shipping cars to australia

Shipping cars to Australia is doable, but it’s not a pirate’s smuggle—get a Vehicle Import Approval via ROVER before the ship even leaves.

Then make sure the car is spotless and asbestos‑free, or Biosecurity will treat it like a muddy biohazard and send you the bill for cleaning. Budget for import duty (~5% on most passenger cars), 10% GST on the customs value plus freight and insurance, and Luxury Car Tax if the value tips over the threshold (about $89,332 for fuel‑efficient cars, $76,950 for others in 2024–25). RO‑RO is usually the cheaper option, containers cost more but add security; either way, think roughly 6–10 weeks port to port, plus compliance and registration on arrival. Unless the vehicle is already eligible, it must meet Australian Design Rules via an approved scheme, and anything non‑compliant will need fixing before rego. All up, shipping alone can run roughly $3,000–$10,000 AUD before taxes and compliance, so run the sums before your sentimental import becomes an expensive souvenir.