Shipping a car from Australia means a long sea crossing and a fair bit of cost, so it is natural to wonder whether it is worth it for your car. For some cars it clearly is. Australia built and sold vehicles that never came to the UK, and everything there is right-hand drive, which keeps the work at our end short. These are the cars people most often ask us about.
- Steering
- Right-hand drive
- Time at sea
- About 6 to 10 weeks
- Guide shipping price
- From £3,200, shipping only
- Collection to registration
- 10 to 16 weeks
- Moving home
- Often tax free
The car you already own
A lot of the cars that come to us from Australia are not special at all, in the nicest sense. They belong to people moving to the UK, or moving back, who would rather keep a car they know than sell it and start again. If that is you, the sums can be kinder than you expect.
Lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and owned the car for at least 6, and Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no import VAT and no duty. You apply to HMRC before the car ships. You can also pack some belongings inside the car, as long as you give us a valued inventory for customs.
Holden Commodore, Monaro and HSV
Holden is the name people most associate with Australian cars. Local production ended in 2017, and the big V8 Commodores, Monaros and HSV models are the ones people ask us about. A few of them reached the UK new as Vauxhalls, but most of the range never did.
The newest Australian-built Commodores are still under 10 years old, so they need an IVA test. Older ones take an MOT. Our Holden and HSV import guide goes through each model.
Ford Falcon, XR and FPV
The Falcon was Holden's great rival, and like the Commodore it was built in Australia until 2016. It was never sold new in the UK, which is precisely the appeal. People ask us about everything from classic GT models to the later XR and FPV saloons.
Every Falcon is now around 10 years old or more, so in practice they take an MOT, and a right-hand drive Falcon usually needs little more than a rear fog light. See our Ford Falcon import guide for the detail.
Utes
The car-based ute, a saloon at the front and a load bed at the back, is about as Australian as a vehicle gets. Holden and Ford both built them, including fast HSV, XR and FPV versions. They ship much like a large car.
Australia is also full of the more familiar style of pickup, and people ask about those too. If you are weighing one up, our guide to importing a pickup truck explains how a pickup can be treated once it is here.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Australia is the home of the working 70 series, and the 80, 100 and 200 series are common there too. A right-hand drive Land Cruiser from Australia avoids the headlight work a Gulf car needs, though many have done serious distance off-road, so condition varies. Our Land Cruiser import guide covers every series.
Nissan Patrol
The Patrol is the Land Cruiser's long-standing rival in the outback. Australian Patrols are right-hand drive, and the older Y60 and Y61 models in particular have a loyal following among 4x4 owners. The Nissan Patrol import guide covers the generations and what to check.
Classic cars and motorbikes
My Car Import has shipped plenty of classic cars and motorbikes from Australia, not only everyday cars. Older cars from anywhere are worth checking carefully for rust before you buy.
A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, and one over 40 that has not been substantially changed does not need an MOT. Our guides to importing a classic car and importing a motorbike cover both.
Before you ship any of them
Worth checking first
0 of 7 done
Shipping from Australia
Our partner hauliers collect from anywhere in Australia and take the car to the nearest major port. Most cars travel in a shared container, or you can have a dedicated 20ft container to yourself. The sea crossing takes about 6 to 10 weeks, and from collection to registration you should allow around 10 to 16 weeks.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from Australia starts from £3,200. That is shipping only, and excludes registration, testing, other services, import tax and any work the car needs. Our full guide to shipping a car from Australia covers each step.
If you are not moving home, a car bought in Australia pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty, worked out on the price plus the cost of getting it here. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty.
Making it UK road legal
Australian cars are right-hand drive, so the changes are usually short: a rear fog light if the car does not have one, and an mph speedometer on cars under 10 years old. A car under 10 then takes an IVA test, one between 10 and 40 takes an MOT, and one over 40 needs neither.
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and all of this happens on our own site in Castle Donington. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. The IVA test explained has more.
Questions people ask
What cars do people ship from Australia to the UK?
Often their own car, when they are moving home. Beyond that, people commonly ask us about Holden Commodores and HSVs, Ford Falcons, utes, Land Cruisers, Patrols, classic cars and motorbikes.
Is it worth shipping a car from Australia?
For a car you cannot get here, or one you are bringing home under Transfer of Residence, it often is. As a guide, shipping starts from £3,200, shipping only, and right-hand drive cars need few changes.
Do Australian cars need much work for UK roads?
Usually not. They are right-hand drive, so the common changes are a rear fog light and, on cars under 10 years old, an mph speedometer.
How long does it take to ship a car from Australia?
The sea crossing takes about 6 to 10 weeks. From collection to DVLA registration, allow around 10 to 16 weeks in total.
Can I ship a motorbike from Australia?
Yes. My Car Import ships motorbikes as well as cars from Australia. Tell us about the bike on the quote form.
Thinking about bringing yours over? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from Australia to your drive.
