car shipping to Australia

Car Shipping from Southampton to Australia

Shipping your car to Australia doesn’t have to be stressful. At YFT Logistics, we make the process straight forward, whether you're relocating, selling a vehicle abroad, or moving a classic car. From Southampton, we arrange regular shipments to key Australian ports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle.


We're a trusted UK-based logistics company with years of experience in international vehicle shipping. Our team will guide you through each step, including export paperwork, customs clearance, and biosecurity rules for Australia. We offer both RoRo and container services, depending on your vehicle type and budget.

Importing your car into Australia 

When importing a car, motorhome, caravan or motorcycle into Australia, the first requirement is that you’re an Australian permanent resident or plan to be. For example if you’re in United Kingdom and moving to Australia, they will not give you final import approval until you’re in Australia and have the immigration stamp in your passport.


To qualify for a Personal Import Approval the following restrictions apply:


• Only one car per person.

• Vehicle owners must have long term residency.

• The vehicle must have been owned and used in the overseas country for a minimum period of 12 consecutive months immediately before the applicant(s) arrive in Australia.

• The application must be made within 6 months of the applicant’s arrival in Australia.


You need to apply for an import permit before the car leaves the country at a cost of $50 AUD.


Documentation we need

  • V5 (Licence Document) for your vehicle – we do not need the original.
  • Copy of your Passport Photo page.
  • commercial invoice 
  • We offer a collection service if required.


Preparation for Quarantine inspection 

Before your vehicle is shipped you should make sure that it is well cleaned. On arrival in Australia all vehicles are inspected by the Australian Department for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for ‘cleanliness’. Typical areas that are frequently over looked when cleaning a vehicle for shipment are Wheels and mud flaps. Most customers clean the car there selves as 9 time out of 10 Australian customs will want it cleaned again / fumigated. 

Import tax or GST when importing cars to Australia are the following

The Luxury Car Tax (LCT) is a tax applied by the Australian Government on vehicles that exceed a certain value. It is charged in addition to the standard 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST). As of 2025, the LCT rate is 33%, but it only applies to the portion of the vehicle’s price that exceeds the LCT threshold. For the 2025–26 financial year, the threshold is $80,567 AUD for most vehicles. A higher threshold of $91,387 AUD applies to fuel-efficient cars, which from July 2025 are defined as vehicles with a combined fuel consumption of 3.5 litres per 100 kilometres or less. This is a change from previous years, where the fuel-efficient threshold was 7 litres per 100 kilometres. When importing a vehicle, the customs value used to calculate taxes is often lower than the market price of similar cars in Australia, which can reduce the amount of LCT payable. To get an idea of local market values, websites like autotrader.com.au can be useful. If you need assistance understanding or calculating LCT for your import, we’re here to help guide you through the process.

The Australian Design Rules (ADRs)

If you’re thinking about importing a car into Australia that wasn’t originally made for the local market, be prepared for some hurdles. Unless the vehicle meets strict Australian Design Rules (ADRs)—covering everything from safety and emissions to lighting and noise—it won’t be allowed in without modifications. You’ll need an authorized compliance engineer to certify any changes, which can be costly and time-consuming. There are a few exceptions, like the 25-year rule for classic cars or special permits for personal imports, but generally, the rules are tight. For the latest details, always check the Department of Infrastructure’s website, as regulations can shift. For more information https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/ 

Cleaning the Undercarriage

To safeguard against importation of dangerous pests. The Australian Department of Agriculture requires that the undercarriage of imported cars be free of foreign soil. Have your car steam-sprayed or cleaned thoroughly before shipment.

The customs value applied to a vehicle by an approved assessor is far less than the price of similar vehicles being sold on the Australian market and can be as little as 50% of the Australian ‘market value’. An indication of market values can be found by searching for similar vehicles on websites such as www.autotrader.com.au


If you require more information on this topic please go to Australian Government website.


Get in Touch

To get a free quote for your car shipping to Australia either email us or complete our online quote form. Our team look forward to hearing from you. YFT have access to all the vessels departing from the UK to Australia on a weekly to monthly basis depending on final destination. YFT take great pride in car shipping to Australia.