FAQs

About Us

What does Elite Holdings WA do?

 

Elite Holdings WA is your one stop shop for importing your vehicle into Australia. As a full service workshop we’re able to take care of every step – from importing to compliance and registration.

We work with you from the very start to find the car of your dreams. From hand picking the best quality and most reliable vehicle with our carefully curated vehicle sourcing strategy, to ensuring the full compliance of your new pride and joy in our fully equipped, modern facility.

We’re a fully certified RAW compliance workshop, and a service centre and dealership capable of taking care of everything from a simple service to vehicle modifications and full rebuilds.

Want to know more? Get in contact today.

Where are you located and what are your hours?

Our workshop is located at 11 Action Place, Wangara, WA.

We’re open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, 12 pm to 5.30 pm on Friday.

On the weekend we’re open from 9 am to 1.30 pm on Saturday, and we’re closed on Sunday.

Why choose Elite Holdings WA?

Elite Holdings WA is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected premium car importers.

We’re the leaders in electric and hybrid vehicle imports and have more than 20 years of combined industry experience under our belts.

As a family owned and operated business, importing cars is more than just what we do, it’s our passion so you can be sure we’ll go above and beyond to find you the car of your dreams.

You’ll also get complete peace of mind with us, as we’re a fully certified RAW compliance workshop.

About Importing

Why Import A Car To Australia?

 

If you’re a vehicle enthusiast then you’ll probably have at some point made the disappointing discovery that certain cars or model variants just aren’t available in the Australian market. Unfortunately it’s just not feasible for manufacturers to make their entire portfolio of current and ex-models available in every country and so consequently, some cars just aren’t widely sold, or available at all in Australia.

Additionally, if you’re looking for an older model stock can be limited, especially if it was never manufactured and sold in the country. Even if it was previously sold, good quality models become harder and harder to come by over time and so, you might find yourself considering importing a vehicle.

Models that are hard to find here are common, or easier to access in other markets especially when it comes to electric or hybrid vehicles – Australia has been slow to develop infrastructure for electric cars and consequently there’s a bit of a lag in the market when it comes to the availability of high quality electric vehicles and some of the popular overseas models.

Importing a car to Australia is a great way to get exactly what you want, or to get a hold of a car that is rare or impossible to find here and it’s an excellent way to ensure that you get a quality, fully compliant vehicle.

What's The Role Of An Importer?
The regulations around importing a vehicle are complex, and the process is involved and complicated. An import agent helps you to navigate each step.

From selecting a vehicle eligible for import into Australia, to discuss the costs involved and helping you to source a good quality vehicle, an import agent ensures there will be no complications during the process. They have the knowledge and experience to find you the best car at auction and can manage the paperwork and shipping process involved with the purchase of your new car.

They’ll make sure you’re aware of requirements such as quarantine inspections, and discuss with you the costs involved.

At Elite Holdings WA, we’re your one stop shop for both the importation and compliance of your vehicle, as we are a fully licensed RAWs workshop, service centre and dealership.

What models are popular to import?

 

Current regulations allow for the import of classic vehicles, or vehicles older than 25 years. SEVs arrangements also allow for the import of popular specialist vehicles from manufacturers like Nissan, Mazda, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Smartcar, Toyota and many more – electric, hybrid and performance vehicles are amongst the models eligible for import.

Check out our current stock list to see some of the popular models we currently have available.

Should I import an electric or hybrid vehicle?

Green is the way of the future!

With Australia in the midst of upgrading our electric vehicle infrastructure and the impressive growth of the electric car market in the country, now is a great time to make the switch from traditional combustion-transmission to an electric or hybrid car.

Electric cars have come a long way in the last decade, and many of the obstacles that might have previously prevented people from buying one have now been removed.

Most electric and hybrid vehicles are more than capable of traversing Australia’s large distances between charges, and there are now many more charging points available around the country.

The cost of electric and hybrid vehicles has also significantly reduced, making them a more attractive investment than ever before.

What kinds of cars do you import?

At Elite Holdings WA we specialise in importing electric, hybrid and performance vehicles, but we can help you find any vehicle you’re looking for.

We have a number of vehicles in stock on our stock list, or we can source something special for you from any auction around the world. 

Importing Process

What are the import regulations in Australia?

 

There are a number of rules and regulations around the importation of vehicles in Australia. To import a vehicle you will need to ensure that you comply with government requirements.

There are a few methods for importing a vehicle, and the rules you will need to follow will differ depending on which method applies to you.

Common options for importing cars into Australia include SEVs arrangements which apply to vehicles not sold in Australia and deemed eligible, current interim rules which allow for vehicles older than 25 to be imported, personal import rules and rules which allow for cars to be imported for the purpose of racing.

You can find out more about importing a car to Australia here.

What is the process to import a car into Australia?

When you import a car with us we’ll begin by establishing what you’re looking for, what your budget is and what your requirements are.

Then we’ll get to work sourcing your vehicle from overseas options – once we find the perfect one, we’ll make a bid. On completion of purchase we’ll arrange shipping and help you manage all of the paperwork and inspections required.

Once your car arrives in the country, we’ll look after compliance and then all that’s left to is register your vehicle and enjoy!

Get a more detailed breakdown of the importing process here.

How long does importing a car typically take?

The total time from import to registration will depend on the car you’re looking to import and the country we’re importing from.

If you’re looking for an extremely rare car, have restrictive requirements or a limited budget than it will likely take slightly longer to source your car.

Generally you can expect it to take about 10-12 weeks from the beginning of the process, to the day you first drive your new car.

Get in touch with us, as we’ll be able to advise you on what to expect based on your personal circumstances.

Sourcing Your Vehicle

What is your sourcing strategy?

 

After your vehicle choice has been made and a budget has been set we begin sourcing your vehicle. The sourcing process involves our agents scouring auctions for a vehicle that fits your criteria.

Once a possible vehicle option/s have been identified our agents will physically inspect the vehicle and send detailed photos of the entire vehicle. The photos will be of areas such as the engine bay, interior, undercarriage, boot compartment and more.

The photos provide a comprehensive visual overview of the condition of the car and help us to identify whether there has been any previous damage, rust or any other issues with the vehicle option.

Once we have found a high quality vehicle that satisfies both your criteria and ours, we then translate the auction sheet and discuss the vehicle and costs with you ahead of making a bid.

If the vehicle is successfully purchased, recall checks will be completed and the vehicle will be thoroughly cleaned ahead of shipment.

Upon arrival in Australia the vehicle will be cleaned again and a final physical inspection will be performed for quality control, we take this opportunity to ensure that there is no damage, rust or corrosion on the vehicle and to check the vehicle received against the photo’s provided ahead of inspection.

At Elite Holdings WA, we are highly trained to perform physical inspections, having received Q-Cert certification from the New Zealand Government board.

This specialised training course emphasises areas to pay close attention to when performing physical inspections and helps us to guarantee the best quality in your vehicle and identify any potential issues.

Where do you import from?

We import our vehicles from auctions in Japan, the United States and throughout Europe.

We’ll determine the best country to import from based on what you’re looking for and advise you of the timings involved in shipping your vehicle, as it varies country to country.

How do auctions work?

Prior to us sourcing a car and making a bid we will agree a budget with you.

We will only bid up to your agreed amount. Once we’ve established your requirements we’ll begin searching auctions for your car, many auctions use a grading system – we’ll take the time to explain this to you and look for the best quality car in your budget.

Vehicles will have a starting price and we bid on your behalf. Auctions can be unpredictable, so it’s difficult to predict what a vehicle will sell for at any given moment – it’s entirely dependent on an ever changing market and the trends at the time.

Once you have won a bid, we will work with you on the transfer paperwork and arrange shipping.

How long will sourcing my car take?

Sourcing a car will usually take a few weeks, although it could take longer if you’re after a particularly rare model.

Older cars may also take longer as the amount of high quality stock with low km’s reduces as time goes by.

Your patience is worth it however!

We work hard to find you the best quality and most reliable vehicle.

Shipping Your Vehicle

How are vehicles shipped?

Vehicles are shipped on freight vessels.

Once you have purchased your vehicle it will be booked onto the next available vessel and shipped to your nearest port.

We’ll discuss the best shipping arrangements with you to ensure we find the most cost effective solution. 

What paperwork is required to ship?

To ship your vehicle into Australia you’ll need to apply for import approval and fill out pay costs for shipping and freight.

You’ll also need to make a customs declaration and pay the cost of customs duty.

Will I need a quarantine inspection?

Upon entry into the country your car will need to be cleaned and pass a quarantine inspection before it can be complied and registered.

How long does shipping take?

Shipping usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks from Japan and 6 to 10 weeks and from the USA, Canada and the UK.

Vehicle Compliance

What are the compliance requirements for car imports?

Before your car can be registered and driven on the road, it needs to be made compliant which means meeting Australian Design Rules.

For cars imported from overseas this often involves modifications such as servicing your car, fitting your brake pads, switching the car from left-hand to right-hand drive or replacing the seat belts.

The Australian government requires that compliance be completed by a certified Registered Automotive Workshop (RAWs).

What is a registered automotive workshop (RAWs)?

Registered Automotive Workshops are businesses that have been approved to import and plate up to a 100 vehicles (per vehicle category) a year.

How long does compliance take?

Upon entry into the country your car will need to be cleaned and pass a quarantine inspection before it can be complied and registered.

Import Costs

What are the costs involved with importing a car to Australia?

There are a number of costs involved with importing a vehicle, including the cost of purchasing the vehicle, import service charges, shipping and customs costs, taxes and duties (such as GST or the luxury vehicle tax), compliance costs, registration and insurance.

Payments & Warranty

Are there finance options available?


Yes absolutely! We have partnered with Dosh Finance, who have a range of finance options available to assist you.

Can I use a car loan, salary sacrifice or novated lease to import?

You will not be able to use a standard car loan or work arrangements like a novated lease or salary sacrificing to import a car into Australia. Generally it is required that a car be available and registered in Australia.

How does payment work and when do I make payment?

Good question, in most cases the payment process involves two key stages;

First we will have a detailed discussion with you about your requirements before creating a quote based on your needs, at this point depending on the costs quoted, either a 50% deposit is required, or a deposit agreement is drawn up.

Final payment of the outstanding amount must be made once your vehicle has been registered and is ready for delivery.

Licensed Dealer

Quality Imports

Servicing & Maintenance

Find Us Here –

Call

(08) 9303 9117

Email

info@eliteholdingswa.com

Location

11 Action Pl, Wangara WA 6065

Open Hours

Mon – Fri : 9am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: Closed

DL Number

21189

Raws/Rover Number

10789

MRB Number

3518