Última actualización: 22 de octubre de 2026
You can ship a car from the UK to Australia, but you must get Australian import approval before it leaves, have it thoroughly cleaned, and make sure it contains no asbestos. Once those boxes are ticked, the car travels by ro-ro ship or in a container on a voyage of several weeks. Here is how the process works.
Australia requires an import approval for almost every road vehicle, issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Australian Border Force advises not to arrange shipping until you hold an approval, and it is an offence to import a road vehicle without one. A complete application is generally assessed within about 30 working days.
Importing asbestos into Australia is prohibited. Some older cars contain asbestos in brake pads, gaskets or clutches. Make sure the vehicle is asbestos-free before shipping. If Border Force considers your car at risk, you may need to provide assurances or pay for it to be held, sampled and tested.
Australia’s biosecurity rules are strict. Your car must arrive clean and free of soil, plant material, seeds and insects, including underneath, in the wheel arches, engine bay and boot. Biosecurity officers inspect vehicles on arrival, and you pay the inspection charges. Many owners pay for a professional steam clean before shipping to avoid extra cleaning costs in Australia.
| Ro-ro (roll-on, roll-off) | Contenedor | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Car is driven onto a vehicle-carrying ship | Car is loaded into a 20 ft or 40 ft container |
| Personal items | Generally not allowed in the car | Possible, subject to the rules |
| Protection | Inside the ship, but handled by port staff | Sealed in its own container |
| Coste | Often cheaper | Usually more, unless sharing a container |
| Ideal para | Standard cars | Classic cars, valuable cars, moves with belongings |
The voyage from the UK to Australia takes roughly 5 to 7 weeks depending on the route, ports and transhipment, plus time for customs clearance and biosecurity inspection on arrival.
When the car arrives, Australian Border Force may charge customs duty, GST of generally 10% of the taxable value, and Luxury Car Tax on vehicles above a set threshold, at 33% on the amount above it. Border Force issues an outstanding payment advice when your import declaration is processed, and the car is not released until the approval is shown and charges are paid. Check current rules and any exemptions for your situation.
If you are emigrating, you may want to travel by sea too. Some cargo ships on the UK–Australia route carry passengers, so you can sail on a container ship while your car is shipped. Ask us about combining passage and vehicle shipping.
Yes, once you have Australian vehicle import approval, the car is asbestos-free and it is cleaned to biosecurity standards.
Yes. Australian Border Force advises getting import approval before you arrange shipping, and importing without one is an offence.
Roughly 5–7 weeks at sea, plus clearance and inspection time on arrival.
Ro-ro is often cheaper for standard cars; containers give more protection and suit classic or valuable cars.
Possibly customs duty, GST of generally 10% and Luxury Car Tax above a threshold, depending on the vehicle and your circumstances.
Ask us about sailing to Australia yourself and shipping your car or belongings on the same route.
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