Importing a car from Australia to the UK

Are you looking to import your Australian vehicle into the United Kingdom?

We can handle the whole process of importing your car from Australia, including the export, shipping, customs clearance, UK inland trucking, compliance testing and DVLA registration. We handle the whole process, saving you time, hassle and unforeseen costs.

Why choose us to import your vehicle from Australia?

Shipping (Ocean freight)

For vehicles from Australia, we can handle the shipping on your behalf. This includes the scheduling of your vehicles ocean-freight, loading, and unloading.

Customs clearance (NOVA)

The customs clearance process and paperwork required to clear your vehicle are handled by ourselves to ensure your vehicle does not incur any additional storage fees.

Logistics (Road freight)

During every stage of the importation of the vehicle, we are on hand to arrange all of the relevant inland logistics on your behalf to ensure there are no delays.

Modification & testing

The vehicle is modified and tested by ourselves for compliance in the United Kingdom. After which all relevant testing is undertaken onsite at our privately owned IVA testing lane.

Registration application`

Once your Australian vehicle is compliant we take care of all the paperwork required to register your vehicle in the United Kingdom and the vehicle can be collected or delivered.

Getting your vehicle to the United Kingdom

From years of importing cars from Australia to the UK, we have carefully selected car shipping specialists who operate out of all the major ports in Australia to handle our client’s cars.

We offer complimentary collection within the city limits of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth but can add a quote to collect your vehicle from further afield in Australia at your request.

We typically ship the vehicles using shared containers, this allows you to benefit from a reduced rate for importing your vehicle to the UK due to sharing the cost of the container with other cars we are importing on behalf of clients.

Container shipment is a safe and secure way to import your vehicle into the UK and is often the most cost-effective. If you would like a dedicated 20ft container for your vehicle then please ask, as we also supply this for our clients.

How much tax will you need to pay to import your Australian vehicle into the UK?

When importing a vehicle from Australia, there are four different ways to clear customs in the UK, depending on the vehicles origin, age and your circumstances:

If you import a vehicle manufactured outside the EU, you will be charged 20% VAT and 10% duty.
On the other hand, If you import a vehicle manufactured inside the EU, you must pay 20% VAT and £50 duty.
If you import a vehicle that is more than 30 years old and has not been extensively modified, you will only be charged 5% VAT.

Are you moving back as a transferring resident to the United Kingdom? If you have owned the vehicle for over six months and have proof of residency in Australia stretching back 12 months – then your import will in most cases not be subject to import duties and taxes.

For vehicles that are under ten years old, on arrival in the UK, your vehicle will need to comply with UK type approval.

We do this using an IVA test. We have the only privately operated IVA testing facility in the UK, meaning your vehicle will not be waiting for a testing slot at a government testing centre, which can take weeks, if not months to obtain. We IVA test every week on-site and therefore have the fastest turnaround to get your car registered and on UK roads.

Every car is different and every manufacturer has different support standards for assisting their clients through the import process, so please get a quote so we can discuss the optimum speed and cost option for your circumstances.

We manage the whole process on your behalf, whether that is dealing with the homologation team of your vehicle’s manufacturer or the Department for Transport, so you can relax in the knowledge that you will be legally registered with the DVLA in the shortest time possible.

Australian cars may require some modifications, including the speedo to display an MPH reading and the rear fog light positioning if it is not already universally compliant.

We have built an extensive catalogue of the makes and models of vehicles we have imported so can give you an accurate estimate of what your car will require to be ready for its IVA test.

Vehicles over ten years old

Cars over 10 years old are type approval exempt but still require a safety test, called an MOT, and similar modifications to an IVA test prior to registration. The modifications depend on the age but are generally to the rear fog light.

If your vehicle is over 40 years old it does not need an MOT test and can be delivered directly to your UK address ahead of it being registered.

Moving back to the UK

Are you a transferring resident from Australia?

A large number of individuals decide to bring their vehicles back from Australia taking advantage of the tax-free incentives offered when relocating.

We can assist in taking care of the vehicle whilst you are in the process of moving. If you have chosen to ship your personal belongings along with your vehicle in the same container we are also on hand to collect the vehicle on your behalf.

With a dedicated in house TOR expert, we can help with your application for a transfer of residency should you have any issues.

Worrying about getting your vehicle registered is something we want to be an easy process for you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch regarding any queries about the TOR process.

To find out more about the Transfer of Residence relief check out the link below!

Transfer of Residence

TYPES OF VEHICLES

THAT WE WORK WITH

GET A QUOTE HERE