Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Australia
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, Los Angeles / Long Beach, and other ports to Sydney, Melbourne, and other ports in 16–48 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $2,800.
American muscle cars, classics, boats, and RVs to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Fremantle. We navigate ROVER approvals and the 25-year classic concession — the paperwork that makes or breaks this lane.
Australia at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $2,800+
- Ocean transit
- 16–25 days (West Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Fremantle
- Import duty + VAT
- 5% + 10% GST (+ LCT)
- Classics 25+ yrs
- Importable — LHD OK in most states
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Australia: What You Need to Know
Australia drives on the right-hand-drive side and gates every vehicle import through ROVER, the federal approval system — there is no shipping first and asking later. The good news: vehicles 25 years and older qualify for the classic concession, and most states will register left-hand-drive classics with conditions, which is exactly why American muscle cars, vintage pickups, and Broncos are among the most shipped U.S. vehicles to Australia. Sydney's Port Botany and Melbourne lead arrivals, with Brisbane and Fremantle covering Queensland and the west.
Costs are friendlier than the paperwork suggests: 5% import duty, 10% GST on the landed value, and Luxury Car Tax only above the threshold — irrelevant for most classics. Vehicles 30+ years old drop to 0% duty. Beyond cars, Australia is one of our strongest boat and RV lanes, and mining-sector machinery moves steadily into Fremantle. West Coast departures reach Sydney in as little as 16 days; every unit must arrive spotless for Australia's strict biosecurity inspection.
Key takeaway
Secure ROVER approval before the vehicle ships — we file it with your booking. Classics 25+ years are the sweet spot: importable, LHD-friendly in most states, 5% duty (0% at 30+ years) + 10% GST, and LCT rarely applies. West Coast transit from 16 days.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Australia
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Sydney (Port Botany) | 16–22 days | Weekly |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | Melbourne | 18–25 days | Weekly |
| Oakland, CA | Brisbane | 19–26 days | Bi-weekly |
| New York / New Jersey | Sydney (Port Botany) | 32–42 days | Bi-weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Sydney (Port Botany) | 34–44 days | Bi-weekly |
| Houston, TX | Fremantle | 38–48 days | Monthly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Australia from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to Australia, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches Australia fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to Australia
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | $2,800 – $3,800 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $3,800 – $5,200 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $5,000 – $7,000 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | $3,000 – $4,500 | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentAustralia Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars (ROVER approved) | 5% | 10% GST | Approval required before shipping |
| Classic cars (25+ yrs) | 5% | 10% GST | 0% duty at 30+ years |
| Luxury vehicles (above threshold) | 5% | 10% GST + LCT 33% | LCT on value above threshold |
| Boats & yachts | 5% | 10% GST | 0% possible under AUSFTA |
| Heavy machinery | 0–5% | 10% GST | Strict biosecurity cleaning required |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Hunting a 25+ year American classic?
The older-than-25-years ROVER concession is the cleanest path into Australia: no compliance workshop conversion, LHD registrable in most states under club or conditional schemes, and 0% duty once the vehicle passes 30 years. We file ROVER, arrange the pre-shipment steam clean, and book the fastest West Coast sailing.
What We Ship to Australia
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into Australia's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for Australia.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to Australia.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Australia
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → Australia Routes
Los Angeles / Long Beach → Sydney (Port Botany)
16–22 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Los Angeles / Long Beach → Melbourne
18–25 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Oakland, CA → Brisbane
19–26 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Sydney (Port Botany)
34–44 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Australia Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
16–25 days (West Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Fremantle.
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to Australia. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
ROVER is Australia's federal vehicle import approval system, and yes — you must have approval before the vehicle ships. There is no shipping first and asking later; an unapproved car can be refused entry. We file the ROVER application with your booking so the approval is in hand before the vessel sails. Getting this paperwork right is what makes or breaks the Australia lane.
Yes, and it's the sweet spot of the whole lane. Vehicles 25 years and older qualify for the classic concession, and most states will register left-hand-drive classics under club or conditional schemes — no compliance-workshop conversion needed. That's exactly why American muscle cars, vintage pickups, and Broncos are among the most shipped U.S. vehicles to Australia. Duty is 5% (dropping to 0% once the car passes 30 years) plus 10% GST.
Australia runs one of the world's strictest biosecurity inspections. Any soil, plant matter, insects, or contamination on the underbody, in wheel wells, or inside the vehicle can trigger a quarantine hold, mandatory cleaning at your cost, and delays. We arrange a professional pre-shipment steam clean so the unit arrives inspection-ready. This applies to cars, boats, RVs, and especially mining-sector machinery headed to Fremantle.
As little as 16 days from the West Coast. We sail weekly from Los Angeles/Long Beach to Sydney (Port Botany, 16–22 days) and Melbourne (18–25 days), biweekly from Oakland to Brisbane, and biweekly East Coast service from New York (32–42 days) and Savannah, plus monthly Houston service to Fremantle. We offer both container and RoRo for cars, and we file ROVER and book the pre-shipment steam clean as part of the same booking.
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