Shipping from the USA to Australia

There are several different permits to consider when shipping your vehicle to Australia. The new “rolling 25 year rule” allows vehicles that are 25 years or older to be imported simply by meeting basic safety requirements. Another aspect of this law allows vehicles that have been purchased and used overseas for at least one year to be available for import as well. Instead, the Personal Import Option allows vehicles that have been owned for at least 12 months to be available for import. Applicants may only import one vehicle every 5 years under this option. This import options listing provides the full list of all categories.

To apply for vehicle import approval, register online with the Department of Infrastructure here. The US export requirements include the original title, copy of bill of sale, and passport or EIN. Australian import requirements include the copy of the bill of sale and a copy of the registration certificate or vehicle title.

Imported vehicles that meet the requirements for temporary imports according to the Australian Government, including exporting within the approved time limit, can use foreign number plates without Australian registration or taxation. Other vehicles for more permanent importation may fall into different duty and tax bracket requirements based on vehicle age, type, and cost.

Transit times will vary depending on factors including departure and arrival port locations, but generally the entire process takes about 30-50 days. You should also budget additional time for clearing customs and unloading the transport vessel.To estimate your cost for shipping your car to Australia, get in touch through a free quote request and we’ll reach back out to you quickly.

The Australian Border Force requires vehicle approval demonstrating compliance with environmental and safety regulations as well as thorough inspections. Trans Global has the only approved offshore cleaning facility by the Australian government in the US. Our West Coast facility enables us to offer “guaranteed pre-cleaning” that meets the Australian Biosecurity requirements for vehicles.

Vehicles brought into Australia permanently must be registered. You will need to apply to register the vehicle in the relevant state or territory under the State Road and Transport Authorities.

For departures, Trans Global can use any US port. The most popular Australian entry ports include Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Fremantle. If you’re ready to start shipping your car from the USA to Australia, Trans Global can help get your car where you need it to be.

Trans Global offers several international shipping methods to our customers. Air freight offers the fastest, most expensive shipping available. Our sea transportation options are more common, which include Roll On Roll Off (RORO) for open shared transport like a floating parking garage, shared container shipping for a communal transport service that is more closed to the air, dedicated container shipping for private shipment.

Each transport option has its own benefits and requirements — we’ll help you find your best fit for shipping your car from the USA to Australia. With any of these transport options, you need to prepare your vehicle before shipping overseas, including cleaning, license plate removal, and ensuring less than a quarter tank of fuel.