Australia is one of the world's largest markets for right-hand drive vehicles, and British drivers sometimes eye Australian-specification cars — Holdens, Fords and Toyotas built to Australian standards — as attractive import prospects. In 2026, importing a car from Australia to the UK involves significant costs, complex regulations and a long supply chain. Here is everything you need to know.

Australia — The Right-Hand Drive Advantage

The significant advantage of importing from Australia compared to the United States or Japan is that Australian vehicles are right-hand drive. This eliminates the complex and expensive conversion process required for left-hand drive imports. The Holden Commodore SS, HSV GTO and Ford Falcon XR8 are iconic Australian performance cars that have attracted UK import interest for years.

However, Australia drives on the left, and the UK also drives on the left — so the hand drive orientation is identical. This means the car does not need modification to be legally driven on UK roads in terms of steering position.

The Challenge: ADR Compliance

Australian Design Rules — ADR — govern vehicle safety, emissions and construction standards in Australia. UK imports must meet UK and EU standards, which differ from ADR. The key areas of non-compliance that require attention during the Individual Vehicle Approval process:

  • Lighting: Australian vehicles use different headlight beam patterns and may have red tail lights rather than the red brake lights and amber indicators required in the UK
  • Emissions: Australian emissions standards differ from UK and EU standards, requiring IVA emissions testing
  • Speedometer: Must display miles per hour for UK use
  • Windscreen and glass: Tint levels and glass specifications must meet UK standards
  • Seatbelt anchorage points: Must meet UK structural requirements

Vehicle Age and Import Eligibility

There is no minimum age restriction for importing a car from Australia to the UK. However, vehicles must pass Individual Vehicle Approval testing before they can be registered. Older vehicles may face greater challenges meeting current standards, particularly on emissions, and the cost of achieving compliance can exceed the value of the vehicle for older imports.

Most Australian vehicles imported to the UK are between 5 and 20 years old, with 10 to 15-year-old Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon models being the most common candidates.

Shipping from Australia to the UK

Australia is approximately 17,000 kilometres from the UK by sea. Shipping a car from Australia is a significant undertaking:

  • RORO shipping: Most cars exported from Australia use roll-on roll-off shipping. Cost: GBP 1,500 to GBP 3,000 for a standard car.
  • Container shipping: For high-value or classic vehicles. Cost: GBP 2,500 to GBP 5,000 for a 20ft container.

Transit time from Australian ports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth) to UK ports (Southampton, Felixstowe) is approximately 5 to 7 weeks. Perth to the UK via the Suez Canal or around the Cape adds significant time.

UK Import Costs

Beyond shipping, importing from Australia involves:

  • UK customs duty: 10 percent customs duty under WTO most-favoured-nation rules
  • VAT: 20 percent VAT on vehicle value plus shipping and duty
  • IVA testing: GBP 499 (full) or GBP 199 (reduced) — IVA must be passed before registration
  • DVLA registration: GBP 55
  • Freight forwarding and port handling: GBP 300 to GBP 800
  • Specialist import agent: GBP 500 to GBP 1,500 (strongly recommended)

First Registration Tax

Once passed the IVA test, the vehicle's road tax is calculated based on CO2 emissions as measured during the test. High-performance Australian sedans — particularly V8 models — can have emissions of 300g/km or more, placing them in the highest road tax band.

Is Australian Import Worth It?

The total cost of importing a Holden Commodore SS V8 from Australia — purchase price of approximately AUD 20,000 to AUD 40,000 (GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000), shipping, duty, VAT and IVA — typically totals GBP 20,000 to GBP 40,000. A comparable UK-market Holden or imported vehicle might be available for less. For rare models, limited editions or HSV variants not available in the UK, the premium may be justified for enthusiasts.