Importing a Car from Australia to the USA: What Decides Whether It Is Possible
The short answer
You can bring a car from Australia into the United States, but whether a particular vehicle can be imported and registered depends mainly on two things: its age and whether it was built to US federal standards. Most cars sold new in Australia were built for Australian Design Rules, not for US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) or US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions requirements. A vehicle that does not meet those US standards generally has to qualify for an exemption before it can be imported legally. In practice, older vehicles that meet the age-based exemptions are the most straightforward category, while late-model Australian-market cars are often difficult or impractical to import permanently.
Scope of this guide
This overview covers permanent and temporary imports of passenger vehicles from Australia into the US at the federal level. It does not cover commercial import businesses, motorcycles in detail, or the specific rules of each US state. No confirmed figures for costs, shipping times, fees or current tariff rates were available for this article, so those are flagged as gaps rather than estimated.
Why Australian-market cars are treated differently
Two US federal agencies set the technical conditions for import. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for safety compliance with FMVSS, and the EPA is responsible for emissions compliance. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes the entry at the port and collects any duty, while checking the paperwork required by NHTSA and the EPA. A car built for the Australian market typically lacks the manufacturer's certification label stating that it conforms to US safety and emissions standards, even if the same model was also sold in the US. Equipment such as lighting, bumpers, airbags, emissions hardware and labeling can differ between markets, which is why market of origin matters more than model name.
The main routes to a legal import
Vehicles 25 years old or older: NHTSA exempts vehicles at least 25 years old from FMVSS compliance. Age is generally counted from the month and year of manufacture, so the build date on the vehicle matters, not just the model year. Vehicles 21 years old or older for emissions: the EPA exempts vehicles at least 21 years old from its emissions requirements, provided they remain in original configuration. The safety and emissions thresholds are separate, so a vehicle can satisfy one without satisfying the other. Newer non-conforming vehicles: a vehicle that is too young for the exemptions generally must be imported through a NHTSA-registered importer and modified to meet FMVSS, and only if NHTSA has determined that model eligible. Emissions conformance must be handled separately through the EPA's processes. For many Australian-only models no eligibility determination exists, which effectively rules this route out. US-certified vehicles: a car originally manufactured to US standards and bearing the US certification label, for example one previously exported from the US to Australia, is the simplest case because it already conforms. Temporary imports: non-residents may be able to bring a vehicle in temporarily for personal use under specific conditions, with a requirement to export it afterward. This does not allow the vehicle to be sold or kept permanently in the US.
Right-hand drive
Australian cars are right-hand drive. Right-hand drive is not in itself a bar to import or registration in the US; vehicles that qualify under the age exemptions are commonly registered with their original steering position. The practical considerations are driving comfort, visibility when overtaking and using drive-through or toll facilities, and whether a specific state or insurer applies any extra checks.
Paperwork and steps, in order
Confirm eligibility first: check the build date on the compliance or manufacturer plate and decide which exemption, if any, applies. Do this before buying or shipping. Gather ownership documents: proof of ownership such as the original title or registration certificate and a bill of sale, plus evidence of the build date. Handle the Australian side: arrange deregistration or cancellation of Australian registration as required, and complete any export reporting that applies to the shipment. Arrange shipping: choose between roll-on/roll-off and container shipping, and book with a carrier familiar with US entry requirements. Clean the vehicle thoroughly: US agricultural inspection rules require vehicles to be free of soil, plant material and pests, and contaminated vehicles can be held or require cleaning at the port. File the US entry: CBP entry typically requires the NHTSA declaration form for imported vehicles (HS-7) and the EPA declaration form (3520-1) showing the basis for the safety and emissions claims, along with shipping and ownership documents. Many importers use a licensed customs broker for this stage. Pay duty and any fees due at entry, then take delivery once CBP releases the vehicle. Title and register in your state: present the stamped customs entry documents and ownership records to the state motor vehicle agency, and complete any state inspection or emissions testing it requires.
State rules can add requirements
Clearing federal import is not the final step. Each state sets its own titling, inspection and registration rules. California is the best-known example of stricter treatment, as it applies its own emissions requirements through the California Air Resources Board, which can make registering an imported vehicle there harder than in many other states. Checking the destination state's requirements before shipping avoids ending up with a car that is federally cleared but cannot be registered where you live.
Costs, duty and timing: what is not covered here
No verified figures were available for shipping rates from Australian ports, customs broker fees, port charges, or typical transit and clearance times, so none are given. Import duty and tariffs on vehicles have been subject to policy changes, and the rate that applies can depend on vehicle type and current trade measures. Confirm the applicable duty with CBP or a licensed customs broker at the time of import rather than relying on older published rates.
Is it worth it?
As an editorial judgment rather than a tested finding: importing from Australia makes the most sense for vehicles that clearly meet the 25-year safety exemption and the 21-year emissions exemption, especially Australian-market models that were never sold in the US. For a newer, everyday car, the combination of compliance barriers, shipping and duty usually makes buying a US-market vehicle the more practical choice. If a vehicle is close to the age threshold, waiting until it qualifies is generally safer than attempting to import it early, since non-compliant imports can be refused entry, required to be exported, or destroyed.
Next step
Start with the vehicle's exact build date and market of origin, then confirm with NHTSA and EPA guidance, or with a customs broker, which import route applies. Only once eligibility and your state's registration requirements are clear is it worth arranging export and shipping.
