Shipping Cars to Australia

PSS International Removals have specialised in shipping cars to Australia for over 30 years and we are proud of our reputation as the UK's first choice for shipping vehicles and Household goods to Australia.

With PSS you have the peace of mind in knowing that your motor car or motor cycle will be handled by professionals. PSS International Removals are fully bonded members of the British Association of Removers (Overseas Group); all our Customers are covered by the BAR Overseas financial protection plan, IMMI (International Movers Mutual Insurance). PSS are also members of FIDI (FIDI Global Alliance); we have also achieved FAIM accreditation which is recognised throughout the world as the highest quality assurance standard for the International removal industry.

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

Car shipping options
Vehicle Import approval
Entry of your Car
Transit cover
Shipping Times & Booking
AQIS (Quarantine)
Arrival

1. Car shipping options to Australia

There are many options available when you are shipping your car to Australia depending on the type of car you are sending and your personal requirements. For this reason, we offer all of our customer's professional guidance and expert advice, from your first contact through to your car arriving in Australia. Your car can be shipped to Australia in its own sealed container or we can consolidate your household effects inside your own sealed shipping container with your car. The recommended types of containers available for moving motor cars to Australia are 20ft containers and 40ft containers.

Option A: CONTAINER AT RESIDENCE (CAR & HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS)

If you wish to combine your household removal and your car inside your own container to Australia, we would professionally pack your household goods, position a container at your residence on your removal day and carefully load, secure and over crate your car inside the container. The remaining space inside the container would be utilised by loading and stowing your professionally packed household effects. Your container will be sealed at your door with a customs type seal, your sole use container would then be returned to the UK port and custom terminal ready for loading on to the vessel for shipment to Australia. (Our quotation will also include Customs documentation and clearance and handout of your motor car at our Australian warehouse)

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

Option B: CONTAINER (Car Only) AT RESIDENCE, PSS WAREHOUSE OR SHIPPING LINE CONTAINER BASE

If you would prefer to have a separate container solely for your car or if your car is the only item you are sending, this can easily be arranged based on your individual requirements. A container can either be positioned at your residence, PSS warehouse or shipping line container depot for loading and securing before being shipped to Australia. (We can provide you with separate quotations for the above options & can include customs clearance and either handout of your motor car at our Australian warehouse or handout at the port terminal)

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

Option C: ROLL ON ROLL OFF or LIFT ON LIFT OFF

This service is only available to some ports in Australia and would entail you delivering your car to the docks. Your car would be driven on to the vessel, parked and secured ready for shipment to Australia.

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

We recommend that you discuss your requirements with one of our Australian motor vehicle consultants and obtain a free no obligation quotation.

2. Import Approval for Motor Cars entering Australia

To avoid delays and potential costs you must obtain import approval by completing an Australian "Vehicle Import Approval application" this must be approved and received back from the Vehicle Safety Standards Department in Australia before you surrender your car to be shipped to Australia. When you are sending your car application for import approval you will be required to enclose additional documentation (See Link) and A$50 processing fee, the processing should take up to 17 days so please allow plenty of time. We can supply you with a "Vehicle Import Approval application" on request or you can print a copy from the below link. Once you have received approval to import your car into Australia we recommend that you keep one copy on your person and supply PSS with an additional copy so that this may accompany the other documents we prepare for Australian Customs.

3. Entry of Motor Cars for Immigrants

If you are intending to ship your car abroad to Australia, you must be a first time immigrant & you must have owned & used your motor car for 12 months or more, before you hand it over for shipment. It is vitally important that you ensure that you have a relevant visa in your passport BEFORE YOU ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA. Upon arrival in Australia you must have in your possession a purchase receipt or proof of purchase, vehicle import approval from the "Road Safety Standards Department". Your vehicle will also be subject to Duty & GST tax at the rates that apply to your type of vehicle.

This will be assessed on the age of your car, year of manufacture, nature of import, visa/citizenship type & fuel emissions. There are two methods of calculating the customs value on which GST & Duty tax is assessed, depending on whether the vehicle was purchased before or after 2nd March 1998 (this is not the age of your vehicle but the purchase date)

More information on Entry of Motor cars for immigrants

4. Transit cover for your motor car to Australia

Every precaution is taken to ensure your car arrives in Australia safely and in the same condition, that it left the UK. Nevertheless, it is advisable to cover your car while it is in transit. We have specifically designed Transit Cover protection for your car which covers major risks of loss or damage. The transit cover is backed by AXA Corporate Solutions Assurance, and is based on the conditions recommended by the British Association of Removers. The protection commences as soon as we take receipt of your motor car at your residence, PSS warehouse or container base. When we take receipt of your car we will complete a car condition report detailing the pre shipment condition of your car.

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

5. Transit Times & booking your Motor car to Australia

We offer regular shipping schedules for cars to Australia and the approximate transit times to Australia are 5-7 weeks, once you have placed a booking for your motor car to be shipped to Australia we will acknowledge your booking and confirm your vessel, sailing date and arrival date in Australia. We also offer you the facility of tracking your shipment online via our website. We will prepare and send your shipping documents so they are ready to be presented to Australian Customs and Quarantine. We will require you to provide us with the following photocopies, Vehicle Import Approval, proof of the length of ownership (copy of your Logbook, purchase invoice, permanent export certificate from the DVLC), passport photo page & copy of your visa.

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

6. Quarantine Inspection & Steam cleaning of cars to Australia

All motor vehicles imported into Australia are required to be clean prior to shipment and will be subject to a Quarantine inspection by AQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service) upon arrival. This is to prevent the entry of diseases, noxious weeds and insect s/ pests into Australia; consequently we recommend that all motor cars are steam cleaned before they are loaded special attention to the underneath of the motor car (wheels, tyres, wheel arches, engine compartment). If it is accepted by Quarantine this should save you time and additional expenses. Unfortunately if Quarantine are not satisfied that the vehicle is in an acceptable condition to be used on the Australian roads they will insist that steam cleaning or fumigation be carried out which will incur additional fees . The fees are assessed locally and are dependant on the condition of your car.

Australia Vehicle Shipping Quote - Nationwide FREE PHONE 0800 988 3711 - Contact us

7. When Your Motor Car Arrives In Australia

When your car arrives into Australia you will be contacted by our Australian office to ensure that we have all of the paperwork required to present to customs & Quarantine in Australia. Once your car has been cleared by Australian customs & Quarantine, we will contact you to discuss your requirements & make reservations to hand over your car.

This information is meant as a guide only and is correct at the time of writing however, PSS cannot accept liability for any inaccuracies in this information and we always advise our clients to check with the appropriate government departments listed on our website.