Driving in Australia

[dorma]

I'm this is a really stupid question but I can't find a reliable answer. Can a 4 wheel drive truck that has a steering wheel on the left side be driven in Australia? To put it another way. Can a car that is shipped from the US to Australia for a permanent stay be driven legally?

[Taka]

I'm this is a really stupid question but I can't find a reliable answer. Can a 4 wheel drive truck that has a steering wheel on the left side be driven in Australia? To put it another way. Can a car that is shipped from the US to Australia for a permanent stay be driven legally?

That is a stupid question haha just kidding.

The problem with that a LHD Kluger is.

1) It will not be able to register the car because it does not fulfill the Australian design rules.

2) It cannot be listed as a special vehicle as per some of the city road cleaners.

3) It will be near impossible to register as a Club car ... as it is only allows you to drive on race tracks and to the motor shops.

Not even Shelby or Mustang cannot imported without right hand drive.

Or you can convert the LHD car to RHD... going to cost you more than $40000.

That is why the only LHD car you can see on the road is very old or city cleaners. In fact they have to I think by law to tell you they are left hand drive (ie to make a large sticker in the back of the car saying "watch out! The vehicle is left hand drive"

[dorma]

I'm this is a really stupid question but I can't find a reliable answer. Can a 4 wheel drive truck that has a steering wheel on the left side be driven in Australia? To put it another way. Can a car that is shipped from the US to Australia for a permanent stay be driven legally?

That is a stupid question haha just kidding.

The problem with that a LHD Kluger is.

1) It will not be able to register the car because it does not fulfill the Australian design rules.

2) It cannot be listed as a special vehicle as per some of the city road cleaners.

3) It will be near impossible to register as a Club car ... as it is only allows you to drive on race tracks and to the motor shops.

Not even Shelby or Mustang cannot imported without right hand drive.

Or you can convert the LHD car to RHD... going to cost you more than $40000.

That is why the only LHD car you can see on the road is very old or city cleaners. In fact they have to I think by law to tell you they are left hand drive (ie to make a large sticker in the back of the car saying "watch out! The vehicle is left hand drive"

Thanks for the info.

[DJKOR]

Hey Taka. Depends on how you define very old. Over here I've seen a few left hand drive cars on the road like 1960's Mustangs. I would say they are old, but not very old :P.

In Queensland at least, these are the requirements to be able to apply for registration of a LHD vehicle:

* vehicles that are at least 30 years old

* historic ambulances and historic fire-fighting equipment

* street rods (hot rods) — vehicles that have been modified for safe road use and have a body and frame built before 1949

* replicas of a motor vehicle, the body and frame of which were built before 1949, that is fitted with a modification plate, code LH9.

As well, those warning signs only apply to LHD vehicles 4.5 tonnes or greater.

But yeah, in answering the OP's question; no it can't be done.

[SuperDave]

A touch late, but I remember WA was a bit more lenient on LHD vehicles. Not sure if it has changed though.