Car Shipping to Australia
Shipping a car to Australia is one of the more tightly regulated vehicle moves in the world, and getting the sequence right matters more than getting the cheapest freight rate. Australia requires government approval before your vehicle leaves the origin port, enforces one of the strictest asbestos importation bans anywhere, and runs rigorous biosecurity inspections on arrival. Flyto Relocation, a European relocation company established in 2018, arranges car shipping to Australia through our own hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe and a network of vetted freight and destination partners in Australia. We do not own ships or carriers and we do not operate a Flyto office in Australia; instead we coordinate the whole chain end to end so the paperwork, freight method and destination handling line up correctly.
How car shipping to Australia works
The single most important thing to understand is the order of operations. You generally cannot simply put a car on a ship and sort out the rules later. The process runs roughly like this:
- 1. Confirm eligibility and import pathway. Australia limits who can import a vehicle and under which scheme (for example a returning resident’s personal import, or an approved specialist/enthusiast pathway). Eligibility must be established first.
- 2. Obtain a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA). You typically need a VIA issued by the Australian government before the vehicle is shipped. Shipping without approval risks the car being refused entry, held, exported at your cost or destroyed.
- 3. Prepare the car and book freight. Once approval is in hand, we arrange collection in Europe and book sea freight by RoRo or container.
- 4. Ocean transit. Sailing time is roughly 4–8 weeks depending on origin port, routing and transhipment.
- 5. Arrival, biosecurity and customs. The car is inspected for biosecurity risk, cleared through customs, taxed and released.
Because approval comes first, realistic planning horizons are usually measured in months, not days. Build in time for the VIA application before you commit to a sailing.
RoRo vs container shipping
There are two mainstream methods for moving a car by sea. Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) means the vehicle is driven onto a dedicated vehicle deck and secured. Container shipping means the car is loaded into a container, either on its own (sole use) or shared with other cargo (consolidated). Both are legitimate; the right choice depends on the vehicle, budget and how much protection you want.
| Factor | RoRo | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Lower | Higher |
| Protection from weather/handling | Basic | Enclosed, better |
| Personal items inside car | Generally not allowed | Sometimes possible, subject to rules |
| Suits | Standard running vehicles | High-value, classic or non-running vehicles |
| Port availability | Widely available on major routes | Very widely available |
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What it costs to ship and import a car to Australia
There is no single honest fixed price, and you should be cautious of anyone who quotes one sight unseen. The total cost of importing a car to Australia is made up of several moving parts:
- Ocean freight — driven by origin port, method (RoRo is usually cheaper than a sole-use container), vehicle size and season.
- Origin handling and collection — European pickup, terminal handling and export documentation.
- Vehicle Import Approval and compliance — application costs and any modifications or testing required to meet Australian standards.
- Asbestos assurance — where required, testing or documentation to satisfy the import ban (see below).
- Biosecurity cleaning and inspection — steam-cleaning and quarantine inspection fees on arrival.
- Duty, GST and possibly Luxury Car Tax — import duty may apply, GST is generally charged on the taxable value, and higher-value vehicles may attract Luxury Car Tax (LCT).
- Destination handling and registration — port fees, transport to your address and state registration/roadworthy steps.
As a rough market guide, ocean freight alone from Europe to Australia often falls in the low-to-mid four figures (in pounds/euros) for RoRo, with sole-use containers materially higher, but taxes and compliance can add a large further sum, especially on newer or high-value cars. Treat any range as indicative only; a firm quote needs your specific origin, destination port, vehicle details and timing.
The Australian import rules that catch people out
These requirements are the real reason to work with someone who coordinates the full chain. Rules change, and official approval must be confirmed with the relevant Australian authorities before shipping.
Vehicle Import Approval (VIA)
You generally need a VIA before the car is shipped. It confirms the vehicle is permitted to enter and under which scheme. Do not ship on the assumption approval will follow.
Asbestos ban
Australia enforces a strict ban on asbestos importation. Older vehicles can contain asbestos in components such as brake pads, clutch parts and gaskets. You may be required to provide asbestos-free assurance or testing, and non-compliant vehicles can be held at the border.
Biosecurity and steam-cleaning
The car must arrive spotless. Soil, seeds, plant matter, insects or animal residue can trigger a failed biosecurity inspection, mandatory cleaning at your cost, and delays. A thorough professional steam-clean of the underbody, wheel arches and engine bay before shipping is essential.
Taxes: duty, GST and LCT
Import duty may apply depending on the vehicle, GST is generally levied, and Luxury Car Tax can apply above a threshold. These are assessed on arrival and should be budgeted for from the outset.
Personal import eligibility
Bringing your own personal car is possible for some movers, but eligibility rules apply and vary by pathway. Confirm your situation before making plans.
Preparing the car for shipping
- Reduce fuel to a low level as required by the carrier.
- Have the vehicle professionally cleaned inside and out, with particular attention to the underside for biosecurity.
- Remove personal belongings (especially for RoRo), aftermarket loose items and toll tags.
- Document existing condition with dated photographs.
- Check for leaks and a working battery so the car can be driven on and off decks.
Insurance
Standard freight liability is limited, so we recommend arranging dedicated marine transit insurance covering the vehicle’s declared value for the full door-to-port (or door-to-door) journey. We will explain what is and is not covered before you commit.
How Flyto coordinates your car shipment
Flyto acts as your single point of coordination. From our European hubs we arrange collection of the vehicle, export documentation and the sea freight booking (RoRo or container) with vetted freight partners. We help you understand the VIA, asbestos and biosecurity requirements so the paperwork is completed in the right order, and our vetted destination partners in Australia manage arrival handling, inspection support and onward delivery. Because Australia is served through our partner network rather than a Flyto-owned office, you get local expertise on the ground combined with a European team accountable for the whole move.
Ready to move your vehicle down under? Get a car shipping quote and our advisors will map out the approval steps, choose the right freight method for your car and give you a realistic all-in cost estimate based on your specific origin, destination and vehicle. Rules and taxes change, so we will always point you to current official requirements before anything ships.