (on the other side of Australia) to get a new plate - still waiting - hopefully get it next few days

We were sent to an approved child restraint place - the engineer loved our set up (lap part bolted to existing floor mounts with a welded and bolted in cross bar to the bulkhead and body cappings for the other mounts) but understood our dilemma so welded in an approved anchor point to our cross bar and we bought an Australian spec booster seat to fit. he said to simply degrease the g/box before test so job done!!

So it cost us £1800 to ship, $4036 to get through customs etc. and so far $130 to get it tested - we will have to pay another $80 retest fee and $21 movement fee. $100 to get the VIN plate then we will have to pay to get the road tax and number plates - phew!!

Is it worth it??? Well Australia is brilliant (but expensive!) - I'll tell you in a few weeks time!!

Andy, Rosy and Abby

Sounds like a rocky start, but I hope It picks up and continues to be trouble free.

& Remember, Pictures.
Us not able to go like to see Pics, pics and more pics....

TJ

Strewth, that's one hellava lot of money. With hindsight, wouldn't it have better to hire one out there? For what you've shelled out so far that's the equivalent of almost 8 weeks hire!

Here's one for instance:- www.wicked4x4rentals.com/bookings-a-quotes/pricing.html

That said, hindsight is a luxury you didn't have, plus at least you now have your own vehicle and gear there with you. Besides, you may be there for longer. How long are you planning on staying?

Permanently!! - this is a one way trip.

We are going to tour the south of WA then head along the Nullabor, up to Uluru and Alice Springs, if funds and weather permit Lichfield National Park then Brisbane visiting relatives then south to Dubbo to settle down and make a new life for ourselves in the company of Rosy's brother and family.

In hindsight it would have been less stressful to buy a 4WD over here but then we wouldn't have a camper which we designed and built ourselves from scratch and so know inside out if and when something breaks (it is a Land Rover after all!!)

The only real downers is the amount of money spent staying in one place and the timing which means the north is pretty much out of bounds.

Hopefully the new chassis plate (or whatever it is!!??) will arrive tomorrow so we can retest on Thursday.

Andy

Well we got the plate through the post and its an Aussie VIN plate with my personal import no. on it and the chassis no.

So we went for retest today and Bluey passed!!! - hurrah!!

So after 10 minutes of explaining/pleading with more government officials that the log book is proof of ownership even though it says in big letters across the front saying that "this is not proof of ownership"!!! and that the reg. no. of a British car stays with the car throughout its life so is an identification mark we managed to get Western Australian plates. So Bluey is now an Australian Land Rover reg no."1DUK 790"

Now all we have to do is fix a small problem with our Maggiolina (the fly screens have been pulled apart by our 4 yr old daughter) and ship some excess baggage to Dubbo and we're off.

Its taken exactly one month to get the Land Rover road legal which is exactly 3 weeks more than what we thought it would take! Anyway we celebrated tonight with a "bit" of beer, tomorrow we've a couple of jobs to do and some route planning.

Andy,Rosy and Abby

Doh! Missed the part in your first post when you said that after touring you would "settle down in Dubbo NSW." Can think of alot worse places to be than Oz. Never fear, you may not have made it now but you've a lifetime to go exploring up north.

Bet you're relieved the plates have come. That must have been the sweetest tasting beer you've had in ages! Nice one.

You're telling me!

The feeling of freedom now is overwhelming - especially as we dropped off our excess baggage at a shipping place today and bought some materials to make new fly screen doors for our maggy.

A couple who we met at the caravan park phoned their sister so we have to go round to her house in the next couple of days for her to sew up our new doors - result!!

we can then head off to a new camp ground bfore Christmas hits.

Andy, Rosy and Abby

Not much snow there then?

andyk wrote:

So it cost us £1800 to ship, $4036 to get through customs etc.

$4000 for clearance!! do you know what they charged you for? Coming from Asia, we just paid the inspection fee, and a bunch on getting our car cleaned and ruined in the process;-)

mmmm no, no snow yet, 35 degs with clear blue skies usually.

The $4000 was for all of the port charges, container moving and unpacking, storage, customs inspection and duties (permanent import), quarantine inspection (thankfully passed first time) and customs broker charges. Lots of small amounts which all added up to quite a large amount!

We'll be off in a couple of days on our travels - we got our Maggy fly screens fixed today so we're free to go!!

Andy, Rosy and Abby