Car Shipping to Australia
from the United Kingdom
Australia is a top destination for UK vehicle exports, particularly classic cars and specialist vehicles. The Ship Cars provides bi-weekly RORO services to Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Australia from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Australia costs from £1,795 port-to-port for a standard saloon (4x4/SUV from £2,525). 35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth). Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney and 1 more port. The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Shipping to Australia: cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Information reviewed September 2026. Always confirm final rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to Australia
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane in about 35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth). RORO: £1,795. Container: Enquire (20ft container).
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to Australia
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth).
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check Australia age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to Australia
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Australia, inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
Australia vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- Australia has strict import rules managed by the Department of Infrastructure.
- Vehicles must be over 25 years old for personal import under the pre-1989 scheme.
- Newer vehicles require SEVS (Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme) approval or RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) compliance.
- Import duty 5%.
- GST 10%.
- LCT (Luxury Car Tax) may apply.
Documents required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Vehicle Import Approval (VIA)
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Compliance plate or RAW workshop report
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Australia & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to Australia?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Australia, usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth)
Ports
Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne +2
Starting From
£1,795
Overview
Australia is a top destination for UK vehicle exports, particularly classic cars and specialist vehicles. The Ship Cars provides bi-weekly RORO services to Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Shipping Methods
RORO to all major Australian ports with bi-weekly sailings. Container shipping for enclosed protection. RORO is most popular for running vehicles.
Transit Time
35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth). 38–45 days to Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane from Southampton.
Import Regulations
Australia has strict import rules managed by the Department of Infrastructure. Vehicles must be over 25 years old for personal import under the pre-1989 scheme. Newer vehicles require SEVS (Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme) approval or RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) compliance. Import duty 5%. GST 10%. LCT (Luxury Car Tax) may apply.
Documents Required
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Vehicle Import Approval (VIA)
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Compliance plate or RAW workshop report
Costs & Fees
| Saloon vehicle — RORO | £1,795 |
| 4x4 / SUV — RORO | £2,525 |
| Container | Enquire (20ft container) |
| 2 cars (saloon / 4x4) — 40ft container | Enquire |
Port-to-port only. UK collection, destination charges and import duty are quoted separately.
RORO shipping to Australia (Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney) is £1,795 port-to-port for a saloon and £2,525 for a 4x4 / SUV. Import duty 5%. GST 10%. LCT 33% on vehicles over $76,950 AUD threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import any car to Australia?
Does Australia accept right-hand drive vehicles?
What is the SEVS scheme?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Australia?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Australia?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Australia?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Australia?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Australia?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Australia from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Australia every month. Oceania is one of the most rewarding long-haul corridors for UK exporters thanks to the natural fit of right-hand-drive vehicles, established personal-import schemes and strict compliance frameworks. Container shipping to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle and Auckland is the standard route. Typical clients on this lane include RAWS-registered Australian importers, alongside private owners relocating to Australia and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Australia corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Australia customs.
Vehicles depart from Felixstowe, Southampton, Bristol (Portbury) and arrive at Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney and 1 more port via Cape routing for oversize and project cargo. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 35–42 days to fremantle (perth), supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to Australia car shipping works
Every shipment to Australia follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Felixstowe, bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Fremantle (Perth) (and onward feeder to Melbourne where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to Australia.
RORO to Australia
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Australia. Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Fremantle (Perth). RORO shipping to Australia — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Australia
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Melbourne. Dedicated container shipping to Australia.
Australia ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Australia are typically routed through Fremantle (Perth) as the lead discharge port, with Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Australia and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Fremantle (Perth)
- Port of Melbourne
- Port of Sydney
- Port of Brisbane
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Australia import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Australia is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Australia customs schedule before quoting.
- Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) and Asbestos Declaration in Australia
- Border Inspection (MPI) and entry certification in New Zealand
- RAWS, SEVS and personal-import compliance pathways
- Container shipping to Melbourne, Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland
Document checklist for Australia
- V5C registration
- Passport
- Vehicle Import Approval (VIA)
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Compliance plate or RAW workshop report
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Australia import guides and articles, our UK and Australia customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Fremantle (Perth).
Who ships to Australia
- • Returning Australia residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Australia
- • Oceania car dealers and Australia re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Australia
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for Australia
• Specialist UK-to-Australia corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to Australia pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Fremantle (Perth) agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
Related services and tools for shipping to Australia
Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
Guides & comparisons
Other Oceania destinations from the UK
We ship to 2+ other Oceania countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Australia. Many customers shipping to Australia also enquire about New Zealand because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Australia
Use our online quote form for Australia sailing dates, indicative landed cost and document checks. Quotes are typically answered the same working day.