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.
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth)
Ports
Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne +2
Starting From
£1,800
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.
Shared Container Shipping to Australia
For enclosed protection at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated container, our shared container shipping service consolidates two to four UK vehicles bound for Australia into a single sealed 40ft high-cube container. Typically 25–35% cheaper than a dedicated container, with marine all-risks insurance, professional racking and personal-effects allowance included. See the full shared container shipping page for routes, prices and sailing schedules to Australia.
Explore shared container shippingTransit 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
RORO from £1,800–£2,500 to Fremantle, £2,000–£2,800 to East Coast. Container from £2,800–£4,000. 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?
Shared Container Shipping to Australia — FAQs
Common questions about shared container shipping to Australia from the United Kingdom.
Do you offer shared container shipping to Australia?
How much cheaper is shared container shipping to Australia than a dedicated container?
Can I put personal effects in the car when shipping to Australia by shared container?
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.
Shared container to Australia
Two to four UK vehicles consolidated into a sealed 40ft container — typically 25–35% cheaper than a sole-use container. Shared container shipping to Australia — get a shared container cost estimate.
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 consolidated shared container departures from the UK. For sole-use loads we 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
Request a free quote online for live sailing dates, indicative landed cost and document checks on the Australia corridor. Online quotes are typically answered the same working day.
Which Shipping Method Is Best for Australia?
Both roll-on/roll-off and container services run on the UK to Australia lane. RoRo suits standard running vehicles, while container shipping is the choice for higher-value, modified or non-running cars.
| Method | Best for | Main advantage | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoRo | Standard, road-legal running vehicles | Usually the lowest cost to Fremantle (Perth) | Vehicle must drive on and off; no personal effects |
| Dedicated container | Classic, luxury, modified or non-running vehicles | Fully enclosed and sealed for the whole voyage | Higher cost than a shared space |
| Shared container | Cost-conscious shipments to Australia | Container costs split across several vehicles | Sailing waits for the container to fill |
Compare in detail on our RoRo vehicle shipping, container car shipping and shared container service pages.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Australia?
RORO from £1,800–£2,500 to Fremantle, £2,000–£2,800 to East Coast. Container from £2,800–£4,000. Import duty 5%. GST 10%. LCT 33% on vehicles over $76,950 AUD threshold.
Your final figure for Australia depends on the vehicle's size and weight, the shipping method chosen, where in the UK the car is collected, the loading port and sailing availability, marine insurance cover, and the duties, taxes and terminal charges applied on arrival. We quote the freight and UK export side as a fixed price and set out the destination charges you should budget for separately, rather than guessing at them.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Australia?
Ocean transit on this route is normally 35–42 days to Fremantle (Perth). 38–45 days to Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane from Southampton. Add time either side for UK collection and loading, and for customs clearance and release at Fremantle (Perth).
- •Vessel sailing frequency on the lane
- •Direct call or transhipment routing
- •Chosen shipping method
- •UK collection and port cut-off times
- •Destination customs and inspection
- •Seasonal port congestion
Current departures are listed on our sailing schedule.
Ports for Car Shipping to Australia
Vehicles for Australia discharge at Fremantle (Perth), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. Once landed, the car is held in the terminal's vehicle compound while customs clearance, any inspection and duty payment are completed. We can release the vehicle to you at the port or arrange onward transport inland.
- Port of Melbourne, Melbourne — vehicle handling and clearance
- Port Botany, Sydney, Sydney — vehicle handling and clearance
Browse every terminal we work with on the international ports directory.
How to Ship a Car from the UK to Australia
- 1Request a quote for shipping your vehicle from the UK to Australia, giving the make, model, condition and your collection postcode.
- 2Confirm the shipping method — RoRo or container — and the sailing that suits your timeline.
- 3Book UK collection, or deliver the vehicle to the loading port yourself.
- 4Send us your V5C, photo ID and purchase or valuation paperwork so the export entry can be raised.
- 5We complete HMRC export formalities and hand the vehicle over to the terminal.
- 6The vehicle is loaded and sails to Fremantle (Perth).
- 7On arrival, Australia customs clearance and any inspection or duty payment is completed.
- 8You or your agent collect the vehicle, or we arrange onward delivery.
See the full documents checklist and our UK vehicle export guide.
Vehicles We Ship from the UK to Australia
Destination paperwork and duty handling is covered by our customs clearance service, and trade shipments by our vehicle export team.
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