Australia is one of the most popular destinations for UK car shipping — whether you’re emigrating, relocating temporarily, or importing a right-hand-drive vehicle to sell. The good news: Australia drives on the left, so your UK car arrives ready to use. The challenge is biosecurity rules, import permits, and customs duty, all of which we’ll walk you through clearly.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Australia from the UK?
Ascope Shipping’s current door-to-port rates to Australia are:
| Vehicle Type | RoRo Cost (Door to Port) | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon / Hatchback | £1,050–£1,250 | UK collection, port handling, ocean freight |
| 4×4 / SUV / MPV | £1,700–£1,900 | UK collection, port handling, ocean freight |
| Classic / High-Value (Container) | £2,000–£3,000+ | Enclosed container, additional security |
Prices are door-to-port — collection from your UK address through to arrival at your chosen Australian port. Port-to-door delivery in Australia, biosecurity inspections, customs duty, and GST are paid separately on arrival.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Australia from the UK?
Australia is one of the longer routes from the UK. Here’s what to expect:
- UK collection to port loading: 3–7 days
- Sea voyage: 5–7 weeks depending on the destination port
- Port clearance and biosecurity inspection: 3–10 days
- Total door-to-port timeline: 7–9 weeks typically
Melbourne and Sydney tend to have more frequent sailings than Fremantle or Brisbane, so if you’re flexible on port, that can shorten the wait. For full transit time breakdowns by route, see our car shipping transit times guide.
Which UK Ports Does Australia Shipping Depart From?
Most vehicles ship from Southampton or Tilbury (London). Southampton handles the majority of RoRo traffic to Australia and typically offers the most sailings. If you’re based in the North, Tilbury may be more convenient, though sailing schedules can be less frequent.
Ascope Shipping collects your vehicle from anywhere in the UK and delivers it to the correct departure port as part of the door-to-port service.
Which Australian Ports Can My Car Arrive At?
Australia has four main vehicle import ports:
- Melbourne (Port of Melbourne) — Most popular, most sailings, suits Victoria and surrounding states
- Sydney (Port Botany) — Suits NSW and ACT
- Fremantle (Perth) — Western Australia; slightly longer sea voyage
- Brisbane — Queensland and northern NSW
Choose the port closest to your destination address to minimise Australian port-to-door costs. If you’re unsure, Melbourne is usually the most cost-efficient entry point due to high throughput and competitive local transport rates.
Australia Biosecurity: The Most Important Thing to Know
Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) requires that all imported vehicles pass a biosecurity inspection before release.
Inspectors check for:
- Soil, mud, or sand in wheel arches, chassis, or engine bay
- Seeds, plant matter, or insects in carpets, upholstery, or boot
- Any organic material in or on the vehicle
What you must do before shipping:
- Professionally clean and steam-clean the entire vehicle, including under the chassis
- Vacuum all carpets and boot thoroughly
- Have the engine bay professionally degreased
- Remove all personal items, food, and soil from the vehicle
If the vehicle fails inspection, you pay for treatment or fumigation — costs can reach several hundred Australian dollars. A professionally cleaned vehicle almost always passes first time. This is non-negotiable: Australia will not release a vehicle that fails biosecurity.
Australia Import Duty and Taxes
When your car arrives in Australia, customs duty and GST apply unless you qualify for an exemption:
- Customs duty: 5% of the vehicle’s customs value (CIF — cost, insurance, freight)
- GST: 10% applied to the customs value plus duty
- Luxury Car Tax (LCT): Applies if the vehicle’s value exceeds the LCT threshold (currently AUD $80,567 for most cars, higher for fuel-efficient vehicles)
Example calculation for a £15,000 saloon (approx. AUD $29,000):
- Customs duty: 5% × AUD $29,000 = AUD $1,450
- GST: 10% × (AUD $29,000 + $1,450) = AUD $3,045
- Total tax: approx. AUD $4,495
Personal import exemption (Returning Residents / Migrants): If you’ve owned and used the vehicle for at least 12 months before departing for Australia, and are migrating or returning after 12+ months abroad, you may qualify for a duty and GST exemption under the Returning Resident concession. Apply through the Australian Border Force before shipping.
Do You Need an Import Permit for Australia?
Yes — Australia requires an import approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) before your vehicle can enter the country.
There are several import paths:
- Personal Import Scheme (Returning Residents): For vehicles owned 12+ months, used personally, accompanying the owner to Australia
- Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVs): For vehicles on the SEV register — older, rare, or unique models not sold new in Australia
- RAWS (Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme): For vehicles less than 25 years old not on the SEV register — requires a licensed RAWS workshop to modify the vehicle to Australian Design Rules (ADRs)
Most UK cars shipped by individuals emigrating to Australia use the Personal Import path. Classic and collector cars often qualify under SEV. Apply for import approval at infrastructure.gov.au before booking your shipping.
RoRo vs Container Shipping to Australia
For a detailed comparison, see our RoRo vs container shipping guide. Here’s the Australia-specific summary:
- RoRo (£1,050–£1,900): Best for standard road vehicles in good condition. Vehicles are driven on and off the ship, stored on open decks. Cost-effective and reliable for the Australia route.
- Container (£2,000–£3,000+): Best for classic cars, high-value vehicles, or if you want extra protection from salt air on the long voyage. Can also ship personal effects alongside the car in a shared container.
For most UK-to-Australia shipments, RoRo is the right choice. Container shipping makes sense for cars worth £30,000+ or for classic vehicles where any cosmetic damage would be costly to repair.
What Documents Do You Need?
For the full checklist, see our documents guide. For Australia specifically, you’ll need:
- V5C logbook (vehicle registration certificate)
- Proof of ownership (purchase invoice or title)
- Valid passport
- Australian import approval from DITRDCA
- Biosecurity declaration
- Bill of lading (issued by shipper)
- Commercial invoice stating vehicle value
- HMRC CDS export declaration
Step-by-Step: How to Ship a Car to Australia from the UK
- Apply for Australian import approval via infrastructure.gov.au — do this first, before booking shipping
- Get a quote from Ascope Shipping with your vehicle details and destination port
- Professionally clean your vehicle to pass Australian biosecurity
- Book the shipment and arrange UK collection
- Complete HMRC export documentation (CDS declaration)
- Track your vehicle during the 5–7 week voyage
- Pay customs duty and GST (or submit exemption claim) on arrival
- Pass biosecurity inspection at the Australian port
- Register the vehicle in your Australian state or territory
For the full international shipping process, see our step-by-step car shipping guide.
Is It Worth Shipping Your Car to Australia?
It depends on the vehicle. For a standard family car worth under £10,000, the total cost of shipping plus Australian duty and registration may exceed what you’d pay buying locally. But for vehicles that are:
- High-value or hard to find in Australia (sports cars, classics, prestige marques)
- Right-hand drive models with strong resale value in Australia
- Personally owned and eligible for the duty-free returning resident concession
…shipping makes strong financial sense. Many UK-to-Australia emigrants ship their car specifically to avoid Australian new-car prices, which are significantly higher than UK equivalents for the same model.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Australia from the UK?
RoRo shipping costs £1,050–£1,250 for a saloon and £1,700–£1,900 for a 4×4 or SUV. Container shipping runs £2,000–£3,000+. These are door-to-port prices from anywhere in the UK to your chosen Australian port.
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Australia?
Total transit time is typically 7–9 weeks: 3–7 days UK collection to port, 5–7 weeks sea voyage, then 3–10 days for biosecurity and customs clearance in Australia.
Can I ship a right-hand drive car to Australia?
Yes — Australia drives on the left, so right-hand drive UK cars are fully road-legal there. No steering conversion is required, unlike shipping to Europe or the USA.
Do I pay import duty on a car shipped to Australia?
Standard rate is 5% customs duty plus 10% GST on the vehicle’s customs value. If you’re emigrating and have owned the vehicle for 12+ months, you may qualify for a duty-free exemption under the Returning Resident concession.
What biosecurity checks does Australia do on imported cars?
The Department of Agriculture inspects for soil, seeds, insects, and organic material. The vehicle must be professionally cleaned before shipping. Failure to pass means you pay for fumigation or treatment at the Australian port.
