Importing caravan from UK

PULLANDPUSH · Member

Importing caravan from UK

LLD · Senior Member

Insurance may be an issue. Some companies are reluctant to insure fully imported vans. Getting parts specific to the van in a reasonable time frame can be an issue.

warhorse · Senior Member

cant see where insurance or parts is an issue as there are many imported caravans in australia,mine is an import but not euro,only company who would not insure mine was suncorp,all others no problem,if the maths stack up go for it,nothing wrong with euro vans.regards ray

LLD · Senior Member

I was about to by a Euro van and when I went to get insurance, several insurance companies would not insure anything not assembled here. The companies had been bitten by vans being off the road for up to 9 months whilst replacement parts were sourced from Europe (and at big shipping costs).

PULLANDPUSH · Member

Thanks LLD and Warhorse. Insurance is where it's at !! I have preliminary inquiries out at CIL and Suncorp - just have to wait Monday for replies. I will post the responses - it might help someone else along the line.

My caravan supplier is probably the biggest in North of England and is a multi manufacturer agency. They have given assurance that they can source all spares for this maker and that overseas parts requests receive express shipping. They have lots of vans out in NZ and Australia.

LLD · Senior Member

Just a recent experience I had with van parts. My van is assembled in Aus from local & imported parts. The insurance company I went with were happy with this as if an imported part is required, the part is just nicked off the production line or production line store.

I recently broke my popular brand-name European sourced roof vent. Trying to get one here was impossible. Many locals advertised it in their catalogue but they actually didn't stock it and were not really interested in getting one in. In any case it almost $1,000. Tried for several weeks without success. Even went to a big UK retailer who were reluctant to send one because it is a delicate item (probably why mine broke in the first place). Emailed the van maker and they made a vent available within days at $550. Could freight it or I could pick it up. So now I know what the insurance company was on about about.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Do your import documentation research first. It is not legal to import a vehicle until you have a permit to do so.
You will also need to ensure that all electrical and gas appliances and installations are locally approved. They will not be when it arrives and this can cost a heap or mean replacing some appliances.
If the van exceeds 2T ATM it will need electric brakes here. They are not used in Europe.
There is a long list of considerations.....

Cheers,
Peter

montie · Guru

As Peter said, do your homework on compliancing costs.
Gas and electrics particularly can be expensive to upgrade to Aus standards.

Montie

PULLANDPUSH · Member

Hi all - needless to say, your warnings are well founded.

Though we had factored in costs for compliance modifications, I have had difficulty finding someone to do the work. Also as part of the Vehicle Import Approval application I needed for that person to sign a statement that the work would be completed in accordance with Dept of Roads and Transport guidelines. As you all know, importing without that approval is illegal.
Also I have not been able to find an insurer that will offer cover - even after guidance from the Insurance Council of Australia.
From my conversations with the various companies it seems that they have a list of accepted manufacturers, and if your van is not on that list - tough !!
They also steer clear of personal importers - favouring business import companies who have established links with manufactrers for parts replacement.

So, fellow Nomads, it looks like I have to shelve my plans to be on the road anytime soon - Thanks again for your comments.

Cupie · Guru

Perhaps a wise decision.

BTW, my Son is a plumber/gas fitter who regularly has Pommy imports in his yard ready for gas upgrades & compliance testing for an importer. Seems to have a steady stream of them.

One that I was looking through had so little ball weight that when I walked to the rear of it, it tipped up off the jockey wheel. Had to quickly move to the front to save damage. It was a rather long 20'? on a single axle I think. It was on a slight uphill slope though, that may have been a factor.

They're generally nice looking vans but often with the double bed having one side against the wall which I don't like and usually have the old fashioned sail track attached awning rather than the roll out that is usual here..