Car and caravan shipping from New Zealand to Australia
Weekly roll-on roll-off sailings from Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson to every major Australian port. We help with the import approval paperwork, ship it, clear Australian customs and biosecurity, and deliver it.
- Who it suits
- Australians coming home with their car or van, dealers buying stock in New Zealand, and anyone moving a vehicle back across the Tasman.
- What we ship
- Cars, utes, 4WDs, caravans, motorhomes, motorbikes, boats and machinery.
- Ports
- From Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson to Brisbane, Sydney (Port Kembla), Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.
- Carriers we book
- MOL and Toyo Fuji, on the next sailing that suits your unit.
The steps, in order
- Check it can be imported and apply for approval. Almost every road vehicle, caravans and trailers included, needs an Australian import approval before it arrives. Applications go through the ROVER system and the Department says assessment takes around 30 business days.
- Get a price and book a sailing. Use the price box on this page. We confirm the vessel, cartage and dimensions by email before anything is committed.
- Clean it and get it to the port. We can arrange cartage to the terminal in New Zealand.
- We clear it in Australia. Customs entry, payment of duty, GST and any luxury car tax, and the biosecurity inspection.
- Delivery and registration. We deliver it to your home or compliance workshop, then you register it with your state.
Import approval
The approval has to be granted before the vehicle lands in Australia. The common routes for private importers are:
- Personal import: a vehicle you have owned and used overseas for at least 12 months, while living overseas, if you have the right to live in Australia permanently.
- Older vehicles: vehicles built more than 25 years ago can use a concessional entry.
- Specialist and enthusiast vehicles: models on the SEV Register, through a Registered Automotive Workshop.
An import approval does not guarantee registration. Check your state's rules before you ship, especially for modified vehicles. Our guide to importing a car to Australia covers the details.
What it costs
- Shipping: ocean freight plus port charges at each end. Published lanes price instantly in the box on this page; anything else is priced by a person, usually the same day.
- Duty: usually 5% of the customs value. Vehicles that qualify as New Zealand origin under the free trade agreement can be duty free with origin evidence.
- GST: 10% of the customs value plus duty plus freight and insurance.
- Luxury car tax: cars only, 33% of the value above the threshold ($80,809 for 2026-27, or $91,661 for fuel-efficient cars). Caravans and motorhomes are not affected.
- Government charges: the import processing charge and a biosecurity charge per entry.
Estimate the government charges with our import duty and GST calculator: choose "NZ to Australia".
Asbestos and biosecurity
Australia bans asbestos in imported vehicles of any age. Older vehicles, and vehicles with replacement brake, clutch or gasket parts from unknown sources, need evidence the parts are asbestos free or that they were replaced. Imported vehicles are also inspected for biosecurity: soil, plant material, insects and animal matter inside or out mean cleaning at the port at your cost. A thorough clean before it ships is cheaper.
General information only, checked against official sources on 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the details for your vehicle when you book.
Get a price now
Live rates for the published lanes. Anything else, we price by email.
- Your cargo
- Your details
- Your price
Not sure it can be imported?
Send us the year, make and model and how long you have owned it. We will tell you which approval route fits before you spend anything.
Ask NickNew Zealand to Australia questions
Do I need an import approval to bring a car or caravan from New Zealand?
Yes. Almost every road vehicle, including caravans and trailers, needs an import approval from the Australian Government before it arrives. Apply first, and only ship once it is granted.
How much duty and GST will I pay bringing a vehicle into Australia?
GST is 10% of the customs value plus duty plus freight and insurance. Duty is usually 5%, but vehicles that qualify as New Zealand origin under the free trade agreement can be duty free with origin evidence. Cars over the threshold also pay luxury car tax. Our import tax calculator gives an estimate.
Which ports do you ship from in New Zealand?
Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Nelson, to Brisbane, Sydney (Port Kembla), Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle.
Can you collect the vehicle and deliver it to my door?
Yes. We can arrange cartage to the NZ port and delivery from the Australian port to your home or compliance workshop. Cartage is quoted when you book.
Does my vehicle need cleaning before it ships?
Yes. Australia inspects imported vehicles, and anything with soil, plant material, insects or animal matter is cleaned at the port at the owner's cost. Clean it thoroughly inside, outside and underneath before it leaves.