CALL US ON 01525 851545 IF YOU NEED HELP FINDING INFORMATION

Everyone at some point will have to answer this question and the considerations may be:

Direct costs:
• Shipping to Australia with marine insurance
• Australian duties and taxes
• From arrival at the Australian port through to getting a car 'on the road'.

We have prepared an easy to use spreadsheet that will give a quick rough guide to all of the costs of taking your car to Australia (averaged, as each Australian port/destination has slightly different costs) and gives a comparison of the saving from not having to find a buyer in the UK and having to purchase a replacement upon arrival in Australia. The spreadsheet asks for only two figures and gives the internet website addresses to locate the prices for your particular car.

Indirect considerations:
• Depreciation since purchase and possible low sale price in the UK
• High cost of an equivalent car in Australia
• Buying the right car at the right price in Australia.

Logistics:
• Are you allowed to import your car and get an import approval?
• Arranging for a company to ship the car, and a company in Australia to assist with the import and registration formalities
• Having to advertise and sell your car in the UK and having to handle the buying of another car upon arrival in Australia.

Other:
• Do you have an affinity with your current UK car?
• What do other people do?
• What type of car is normally shipped to Australia?

It is normal for some people to own smaller cars in the UK than in Australia and so cars less than 1.6 litres are not normally worthwhile shipping. The age and value of a car is not such a determining factor as more often normal cars that are in good condition can be more worthwhile considering taking to Australia than almost new high-value cars. Most cars that are shipped are 4–8 years old and from £8,000 to £15,000 in value. Many people plan to sell their car before they go not realising that it may be worthwhile taking and then change their minds at the last minute when they are only offered such a low amount for their car here in the UK.

Although all cars are generally much more expensive in Australia the differential in Far Eastern car models (Daihatsu, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota) is not as high (4WD SUVs can still be worthwhile) and so the cost of shipment and taxes may outweigh any saving. The same goes for many Fiats, Fords, Rovers, Seats, Skodas, Vauxhalls and the Mini.

In many instances there can be a saving on all European models of car from 2.0 litres upwards including Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot, Saab, Renault, Volvo and Volkswagen. There are not as many diesel models available in Australia as there are in the UK as petrol can be half the UK price.

The largest difference in value is with almost all models of BMW, Daimler, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes Benz and Porsche as well as Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls Royce.

Speciality models of Lotus, Morgan, MG and TVR, and most classic cars are quite rare in Australia and it is more difficult to make a cost comparison although most owners of these vehicles do have an affinity with their car and the cost, although still important, is not such an overriding factor.

Further information, including a guide to prices and useful website and contact addresses, can be found in the Australia Info Pack (PDF).