Affordable RORO Shipping from New Zealand to Australia
[2024 Complete Guide]

Looking to ship your vehicle from New Zealand to Australia using Roll On Roll Off (RORO) shipping? PeachT can help make your international move as easy as possible.

🤷 How do I ship my car from New Zealand to Australia?

One of the best methods of importing a vehicle into Australia is via RORO shipments.

RORO, an abbreviation for Roll On Roll Off, is a type of shipping method for vehicles and other breakbulk around the world. Originally designed in the nineteenth century for the transportation of trains across rivers, RORO became commercially viable in Japan in the 1960s when the auto industry became globalised.

RORO shipping involves driving vehicles onto the given vessel at the origin (“rolling on”) and then driving those vehicles off at their destination (“rolling off”). RORO trade routes are focused on certain worldwide locations, leading to the quickest option to transfer huge machinery like cars, trucks, boats, trailers, RVs, or motorcycles worldwide. Is vehicle transport using RORO from New Zealand to Australia something you’re interested in?

While the procedure of importing a vehicle into Australia may appear complicated and fraught with potential pitfalls, be assured that PeachT is familiar with all the necessary steps and requirements imposed by the country’s vehicle import laws. We can help you submit an import application to Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. We guarantee a safe and smooth experience for every move. To learn more about vehicle shipping, contact us and get a quote.

Feel at ease with the PeachT team supporting you every step of the way throughout the vehicle shipment process.

🙋 Shipping a vehicle from New Zealand to Australia

Due to Australia’s unique regulations on car imports, there are a few things you should keep in mind before you ship your car to Australia. You should also be aware of the costs associated with cleaning, marine insurance, registration, and customs clearance in addition to the shipping costs.

Shipping your vehicle from New Zealand to Australia with PeachT is a simple and affordable process that saves you time and money. We leverage our expertise and knowledge to ensure your vehicle transport is smooth and stress-free.

❓ What cars can you import into Australia?

Older Vehicles (25 years or older)

The easiest vehicles to import into Australia are vehicles that are 25 years or older. As long as there are no major modifications to the vehicle then there should be no issues in importing these vehicles.

Personal Vehicle Import

The general rule for the personal vehicle import scheme is that you must own the vehicle outside of Australia for over one year and plan to permanently move to and live in Australia. The full list of requirements is as follows:

you own the vehicle at the time you submit the application, and
you became the owner of the vehicle while living overseas, and
you owned the vehicle continuously for a period of at least 12 months immediately before you first arrived in Australia with the intention to remain indefinitely, and
you have not previously been granted a personal effects import approval, or it has been more than 5 years since you were granted a personal effects import approval, and
the application is submitted within 6 months of your first arrival in Australia, and
you are of an age that entitles you to hold a licence or permit to operate the vehicle in Australia or the country where the vehicle was available to be used by you.

Please see the official Australian government page here for more information: “Importing a vehicle as personal effects – overview“.

Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEV)

Vehicles built specifically for a niche market or the pleasure of enthusiasts are known as specialist and enthusiast vehicles (SEVs). Examples include sports cars, high-performance vehicles, off-road cars, racing cars, and cars with special modifications.

Some SEVs are restricted from entry into Australia. The SEVs Register is where all of this data is kept. If your vehicle is included on the SEVs Register, you should be able to bring it into Australia.

A vehicle must meet the following standard to qualify for a SEVs entry approval:

Vehicle registration in the SEVs Register is required
Vehicle ownership or intent to purchase is required
A valid Model Report for the vehicle must be in the applicant’s possession or readily available for review

Please view the online SEVs Register to see if your vehicle is listed here: Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVs) Register.

Please feel free to reach out to us today if you would like us to check into the SEVs Register for your vehicle.

Regarding Left-Hand Drive (LHD) Vehicles

Importing left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles into Australia is feasible, but certain regulations must be achieved:

If the vehicle is 25 years or older, you may be able to comply with the Australian Design Rules (ADR) and register it in Australia.
Vehicles less than 25 years old will have to be changed to right-hand drive (RHD). Before they may be registered for use on Australian roads, LHD cars must be changed to RHD.
The conversion procedure must be carried out by a licensed converter and adhere to ADR guidelines.

Before it can be registered, the vehicle must also comply with other relevant regulations, such as those governing emissions and safety. Regulations also may vary based on the area you are in. For Victoria, there are the following restrictions:

For vehicles less than 25 years old: Not eligible for full registration or Club Permit Scheme in Victoria.
For vehicles 25 years or older but less than 30 years old: Eligible for Club Permit Scheme only. Requires:
- Victorian Certificate of Roadworthiness
- VASS Approval Certificate
- Blue modification plate/label clearly marked with “Club Permit Use Only
For vehicles 30 years or older: Eligible for full registration or Club Permit Scheme. Requires:
- Victorian Certificate of Roadworthiness,
- Personal Import Plate; or
- VASS Approval Certificate, and
- Blue modification plate/label
- For imported vehicles (other than Personal Imports) manufactured before 1969 (July 1975 for motorcycles), a VASS Approval Certificate is only required if the vehicle has modifications requiring an Approval Certificate.

Importing a LHD car into Australia may be a difficult and time-consuming procedure, but our team works behind the scenes to ensure an easy shipping process. We handle organising proper documentation, reserving space, and ensuring that your assets arrive at their destination on time.

We take on jobs of all sizes, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

For more information on importing a vehicle to Australia, please refer to the official Australian government resource here: “Importing a road vehicle into Australia”.

💭 What are the car shipping requirements from New Zealand to Australia?

Car shipment to Australia is governed by several rules and regulations:

A Vehicle Import Approval must be applied for and approval granted (officially known as a “Concessional RAV Entry Approval” depending on the approval type)
A citizen or permanent resident of Australia is required to apply for a VIA.
For personal vehicle imports, as per above, the vehicle owner must provide proof that they have had the vehicle for at least a year before shipping it.
A goods and services tax (GST) and an import duty tax must be paid on each car brought into Australia.

A vehicle import approval (VIA), also known as a vehicle import authority, is required before importing a road vehicle into Australia.

Many options exist for requesting permission to use a vehicle on public roads. The following are examples of this:

Approval for concessional RAV entry
Import approvals for non-RAV entry
Reimportation approvals

Certain kinds of road vehicles may be imported and added to the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) with the help of a concessional RAV entry approval.

Without this authorisation or approval, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will not release your vehicle from customs control, and you will be charged exorbitant fees for holding your car at the given port.

The ROVER portal is where you should go to get a vehicle import authorisation from the Australian government. In most cases, you should expect to get your VIA within 14 days, but it might take up to 60 days.

If you are applying for a personal import approval, your import permission application must be submitted no later than six months after you arrive in Australia, and you are limited to importing just one vehicle. However, there may sometimes be exceptions to this ruling especially given the turbulent COVID period the past couple of years. We are familiar with the current processes and procedures beyond what is written online on the official government website.

We are here to assist you in any way we can, including with the vehicle’s Model Report. We also can do your vehicle import approval (VIA) application on your behalf to make shipping your vehicle even easier. Make sure you get in touch with us!

💡 How to meet Australian quarantine requirements?

Like New Zealand, Australia has strict quarantine requirements that necessitate the cleanliness of every vehicle imported into the country. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF), formerly known as the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), oversees the world’s most sophisticated and stringent Australian government department for enforcing Australian quarantine laws.

To avoid paying any unanticipated fees upon arrival, importers must familiarise themselves with the quarantine requirements in advance. Please read below for the necessary paperwork and approvals that may be required.

Your car will be subjected to a comprehensive check by DAFF officers upon arrival to ensure it does not pose any kind of health concern. Used motorcycles, RVs, ATVs, off-road motorcycles, and any other kind of road-legal vehicle will need to pass an inspection before entering Australia. This preliminary examination will decide whether additional treatment is necessary.

Any fuel in the vehicle should be removed or drained to a minimal level, and the battery should be unplugged before entry as per the new marine standards. For vehicles manufactured before 1996, there are restrictions for any ozone-depleting substance contained in said vehicles.

Vehicles manufactured before 1996 are at risk of containing air conditioning systems that are designed to run on CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) refrigerants. These systems are banned from being imported to Australia. The system must be removed for the vehicle or have been modified to use HFC-134a. The only exclusion to this is if the importer has personally owned and used the vehicle for 12 months before importation.

Additionally, no asbestos is allowed for import whatsoever. You will need to sign an asbestos-free declaration stating that the vehicle contains no asbestos and that you have proof if asked by government authorities.

We can help you sort through the various requirements for import and streamline the process, saving you time and peace of mind.

⚠️ Warning about asbestos in vehicles

It is important to be aware that the importation of asbestos is illegal in practically all cases. You must check to see whether or not your car contains asbestos.

As stated above, before bringing any car into Australia, you are required to fill out an asbestos declaration form.

We can assist you with the process of making a declaration as well as identifying whether or not you are required to have an asbestos test performed in the country of origin before importing vehicles to Australia.

🔥 What will happen if my vehicle does not pass the quarantine inspection?

The typical cost of the quarantine inspection varies but can be around AUD 150 to $300 depending on the port. If you want to pass the inspection, you should give your car a good vacuum and detailing. If it doesn’t pass, you’ll have to pay the department-approved treatment service that also varies depending on the given port services available, typically ranging from AUD 120 to $500.

But fret no more, as we will take care of setting up the quarantine inspection and, if necessary, cleaning the area as well. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss more details on any potential costs for the move you’re considering.

💸 How much does it cost to ship a car from New Zealand to Australia?

It’s difficult to give a general price on shipping a car from New Zealand to Australia by RORO, but a typical price range for RORO shipment can be AUD 1,800 to $3,000. The size and weight of your vehicle will also factor into the overall shipping cost.

Outside of the raw freight cost, there are also other costs to factor in such as transport of your vehicle to and from the port, compliance and vehicle registration costs, and biosecurity inspection and import fees.

We at PeachT will give you a comprehensive quote that gives a breakdown of all included costs. We provide straightforward, no-nonsense pricing that includes just the things you need that make it clear what isn’t covered so there are no surprises.

Depending on your needs it may differ, but our typical comprehensive quote includes:

Shipping quote
Marine Insurance
Every applicable duty, tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and government charge
Standard quarantine and inspection costs
Ground transportation to and from the port

🧾 Will my car be taxed if I ship it to Australia?

Different tax rates may apply to vehicles imported to Australia.

Vehicles up to 30 years old are subject to a 5% import charge and 10% GST.
Those over the age of 30 are imported duty-free and subject to a 10% GST.
Used vehicles are imported at a 5% import charge and 10% GST.
Commercial vehicles are subject to the same taxes as ordinary vehicles (5% duty and 10% GST).
Importation of vehicles from certain countries, such as Japan, may have a duty-free import scheme in place
- Vehicles imported from Japan may be exempt from import duty as part of the Australia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement
Luxury vehicles are subject to a Luxury Car Tax (LCT), please see below for the luxury car tax threshold:
- For fuel-efficient vehicles: AUD 89,332
- Other vehicles: AUD 76,950

The tax on luxury cars may be calculated by first computing the GST. The GST is computed by adding the customs value, duty payments, and shipping and insurance expenses associated with bringing your vehicle into Australia. Then add it to the taxable importation value. Subtract the Luxury Car Tax threshold from the total and multiply by the LCT rate. More information can be found at the Australian Taxation Office website here: “Luxury car tax”.

Import duty is solely paid on the customs value. GST is levied on the overall cost of transporting vehicles to Australia including import duty and customs value.

Because of this, the import tax will change based on the country from where the vehicle is being sent from as well as the kind of vehicle.

The best way to get a more accurate price estimate is to contact us and get a detailed quote.

🚢 RORO Shipping – the cheapest shipping from New Zealand to Australia

RORO (Roll On Roll Off) shipping has grown in popularity over the years as a means to transport breakbulk, mechanical equipment, and auto vehicles such as trucks, trailers, and buses to and from other countries and in coastal shipments within the same country.

RORO services are widely used since they are significantly more cost-effective than other methods of transporting expensive mechanical equipment.

In RORO shipments, stevedores will drive your car or vehicle straight onto the vessel deck of the freight ship that has been designated to carry it and secure your vehicle so it doesn’t move during transit.

Container shipments can offer a greater flexibility of available delivery ports, such as having more routine shipments to certain ports RORO shipments only go once or twice a month. However, the main benefit of RORO shipments is that they are substantially cheaper. After factoring in the mandatory biosecurity inspection of a containerised vehicle, on average a RORO shipment will be twice as affordable.

However, RORO shipments can experience more delays than container shipments – especially given recent Australian port delays that have largely been affecting RORO shipments. Despite this, we recommend RORO shipments given the cost savings. We can also arrange for vehicles to be shipped to Australia in containers as well if the higher cost is less of a concern.

Get in touch with us to get an estimate of how much it will cost to export your vehicle to Australia today!

🫧 How can I prepare my vehicle for RORO shipping?

RORO (Roll On Roll Off) shipping is great for transporting your goods since it is one of the most convenient and affordable methods to move vehicles like automobiles, trailers, trucks, and even break bulk equipment. But you need to make sure you have everything set up properly so that everything goes off without a hitch.

Since shipping vehicles in a RORO vessel is not the same as shipping in containers, you will need to have everything ready before the boat or RORO vessel comes to pick up your car. Thankfully, this isn’t a stressful thing.

Please read our simple three-step procedure before shipping your vehicle on a RORO vessel:

Make sure that the vehicle you’re moving is empty (no personal effects or other extra items inside the vehicle whatsoever).
Check your car’s maintenance records carefully. Keep in mind that this is a RORO service, so your car must have some degree of mobility to be loaded and unloaded. Check for fluid leaks to make sure everything is sealed properly. Keep just the bare minimum of fuel in the tank.
Please ensure your vehicle is completely sealed and has no leaks, as it may sit outside in a secure depot at the port while awaiting loading and customs clearance at the port.

⏳ How long does it take for a RORO ship to go from New Zealand to Australia?

Shipping a vehicle from New Zealand to Australia can be as fast as one to two weeks if there are no port delays. For the past year period (from late 2022 to October 2023), most direct sailings from New Zealand have taken upwards of a month to arrive in Australia. However, this is not due to the raw distance but rather due to RORO port congestion in Australia.

Currently RORO shipments from New Zealand to Australia may take only around a month, the full procedure might take up to three months from start to finish. This is because it will take at least two weeks to get the VIA (vehicle import approval) for Australia, and inspection at the Australian border may take anywhere from a few days to two weeks depending on the port.

It is not possible to determine the exact delivery times for each route, but we can provide you with a good estimate when you request a quote from us.

Please reach out to us today if you have any questions or want a better estimate on shipping your vehicle from New Zealand to Australia.

🚗 Is car shipping from New Zealand to Australia safe?

RORO shipping is the primary method of shipping both new and used vehicles around the world. So yes, shipping your car from New Zealand to Australia is safe.

Tens of thousands of cars are exported to Australia and New Zealand every month. In terms of safety, PeachT and its partners always adhere to the highest standards. When transporting a vehicle from New Zealand to Australia, or vice versa, the likelihood of it being damaged is very low.

If you proceed with RORO shipping your car will be safely fastened in place for the duration of the trip. The RORO ship may be compared to a huge parking garage with many levels. The vehicle’s wheels are secured with straps so that it doesn’t move during transport. Both the loading and disembarking ports are designed to allow the vehicle to be driven aboard and off the ship.

You can trust that PeachT will help you bring your car to Australia while saving you as much money as possible, from the time you apply for a VIA until the moment your vehicle is delivered to your home.

🔗 Helpful links

Please check out the following links for additional information, and don’t be afraid to get in touch with PeachT at any time for professional guidance and support with any queries you may have.