Importing a car to Australia: costs and steps

Checked against official sources on 9 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the details for your shipment when you book.

The steps, in order

1. Check the car can be imported, and get an import approval from the Australian Government before it ships. Do not load the car until the approval is granted.
2. Deal with asbestos. Australia bans it in any amount, and imported cars are checked.
3. Book the shipping (RoRo or container) and get the car cleaned for Australian biosecurity.
4. On arrival: customs clearance, payment of duty, GST and any luxury car tax, biosecurity inspection and any treatment.
5. Delivery, then state registration, which can include a roadworthy or compliance inspection.

1. Vehicle import approval

Under the Road Vehicle Standards Act, almost every road vehicle needs an import approval before it arrives. Applications for a single vehicle are made online through the ROVER system (you need 100 points of ID), and the Department says assessment takes around 30 business days. The main routes for private importers are:

• Older vehicles: cars, vans, motorcycles and light commercials built more than 25 years ago can use a concessional entry.
• Personal import: a car you have owned for at least 12 months, bought while living overseas, used on public roads there, and you lived overseas for 12 continuous months. You must have the right to live in Australia permanently.
• Specialist and enthusiast vehicles: models on the SEV Register, imported and modified through a Registered Automotive Workshop.

An import approval is not a guarantee of registration. Each state has its own rules, especially for left-hand-drive cars, so check with your state road authority before you buy.

2. Asbestos

Asbestos has been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003, for vehicles of any age. Brake pads, clutches, gaskets and heat shields in older or overseas-market cars can contain it. A letter from the seller or a mechanic is not enough: you need manufacturer technical evidence, records showing the parts were replaced, or laboratory test results that meet Australian requirements. The Border Force can hold a car for testing at the owner's cost. Replacing suspect parts before the car ships is usually the cheapest path. We have had cars with asbestos brake linings fixed for clients before they were released.

3. Biosecurity and stink bug season

Imported vehicles must arrive clean: no soil, plant material, insects or animal matter, inside or out. Dirty cars are cleaned at the port at the owner's cost.

From 1 September to 30 April each year, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) measures apply. For the 2026-27 season (goods shipped 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027), vehicles from target risk countries such as the USA, Canada and much of Europe must be treated before or on arrival, and vehicles from some other countries face random inspection. We check the current list for your car's country before we book.

4. What you pay the government

• Customs duty: 5% of the customs value for most cars. Cars made in a country with a free trade agreement can be duty free if they meet the rules of origin and you have the evidence.
• GST: 10% of the value of the taxable importation, which is the customs value plus duty plus the international freight and insurance.
• Luxury car tax (cars only): 33% of the amount above the threshold. For 2026-27 the threshold is $80,809, or $91,661 for fuel-efficient cars.
• Import processing charge: $152 for a sea import valued at $10,000 or more ($50 from $1,000 to under $10,000), plus a biosecurity charge per entry.

On top of these are the shipping, port and cleaning costs, and the compliance and registration costs in your state. Try our import duty and GST calculator to see the government charges on your car.

Common questions