Car shipping from Australia To UK

Shipping a car from Australia to the UK costs from around £1,450 for RoRo or £2,200 for a shared container, port-to-port. Vehicles depart from Fremantle, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Sydney and arrive at Southampton. Transit time runs 45–55 days port-to-port depending on route and method. Door-to-door, including UK customs clearance and delivery, typically takes 8–12 weeks from loading date.

Two Ways to Ship Your Car from Australia

Unlike some routes where only one method is available, the Australia-to-UK lane supports both Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping. Which one you choose depends on your budget, the value of your vehicle, and how much protection you want during the voyage.

RoRo — The Most Cost-Effective Option

RoRo is exactly what it sounds like. Your vehicle is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier vessel at the Australian port, secured on a vehicle deck, and rolled off at the UK port on arrival. It is the same method used to ship brand-new cars from manufacturers worldwide, and it is the most affordable way to get a standard vehicle from Australia to the UK.

RoRo is well-suited to modern, drivable vehicles in good condition. The vehicle must be able to drive on and off the vessel, and the fuel tank must be no more than a quarter full at the point of loading. Personal items cannot be left inside the car.

Starting from around £1,450 port-to-port for a standard saloon, RoRo offers regular sailings from Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, and Port Kembla. Transit to UK ports typically runs 35–55 days depending on the specific vessel and routing.

Container Shipping — Maximum Protection

A container shipment places your vehicle inside a sealed steel box for the entire voyage. This is the preferred option for classic cars, high-value vehicles, right-hand drive vehicles destined for a collector, or anyone who simply wants their car completely enclosed throughout the journey.

You have two container options:

• Shared Container (LCL): Your vehicle shares space in a 20ft or 40ft container with other cargo. This is the most budget-friendly container option, starting from around £2,200 for a standard saloon from Melbourne or Fremantle. The vehicle is professionally blocked and braced to prevent movement throughout the voyage.

• Dedicated 20ft Container: Your car is the only thing in the box. This offers complete peace of mind and suits high-value or classic vehicles where you want zero risk of contact damage. Pricing for a dedicated 20ft container on the Australia-to-UK route starts from approximately £3,200.

Both options are available from all major Australian ports. Speak to our team for a tailored quote based on your vehicle and location.

Australian Departure Ports

Ship Cars Ltd arranges collection from anywhere in Australia and transport to the most suitable departure port. The main ports for vehicle exports heading to the UK are:

• Fremantle (Perth, Western Australia) — the primary west coast export port, well-served by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Höegh Autoliners on RoRo sailings

• Melbourne (Victoria) — the busiest port in Australia for vehicle exports, with frequent RoRo and container departures to the UK

• Brisbane (Queensland) — strong RoRo and container connectivity, particularly for vehicles originating in Queensland and New South Wales

• Sydney / Port Kembla (New South Wales) — a solid option for Sydney-based customers, with shared container sailings available on request

• Adelaide (South Australia) — regular shared container sailings, particularly well-suited for classic and vintage vehicles from the region

If you are based inland or in a regional area, we can arrange inland transport to your nearest suitable port as part of a door-to-port or door-to-door service.

UK Arrival Ports

Vehicles from Australia arrive most commonly at:

• Felixstowe — the UK’s largest container port, handling the majority of Australia-origin container shipments

• Southampton — the primary RoRo arrival port in the UK for Australian vehicles; vessels operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Höegh discharge here regularly

We arrange customs clearance and onward road transport from either port to any UK delivery address.

Transit Times: What to Plan For

Current transit times on the Australia-to-UK route run as follows:

• Melbourne to Felixstowe / Southampton (RoRo): approximately 35–55 days port-to-port

• Brisbane to Southampton (RoRo): approximately 40–55 days port-to-port

• Fremantle to Felixstowe (Container): approximately 38–49 days port-to-port

• Adelaide to Southampton (Container): approximately 41–55 days port-to-port

These are real-world estimates based on current carrier schedules. Add UK customs clearance, DVSA processing where applicable, and onward delivery, and the realistic door-to-door timeline is 8–12 weeks. Book early, particularly if you are relocating and need the vehicle for a specific date.

Australian Biosecurity: One Thing Many People Miss

Before your vehicle leaves Australia, it must pass a DAWR (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Resources) biosecurity inspection. This is an Australian government requirement and applies to all vehicles being permanently exported. Inspectors check for soil, plant material, seeds, and any biological contamination that could breach Australian biosecurity laws on departure.

The vehicle must be clean — undercarriage, wheel arches, engine bay, and interior — before it is presented for inspection. Our team will advise you on exactly what is required and can recommend professional vehicle cleaning services local to your port if needed. Failing a biosecurity inspection adds delay and cost, so getting this right first time matters.

UK Import Duties and Taxes

Shipping a vehicle from Australia to the UK means you are importing from outside the UK, and standard UK import taxes apply. There is no preferential trade arrangement between Australia and the UK that removes vehicle import duty.

• Import duty: 10% on the vehicle’s customs value (purchase price plus shipping and insurance costs — the CIF value)
• VAT: 20% on the total CIF value plus import duty

As an example, a vehicle purchased for £8,000 with shipping and insurance of £2,000 would have a CIF value of £10,000. Import duty would be £1,000 (10%), and VAT would be charged on £11,000 at 20% — totalling £2,200 in VAT. Combined taxes: approximately £3,200 before IVA and registration costs.

Transfer of Residence Relief: If you have lived in Australia for at least 12 months and have owned the vehicle for at least 6 months before the date of return, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence Relief — removing both import duty and VAT entirely. Our team can assess your eligibility and help you prepare the correct documentation before the vehicle ships.

Vehicles over 30 years old may qualify for 0% import duty and a reduced VAT rate of just 5%, subject to HMRC’s conditions for historic vehicles.

IVA — What Australian Vehicles Need

Australian-specification vehicles are built to right-hand drive and share many similarities with UK-market cars. However, they are not type-approved under UK or EU regulations, which means most will require an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test from the DVSA before they can be registered on UK roads.

The DVSA IVA inspection fee is £457 in 2026. Depending on the vehicle, modifications may be required — common examples include speedometer conversion to mph, adjustment of headlight beam pattern, and fitting of a rear fog light. Modification costs typically range from £500 to £3,000 depending on the vehicle and what is needed.

Vehicles over 10 years old may be exempt from IVA under certain conditions — contact our team to discuss your specific vehicle before you ship.

Required Documents for UK Customs Clearance

To clear your Australian vehicle through UK customs and register it with the DVLA, you will need:

• Original Australian vehicle registration certificate

• Bill of lading (issued by the shipping line)

• Commercial invoice or proof of purchase

• Packing list

• Marine insurance certificate

• NOVA declaration submitted to HMRC within 14 days of arrival

• IVA certificate from the DVSA (where applicable)

• Proof of identity and UK address

Our documentation team handles the majority of this on your behalf. Nothing gets missed.

How Ship Cars Ltd Can Help

At Ship Cars Ltd, we handle Australia-to-UK vehicle shipments on a regular basis. We know the biosecurity requirements, the paperwork, the port procedures, and the UK customs process from end to end.

Here is what we take care of:

• Collection from any Australian address and transport to the nearest appropriate port

• Booking confirmed sailings with carriers including Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Höegh Autoliners, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd

• Professional loading, blocking, and bracing for container shipments

• Full documentation preparation — bill of lading, packing lists, customs entries

• UK customs clearance through our registered agents

• NOVA registration support with HMRC

• DVSA IVA booking guidance where required

• Onward delivery to any UK address after port release

We are straightforward about timelines, costs, and what the taxes will look like before you commit. No hidden fees, no vague estimates. You will know exactly what you are paying for from the first conversation.

Contact Ship Cars Ltd for a personalised Australia-to-UK shipping quote.

Real Customer Examples

A customer relocating from Melbourne to Manchester used Ship Cars Ltd to ship her Toyota Land Cruiser in a dedicated 20ft container via Melbourne to Felixstowe. She qualified for Transfer of Residence Relief, saving over £4,000 in duty and VAT. The vehicle arrived on schedule and cleared customs within the quoted timeframe, with IVA booked and passed on the first attempt.

A classic car enthusiast in Brisbane shipped a 1978 Ford Falcon to a collector in the Midlands via shared container. The vehicle was cleaned, inspected, and cleared Australian biosecurity without issue. It arrived at Felixstowe in 47 days and qualified for the reduced 5% VAT rate as a historic vehicle — a saving the customer had not initially been aware of until our team flagged it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ship a right-hand drive Australian car to the UK?

Yes — Australia is a right-hand drive country, so most vehicles are already on the correct side for UK roads. You will still need to meet UK safety standards through the IVA process unless your vehicle is over 10 years old and qualifies for an exemption.

Is RoRo or container better for shipping from Australia to the UK?

For standard, modern vehicles in good condition, RoRo is the more cost-effective choice. For classic cars, high-value vehicles, or any car you want fully enclosed throughout the voyage, a dedicated container is the safer option.

Can I put personal items in the vehicle?

On RoRo shipments, no — the car must be empty. On container shipments, personal effects can sometimes be included alongside or inside the vehicle, subject to customs declarations. Speak to our team about what is permitted for your specific shipment.

What happens at the Australian port before loading?

The vehicle undergoes a DAWR biosecurity inspection. It must be thoroughly clean — inside and out, including the undercarriage and engine bay. Our team will guide you through preparation requirements so there are no surprises on the day.

How long does Transfer of Residence Relief take to arrange?

The documentation process can be started before the vehicle ships, which speeds up the customs clearance process considerably on the UK side. Contact us early so we can prepare everything in advance.

All transit times and cost estimates are indicative and subject to carrier schedules, port conditions, and customs processing. Contact Ship Cars Ltd for a current, tailored quote.