Overseas visitors and tourists may import their vehicle into Australia for a temporary period of up to 12 months by obtaining either a Carnet de Passages en Douane (carnet) from their local (overseas) motoring organisation, or a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). In either case the document must be obtained before the vehicle arrives in Australia. Registration in NSW is not required, but the vehicle must be exported from Australia within the specified time limit.
Vehicles temporarily visiting NSW from overseas must have current overseas registration. Number plates and labels from the country of origin must also be fitted to the vehicle. It is also recommended that the overseas registration certificate be carried when using the vehicle.
These vehicles are exempt from NSW registration and cannot be issued with an Unregistered Vehicle Permit.
Vehicles exempt from NSW registration, are also exempt from Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. A NSW third party personal injury claim involving a vehicle visiting from overseas is made against the Nominal Defendant Scheme. This scheme is administered by the Motor Accidents Authority (MAA).
Vehicles entering NSW under these circumstances can be right or left-hand drive, and do not need to comply with the Australian Design Rules. However, the vehicle must be roadworthy. Left-hand drive vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 4.5 tonnes must display the words ‘left-hand drive’ on the rear of the vehicle in letters at least 75 millimetres high, with a colour contrast background.
If the vehicle was originally imported under a VIA and the operator remains in Australia and wants to keep the vehicle beyond the VIA’s original expiry date, they may apply to DIT to have the VIA amended. If an amendment is approved, the vehicle may then be registered in NSW providing it meets all of the applicable vehicle standards for registration in NSW. See Getting rego for an imported vehicle.
If an amendment is not approved the original import conditions apply and the vehicle must be exported. A vehicle imported under a carnet cannot be registered in NSW and must be exported before the specified time limit expires.