Moving back to Oz

We are moving back to Australia from HK and were wondering if anyone could recommend a shipping company and an idea of cost/time? Also, we were looking to take our car back as we only bought it a year ago brand new. Does anyone know if this is feasible? Thanks for any help.

Shipping company will be able to tell you if you can take a car back and the costs etc. We used Santa Fe for our last move out of HK (not to OZ though) and they did a good job. I would pick a few companies and get them to come round a survey and see which one you like - it takes a bit of time but you will get a feel for what each offers and which fits your budget etc.

Santa Fe.

We used Allied Pickfords so it would be the same company from HK all the way back to our house in Aus. This was a major part of our consideration. One telephone call for service, no passing it off to someone else etc etc. Our contact in Aus, knew our contact in HK perosnally. Also, Allied has their own bonded warehouse so when the container was opended by customs, it was opened in Allied's warehouse. Sometimes worth to pay a little more to receive greater service.

Our move took 6 weeks.

Prudential Moving. Three moves Hk-Sing, Hk-US, Hk-Aus...nothing damaged, reasonable prices, good local agents.

Much appreciated if you could support Santa Fe - they have supported us since day one and they are the leading moving company in Asia so I am sure you will be happy with their service http://www.asiaxpat.com/movingquote/

Cracker,


Do your homework very carefully on the problems, pitfalls, and costs of taking a car back to Australia. You would probably be better off giving it away for nothing in Hong Kong.

Thanks all, it sounds quite simple moving everything back bar the car. I have been told that if you have owned it for over 1 year, you just have to pay gst and have it meet Australian emission standards. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Cracker, we have sent a car back to Oz. It is relatively easy but you MUST apply and be granted an import license BEFORE the vehicle leaves Hong Kong otherwise it will not be offloaded in Australia. Friends have experienced this unfortunately - they had to send the vehicle on to NZ and sell it there.


You must have owned it for 12 months to apply for the import licence. If you have left HK on business or leisure in that 12 month period you have to add that time onto the 12 months, i.e. if you have been out of HK for say 6 weeks you have to have then owned the car for 13 months and 2 weeks.


BMW and Mercedes do not have any problem in OZ for compliance. If your car is new it is better to check the price of the car in Oz before you consider taking it home. You have to pay 10% customs duty on the car and that is calculated on the value of the car + the cost of shipping (includes the container, freight cost and insurance). Then you pay 10% GST on the total.


Our car was 5 years old when we sent it back home a few years ago and it cost us AUST 12,000 from Hong Kong to on the road in Oz. At the time it would not have been worthwhile sending a 12 month old car home because of the customs duty and GST. Also remember that BMW and Mercedes will not service a 'grey' car so find out whether the warranty period will be honoured at home.


You can get information on the Australian customs website and if you care to ring them in Oz you will find them extremely helpful.

Thanks dasia, that is really helpful.