15 year + rules

[davehoos]

mate of mine in the buisness asked me today what i know about the scraping of the 15 yrs + import scheme at the end of 2004.I have done one and getting together cash for another car soon,but ive not read a definate plan other than stirers.

[SteveL]

mate of mine in the buisness asked me today what i know about the scraping of the 15 yrs + import scheme at the end of 2004.I have done one and getting together cash for another car soon,but ive not read a definate plan other than stirers.

No one really knows for sure at this stage. In January DOTARS sent out a survey to all 'interested parties' in the industry which canvased three options:

Option 1 -- Make no changes to the current arrangements, ie. continue to allow unrestricted importation of vehicles 15 or more years old.

Option 2 -- From 1 January 2005, allow only vehicles manufactured prior to 1 January 1989, to be imported without restriction, ie. no more 1989+ models.

Option 3 -- From 1 January 2005, allow only vehicles 30 or more years old to be imported without restriction, ie. a 30 year rule, which may as well be 100 years given the impact it will have on import numbers.

Of course everyone was encouraged to respond with a preference for option 1, but I think it's pretty much accepted that things are unlikely to be left as they are - but we can hope.

Option 2 and 3 will mean the end of 89+ cars in terms of the 15 year rule....and a lot more if O3 is implimented.

Rumour is that DOTARS will make an announcement in August, with effect for any changes as of 1/1/2005. It's probable that those that can demonstrate a 'financial interest' (ie proof of purchase before announcement of the changes) in a vehicle will be allowed to import inthe usual way......but that remains to be seen.

I have an 89 GTR in storage at the moment, but I can't apply for import approval until 1 Sept, so I am watching developments with great interest....

[funkymonkey]

The general talk at the watercooler in the industry is that Option 2 will be the one chosen. Still gives more than enough time to get them 15 year old rusties into this country and ease japan's growing car scrapping problems

Keep in mind, legislation take 18 months minimum to be enacted. so basically any legistation prepositioned at the end of RAWS (Oct 8 2003 was it?) can be enacted 18 months from that date... that makes it May 2005 according to my calculations. Of course they won't make it any easier, they've already introduced AC degassing and found a technicality allowing them to make the import date to the month instead of the year.

[SteveL]

Keep in mind, legislation take 18 months minimum to be enacted. so basically any legistation prepositioned at the end of RAWS (Oct 8 2003 was it?) can be enacted 18 months from that date... that makes it May 2005 according to my calculations. Of course they won't make it any easier, they've already introduced AC degassing and found a technicality allowing them to make the import date to the month instead of the year.

In terms of the changes and dates of effect it depends on whether they are relying on regulations which are incorporated in legislation. Legislative changes certainly require an Act of Parliament which will take some time to get through. However, if these are simply regulations then all that is required is Ministerial approval to enforce the changes...the fact that they are specifying a particular date for the changes to take effect (1/1/2005) suggests to me that they are relying on regulations......

The 15yo month/year stipulation was actually always the case, but DOTARS hadn't been enforcing it.

[predator]

hmmm.. its all disappeared a bit into a big block hole hasn't it after all the kerfafal? wonder what is happening? well obviously somebody is thinking about something or it would have been stopped by now.

I read also that on 1/1/05 the import duty (for new vehicles only i think) drops from 15% to 10%. Wonder this is co-incidence or not??

During an election year, lots of stuff kind of gets sat on. Will see.. I'd like to import a 15 year car or two before the end of the year for fun