importing a car from uk to australia

Importing a car from the UK to Australia is doable, but it’s not just “slap it on a boat and Bob’s your uncle.”

First, apply for a Vehicle Import Approval via the government’s ROVER system before shipping; without it, your pride and joy can sit at the wharf accruing storage fees.

Budget for shipping and insurance (several thousand dollars), biosecurity cleaning on arrival, asbestos checks on older cars, and compliance work to meet Australian Design Rules before rego.

At the border you’ll face 10% GST on the import value (including transport and insurance), possible customs duty depending on origin, and Luxury Car Tax if the value tips over the threshold.

Most UK cars are right‑hand drive, which helps, but you’ll still need evidence of build specs, odometer and ownership, and potentially an engineer’s sign‑off.

If that sounds like a faff, a local equivalent on Tradingpost might spare you the container tan and the paperwork aerobics.