Valuing a vehicle you're importing into Australia

Why book values don't work on imports

Australian price guides are built from local sales of locally delivered vehicles. A Japanese-market car, a European grey import or a US-spec vehicle simply isn't in that data. When a guide does return a number it is usually a rough match against a superficially similar local model — different drivetrain, different specification, different market entirely.

That matters because the people asking for the number are making decisions with it. A financier deciding how much to lend, an insurer setting an agreed value, a customs broker calculating duty. A figure that can't be explained tends to be rejected, and the delay costs more than the valuation did.

A proper valuation on an import works the other way around: it starts from what comparable vehicles actually sell for, adjusts for specification, condition, compliance status and the cost of getting the car to a roadworthy, complied state here, and documents the reasoning.

Valuing a car before it lands

You do not have to wait for the vehicle to arrive. We regularly value cars still on the water, and for a lot of buyers that is the point — the figure is needed before the money is committed, not after.

For a pre-arrival valuation we work from the vehicle details, the VIN, the auction or purchase documentation and photographs. That is usually everything that exists at that stage, and it is enough to produce a defensible figure.

If the vehicle changes materially between valuation and arrival — damage in transit, a specification that turns out to differ from the listing — that is worth a fresh certificate rather than relying on the original.

What the certificate is used for

Most imported-vehicle valuations we issue are for one of four reasons: satisfying a financier before they will lend against the car, setting an agreed value with an insurer who won't quote without one, supporting an import duty or customs position, or proving market value to a buyer in a private sale.

Our certificates are signed by an experienced valuer and prepared to professional standards accepted by Australian banks, insurers, the Australian Border Force and family law courts.

The certificate states the market value at a specific date, and is valid for 28 days from that date. Beyond that most institutions will want a current one, because the market moves.

What we need from you

Vehicle details and the VIN, the odometer reading, photographs inside and out, and anything you know about the car's history, specification and condition. If the vehicle is still overseas, the auction sheet or purchase documentation covers most of it.

Everything is done online. The vehicle never needs to come to us, which is what makes a pre-arrival valuation possible at all and keeps the fee flat regardless of where the car is.

Common questions

Can you value a car that hasn't arrived in Australia yet?

Yes. Pre-arrival valuations are routine — we work from the vehicle details, VIN, purchase or auction documentation and photographs. Many customers need the figure before committing the money, not after the car lands.

Will a bank accept a valuation on an imported vehicle?

Our certificates are signed by an experienced valuer and prepared to professional standards accepted by Australian banks, insurers, the Australian Border Force and family law courts. The reasoning is documented, which is what makes a figure on a non-local model defensible.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

$220 inc GST with a standard turnaround of 3–5 business days. If you have a settlement, auction or customs deadline, priority turnaround is $350 inc GST and delivers within 24 hours.

Do you need to physically inspect the vehicle?

No. Valuations are prepared from documented evidence — details, VIN, odometer, photographs and condition information — which is what allows us to value a car still in transit and to keep the fee flat.

What if the car is heavily modified?

Modifications are part of the assessment rather than a problem with it. Tell us what has been done and supply photographs and receipts where you have them; modified imports are a large share of what we value.