Car Shipping To Australia | International Car Shipping Australia

Australia is an important country when it comes to international shipping, primarily due to its South Pacific location. The country is also well known for its high regard for Maritime Security and strict environmental conservation standards. There are some well-known ports found in AUS, and here are some of the most popular ones:

• Port of Brisbane – this is the largest seaport in the state of Queensland, and the third busiest for all of Australia. The port is responsible for a high frequency of cargo and ships, ranking Level 1 for Maritime Security.
• Port of Sydney (Botany) – this port is also called Port of Botany and is the second-largest container port in the country. It was originally located in Sydney Harbor but was expanded over time to include building multiple ports, including the Port of Botany.

• Port of Fremantle – this port is considered the busiest port in all of the Western area and handles over 35 tons of cargo each year, as well as maritime and navy cruises 24/7. The busy port contributes to the country’s economy by providing employment for a large number of residents.
• Port of Melbourne – one of Australia’s most important shipping ports, the Port of Melbourne is the fourth-largest container port in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Port of Adelaide – the largest port in Southern Australia, and also the most significant one. It handles over 100 million tons of cargo per year as well as maritime cruises for tourists.

To import a car into Australia, there is a step-by-step process that must be completed. If you choose to use a professional shipping company for your shipment, they will help you with most of the requirements for shipping and importing into the Island continent.

1. Conduct Research – the first step is to do the necessary research
   • Is your vehicle eligible to enter Australia?
   • Which approval should be applied for?
   • What are the costs that will be involved? (shipping, storage, approval application, taxes, customs duties, etc.)
   • What time frame is involved in getting the approval and completing other necessary arrangements?
   • What documentation is necessary for importation?
   • What do the government agencies require?
   • Is there a necessity for a broker?
   • Do modifications need to be made to the vehicle prior to importation?
   • What risks are involved with importing a vehicle?
2. Apply for approval for the importation of a vehicle
   • Create a ROVER account
   • Complete the online application
   • Pay the application fee
3. Receive the approval to import the vehicle
   • You will receive an email with the approval for importing the vehicle attached
   • The approval may contain specific conditions for using the vehicle
   • Government agency: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications
4. Arrange shipment of the vehicle
   • Before shipping, ensure that the vehicle is steam cleaned to reduce the risk of quarantine
   • Remove all air conditioning gas, if necessary
   • Arrange for asbestos testing and removal
   • Government agencies: Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, and the Department of Home Affairs
5. Get Customs Clearance
   • Lodge import declaration
   • Pay customs duty
   • Pay goods and services tax
   • Pay luxury car tax, if applicable
   • Ensure there is no asbestos
   • Government agency: Department of Home Affairs
6. Meet the Australian quarantine requirements
   • Lodge a Quarantine Entry with the Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment
   • Arrange an inspection appointment (car owner or broker needs to be present)
   • Government agency: Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment
7. Meet the approval conditions
   • Arrange for vehicle modification, if necessary
   • Conduct testing and develop evidence of compliance, if required
   • Apply for entry on the Register of Approval Vehicles (RAV), if necessary
8. Register the vehicle
   • Apply for registration of the vehicle in the state or territory where you intend to use it
   • Government agency: State Road and Transport Authorities

A Vehicle Import Approval is a document that is issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications that allows road vehicles to be imported into the country. The document is also required to clear the vehicle from customs control. To apply, you must complete the application and submit the necessary documents to the government agency and is generally reviewed within 20 days of receipt of the necessary paperwork and documents.

There are cases where storage charges will be applied to the shipping costs of a car being imported into Australia. The most common scenario is when the vehicle reaches customs prior to the approval of the VIA. In these circumstances, the vehicle is stored until the owner and vehicle meet the required qualifications.

When it comes to shipping and importing a car into Australia, a lot is dependent on the type of stay you are planning. If you are planning on a temporary stay, you can import the car under the assumption that it will not be used for longer than 12 months. After the year has passed, you will be required to export the car. If you plan on moving permanently, importing a car from another country is possible, but it is a lengthy process that requires the utmost organization to achieve stress-free results.

It is possible and recommended to use a shipping company or broker when importing a vehicle into another country, like Australia. When doing this, you will want to double-check to ensure that the documents and customs requirements are being addressed. If not, it is your responsibility to take care of it prior to shipping.

So if you aren’t coming for a temporary stay, what is required to move your car to Australia? The Visa and Citizenship requirements for shipping a car to Australia require the car owner to fall into one of the following categories:

• An Australian citizen or has applied to become an Australian citizen,
• An Australian permanent resident with a valid permanent residency Visa or has recently applied for the Visa and is awaiting approval,
• Has a Visa that allows the car owner the ability to apply for a permanent residency Visa such as a 309 Partner Visa or a 482 TSS Visa, or
• The applicant is a New Zealand citizen

The documents that you will be required to produce to import your car into Australia permanently are handled on a point system. Under the Personal Imports Option, a total of 100 points must be obtained, with one document from the primary document category and enough secondary documents to make up the rest of the point total to equal 100.

Please note: If any documents are not in English, they must be translated by an accredited agency before being submitted.

In addition to these documents, you will need to prove that the vehicle in question is yours. To do this, you can:

• Provide proof that you are a licensed driver in your country of origin (driver’s license)
• Provide copies of the bill of sale for the car or the proper documentation that shows you are allowed to transport it if it is leased
• You will need to show when the vehicle was first registered in your name and provide the registration papers for the previous 12 months
• If any international travel has been done during the 12-month qualifying period, you will need to provide a travel statement. This doesn’t apply to “long trips,” if you have maintained your residency while traveling, you won’t need to provide this.
  • If you are required to provide a travel statement, it needs to include:
    • An itemized list of travel dates and destinations – all international travel information will be required
    • Date and country where you purchased the car – the date should match the proof of purchase you include in your documents
    • Date of the registration – which will again need to line up with your other documents
    • The date of pickup for the car and when it will be shipped – include that date because it is part of the 12 months of continuous use
    • The date you anticipate leaving for Australia
• You will likely need to provide proof that the car has been insured. This can also help expedite the process in some cases.
• Maintenance records are also a good document to show that regular and routine care has been taken with the vehicle in question.

Shipping a car from the USA to Australia is possible, but it requires compliance with Australian import regulations, including quarantine checks and emissions standards. Working with experienced car shipping companies to Australia ensures a smooth process.

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to ship a car to Australia, RoRo shipping (Roll-on/Roll-off) is typically the most budget-friendly option. However, for added protection, container shipping is worth considering, especially for high-value or classic cars.

It is possible to have a classic or collector car imported into Australia – and there are two options for this. One is for cars manufactured before January 1, 1989 and the other is for cars at least 25 years old. The most common problem with importing these types of cars into the country is asbestos. AUS banned asbestos in late 2003, so any cars that have car parts that obtain asbestos must be replaced before entering the country. 

Australia will test these cars coming into the country for asbestos, and some of the most common car parts where asbestos was used include:

• Insulation
• Brake pads
• Brake shoes
• Seals
• Gaskets
• Bonnet (hood of the car)
• Valve rings
• Heater
• Air conditioner housings
• And more

Depending on where you are shipping your car from, it can take 40+ days (give or take) to reach an Australian port – and that is from the day it leaves the port of origin. Then, once your car reaches the port, it will have to go through customs. Once it enters customs, you can expect about a two-week turnaround time before your car is released. You will also be required to pay the fees for the quarantine and cleaning process as well. A separate fee is also required for inspection.

The cost to ship a car to Australia depends on several factors, including the vehicle’s size, shipping method (RoRo or container), origin country, and customs duties. On average, prices range from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on these variables.