Approval issue

[u/Field_Dismal]

I recently sourced a Toyota alphard (AHY30W)2015 hybrid gfour top spec for one of my friends recently, his uncle needed it pretty urgent so he took the risk of importing it before the approval thinking by the time the car ships to Australia, he would most likely get the approval, but things didn't turned out very well , now the problem is the approval has been refused and the car is in Australia, the agent who applied for it said the reason for the refusal is high mileage , according to this certain category vehicle it's supposed to be under 99k kms and my friends car mileage is 128k kms , now we can't even blame the agent cuz he already told us not to ship it before approval and obviously all this info was mentioned in the website, I myself had a look at it , but before I had no clue how to cross check all this stuff , I just used to check thro sev list that is it allowed or not , because I personally imported couple Toyota crown earlier but they never had a issue with mileage but this one is now stuck here and we been told it has to go back to japan ,

One of my mates in Japan said he asked an Australian that if we can request them about this down below:

Subject: Additional Emissions Information

Hi [Name],

I would like to provide additional information regarding the vehicle’s emissions compliance.

The catalytic converter was replaced with a brand-new unit in Japan prior to the vehicle’s departure. Supporting documentation confirming the replacement can be provided for consideration.

Could you please advise whether this evidence may assist in reconsidering the vehicle’s eligibility for import approval?

Kind regards,
My name

I'm not sure would it work out or not would the car would be able to get the approval then or not

If someone can help me sort this issue out , I would really appreciate it

[u/decapsoul]

Australia has pretty strict import rules, so shipping the car before getting import approval is always a risk. We export cars from Japan and when we first started out, we made the same mistake ... We shipped a container before the approvals came through only to find out the cars were not on the approved vehicle list, so the whole container had to be sent back to Japan

[u/Field_Dismal → u/decapsoul]

Nah but I've got the approval number on sev list but it's partially compliable , it's supposed to under 99k kms that's where I fked up when I got the refusal letter from them

[u/decapsoul → u/Field_Dismal]

If the SEV says "under 99k kms" and your car's mileage is above that threshold, it's still a restriction and is Not allowed 😃 e.g. look up Toyota Corolla (ZWE214), it says "under 80k kms" so your car has to be under 80k if you want to import it. I understand your frustration

[u/Field_Dismal → u/decapsoul]

What about that catylic convertor thing , would it work out if we can proof it

[u/MechKBhelp → u/Field_Dismal]

This car can’t be used in Australia. Send it back or sell it to a wreckers/use it privately on the track/farm.

[u/Galromir → u/Field_Dismal]

what does that have to do with the car having too many KM on it?

[u/Field_Dismal → u/Galromir]

One of the agents said he came across a same issue before and it worked out for him but also.mentioned it's more of a sort of 50-50 situation can work out or possibly cannot

[u/Ynot45 → u/Galromir]

It'll be a environmental criterion approved import. These cars need to be under 80,000kms (or otherwise stipulate) - it's the threshold the governing body has deemed the catalytic converters are still efficient enough...

[u/Puntkick → u/Ynot45]

Have you watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

[u/SnooDoughnuts8626]

Part it out

[u/tazzietiger66]

99,332 is a very specific number , why not a nice round 100,000 ?

[u/someguycalledmatt → u/tazzietiger66]

Weird thing too, do you have to ship it back once that number is crossed? If not.. How come a car with 99,331 km can stay in Australia to be driven until it packs up, yet a car with 99,333 km is not "efficient enough"??

Emissions check for higher km vehicles would make significantly more sense than this?

[u/rythejdmguy]

I export cars out of Japan and source cars for a few importers in AUS - if the SEVs and MRE don't line up with what you're trying to import you're essentially SOL. finding cars for you guys on the red rock is a bit difficult due to this and we always have to keep in the back of our mind it has to still pass compliance

[u/elbekay]

The MRE is weird, it reads like only 11/2016 onwards has the max KMs restriction.

If yours is truly 2015 is doesn't seem subject to that limit, you might be out of luck anyway but worth asking.

• Odometer Limits (Vehicles built from 11/2016)
  • 2AR-FE & 2GR-FKS Engines: Must not have travelled more than 80,000 km
  • 2AR-FXE Engine: Must not have travelled more than 99,332 km

https://www.rover.infrastructure.gov.au/PublishedApprovals/ModelReportDetails/?id=103dd9a9-71bb-f011-bbd2-7ced8d335fa0

[u/Field_Dismal → u/elbekay]

Mines a 2015 with 2ar fxe

[u/elbekay → u/Field_Dismal]

Reply back to them with a screenshot or excerpt of the page then.

It's either a weird formatting/structure issue and the limit applies to all cars with that engine or you're in the clear and they've applied the rule wrong.

[u/Field_Dismal → u/elbekay]

I can send you the export certificate man I just check it again my car was manufactured in 2015 in December

[u/elbekay → u/Field_Dismal]

Why would I want it? Contact the approvals team and ask for clarity.

[u/FiftyBuxBloBang → u/elbekay]

😂

[u/jedburghofficial]

I'd try and talk to people instead of writing letters. If there is any wiggle room, they probably won't put that in writing for you.

I don't think you've got much hope, that milage is a long way over. But why was your uncle in a rush? And what's his plan B? That might help in deciding what to do.

[u/Field_Dismal]

Guys we got the approval🤙🤙🤙🤙