Importing a Car to Australia from the UK: Rules, Duty and RAWS

Australia regulates vehicle imports through the Road Vehicle Standards Act, administered by the Department of Infrastructure, and every vehicle must be imported under one of a defined set of approval categories before it can even be shipped, let alone registered. For most private UK exporters, the relevant routes are the Personal Import Scheme (for Australians who have owned and used the vehicle overseas for at least 12 months), the Register of Approved Vehicle Automotive Standards (RAWS) used by registered workshops importing eligible used vehicles, or the concessional Vehicle Import Approval available for vehicles over 25 years old that qualify as classic or historic vehicles.

The 25-year exemption is particularly relevant for UK classic car owners, since vehicles manufactured more than 25 years before the date of import are generally exempt from full compliance with Australian Design Rules, provided they retain their original features and are not substantially modified. This has made Australia a strong market for British classics, from MGs and Triumphs to older Jaguars and Land Rovers.

For modern used vehicles outside the 25-year exemption, options are much more limited, and buyers should confirm eligibility with a RAWS-registered workshop before purchase, since a vehicle that doesn't fit a recognised category simply cannot be legally imported into Australia.

Before shipping, you must obtain a Vehicle Import Approval from the Australian Government's Road Vehicle Standards portal. This is a legal prerequisite — shipping lines and Australian customs will not release a vehicle without evidence of an approved import permit, and applying without one risks the vehicle being denied entry or ordered for re-export at the owner's cost.

Applications require the vehicle's full specification, VIN, evidence of the exemption category being claimed (for example, proof of build date for the 25-year exemption), and the applicable fee, which varies depending on the approval type. Processing times can range from a couple of weeks to over a month, so this should be one of the very first steps taken once you've identified a vehicle for export, well before booking a shipping slot.

Australia's biosecurity regime is among the strictest in the world, and every imported vehicle undergoes inspection by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on arrival. Inspectors check the vehicle thoroughly for soil, plant material, insects and other contaminants in the engine bay, wheel arches, underbody, and interior — even small amounts of dried mud in the tyre tread can trigger a mandatory cleaning order at the importer's expense.

Because of this, we strongly recommend having the vehicle professionally steam-cleaned, undersealed areas degreased, and the interior vacuumed thoroughly before shipping. Any camping, gardening or agricultural equipment left in the car will almost certainly cause a quarantine hold. Vehicles that fail inspection are held pending re-cleaning, and repeated failures can result in the vehicle being destroyed or re-exported, so this step should not be underestimated.

Imported vehicles are subject to a 5% customs duty on the customs value (this can be reduced or eliminated for UK-manufactured vehicles under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, subject to rules of origin), plus 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) calculated on the vehicle's value, duty, and shipping/insurance costs combined. Vehicles above the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold — a figure updated annually by the Australian Taxation Office — attract an additional 33% tax on the value above that threshold, which can significantly increase costs for higher-value or performance vehicles.

Given the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2023, it's worth checking whether your specific vehicle qualifies for preferential duty treatment, as this can represent a meaningful saving, particularly on vehicles genuinely manufactured in the UK.

Once cleared through customs and quarantine, vehicles imported outside the 25-year exemption generally need compliance modifications and a compliance plate fitted by a RAWS workshop before state-level registration can occur. Classic vehicles under the 25-year exemption still need to pass a roadworthy inspection in the state of registration (requirements vary between states such as NSW, Victoria and Queensland).

We ship regularly to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle, and our team can advise on which import category applies to your vehicle, help arrange pre-shipment cleaning to reduce quarantine risk, and coordinate timing so the vehicle arrives only once your Import Approval is confirmed.