Left hand drive cars in Australia
 

Hello everyone in the world down under! I'd like to get your thoughts on something. Before I'm told to look it up - I already did. And yes, I know it isn't looking good, but here goes anyways:

My girlfriend and I are considering moving from Canada to Australia for a year. I recently just bought a shiny new WRB BRZ. Now, not wanting to sell my pride and joy, I'd want to take it to Australia with me (I'm aware it will be expensive to ship, don't care). However, being a Canadian car the steering wheel isn't on the right side. This turns out to be a problem for all the states of Australia. It seems most states will allow cars to be registered with Left-Hand Drive configurations if they are older than 30 years. Naturally, the BRZ doesn't fit that category.

Do any of you know of any way or loophole that allows me to bring my baby for the year, short of selling it here and buying one there?

no loop holes sorry. if it's only 1 year away i would just store it rather than sell it.

I wonder what would happen if you kept it registered in Canada and drove it here as a foreign car. That might be your loophole.

The other down side is the importing of the actual car.

1. would be the Left hand drive as you have stated as the car is not older than 30 years
2. will be that the car is sold locally so can not be imported
3. The only way around the second point is a personal import but you need to have owned the vehicle for at least 12 months with proof of ownership and registration.
4. but then you will be back to point 1 sorry

Best to store it :happy0180:

Unlike late model camaros/corvettes etc. that you see around, this car is sold in Australia so as far as im aware, there is absolutely no way to get around it.

Id put it in storage and it will be a very nice welcome home present :D

Actually it can be brought in as a personal import, however you will need to work out which State it will be brought to as the laws for actually registering and driving it vary.

Also be prepared to jump through a lot of hoops to get it here, the government doesnt make it easy. There is for example a minimum period of ownership of the vehicle before it can be brought here. You also cannot re-export or sell the vehicle for a period of time once its here.

Short answer: unless you are planning to stay here permanently, it would be wise to either store your current car or sell it before you come here.

personal import is no go either. you need to be a PR/citizen and owned/used the car overseas for over 12 months. i doubt the OP has the car more than 12 months.

Ship the car to me and i rig it up for right hand drive.. This is where i only use my right hand to drive

No loop hole I believe for this case. Place your order for a BRZ in Australia now to join the queue :-)

Hey guys, thanks a lot for all the helpful responses.

I had feared that it would be practically impossible. The only option that looks like it would be possible would be to keep my Canadian registration and plates on the car... Wonder what they would say at the shipping yard... :P

I'll probably keep it in storage! I mostly wanted to drive some of those coastal sunny roads of yours, but it looks like I'll be doing that in a temp car... Unless any of you want to let me borrow your 86/BRZ??? ;)

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It just went quiet!

while your here, just buy a used 86 or brz... drive it for the year and sell it... it shouldnt loose too much value.

Bring over a 30+ year old classic from the states and make some money.

:thumbsup:
actually thats a better idea...

Get a bigger container and bring a boat over with you as well and sell it...
ive heard about 60k 2nd boats sold here... that you can buy for 20-25k in the states.