Importing a car from the UK to Australia
The short answer
You can import a car from the UK to Australia, but you can't simply ship it and register it on arrival. Australia controls vehicle imports at the federal level. In most cases the vehicle must qualify under a recognised eligibility pathway, and the import approval must be granted before the car leaves the UK. After it lands, it also has to clear customs and biosecurity checks, and then meet the registration requirements of the Australian state or territory where it will be used.
Whether your car qualifies depends on several things: its age, its make and model, whether it is already approved for Australian supply, and whether you have personally owned and used it overseas. Those factors decide which pathway applies, and some cars do not fit any pathway at all.
Who regulates vehicle imports
Road vehicles entering Australia are governed by the Road Vehicle Standards Act, administered by the federal department responsible for vehicle standards. That framework sets the eligibility rules and issues import approvals. Other agencies handle different stages. The Australian Border Force deals with customs clearance and asbestos controls. The federal agriculture department deals with biosecurity inspection. State and territory transport authorities deal with registration.
Main eligibility pathways
The pathway determines what evidence you need and what work, if any, must be done to the vehicle. In general terms, the main routes are:
Vehicles already on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV): the RAV is the official list of vehicles approved for supply in Australia. A model that was type-approved for the Australian market may be easier to import, but a UK-market version is not automatically identical to the Australian-approved version. Personal imports: this concessional pathway is for people who have owned and used a vehicle overseas for a minimum continuous period set by the regulator. It is commonly used by people relocating from the UK. Ownership and use must be documented. Older vehicles: vehicles above an age threshold set by the regulator can be imported under a concessional pathway with fewer compliance requirements. Specialist and enthusiast vehicles: certain models not widely sold in Australia can qualify through a listed-vehicle process. These usually need modification and verification by a Registered Automotive Workshop before they can be entered on the RAV.
The exact ownership periods, age thresholds and evidence requirements for each pathway are set and updated by the regulator. No confirmed figures were available for this article, so check the current criteria with the department before you commit to shipping.
How a UK car differs from imports from other markets
The UK and Australia both drive on the left, so UK-market cars are right-hand drive. That avoids one of the most common hurdles for imports from left-hand-drive countries, where conversion or use restrictions can apply. Right-hand drive does not mean the car is compliant, though. Lighting, emissions, safety equipment and other standards still have to be satisfied under the applicable pathway, and specifications can differ by model year, trim, powertrain and market.
Steps on the UK side
Confirm the car's eligibility and obtain Australian import approval before shipping. Gather ownership, purchase and use records, plus any other documents the chosen pathway requires. Tell the DVLA the vehicle is being permanently exported, using the relevant section of the V5C registration certificate. Arrange shipping, either roll-on/roll-off or containerised. Many owners also have the car professionally cleaned beforehand to reduce the risk of biosecurity problems.
Arrival in Australia: biosecurity and asbestos
Imported vehicles are subject to biosecurity inspection. Soil, plant material, seeds, insects and other contamination can lead to mandatory cleaning at the importer's cost. Contamination is often found in wheel arches, under the body, in engine bays and in boot spaces.
Australia prohibits the import of asbestos, and that ban applies to vehicles. Older cars in particular may contain asbestos in parts such as brake components, clutches or gaskets. A vehicle found to contain asbestos can be held until the material is removed, so get evidence that the car is asbestos-free before shipping.
Duties and taxes
Imported vehicles may attract customs duty and goods and services tax (GST). Higher-value vehicles may also be liable for luxury car tax. How these apply depends on the vehicle's value, origin and import circumstances, and some personal-import situations may qualify for concessions. No current rates or thresholds were supplied for this article. Confirm the amounts with the Australian Border Force or a licensed customs broker before you budget.
Registration after clearance
Once the car is cleared and entered on the RAV, if required, it must be registered with the state or territory transport authority. This usually involves a roadworthiness or vehicle identity inspection and payment of registration and compulsory third-party insurance charges. Requirements and fees differ between states and territories, so check with the authority where the car will be kept.
Gaps to resolve before you decide
Current ownership-period and vehicle-age criteria for the concessional pathways. Import approval application fees and processing times. Shipping, cleaning, compliance and workshop costs, which vary by provider and vehicle. Applicable customs duty, GST and luxury car tax amounts for your vehicle. State or territory registration requirements and charges.
Your next step is to identify the eligibility pathway for your specific car and confirm its current requirements with the federal vehicle standards regulator. Once you have that, you can compare the total cost of importing against selling in the UK and buying an equivalent vehicle in Australia.
