Question 1

How long does shipping from the USA to Australia take?

Accepted Answer

From Los Angeles/Long Beach, direct container services reach Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane in roughly 17–26 days port to port, depending on the rotation and the order of Australian calls; Fremantle depends on whether the service calls there directly, so allow longer. East Coast and Gulf origins take longer, either all-water or by rail to the West Coast first. Between 1 September and 30 April, goods that need BMSB treatment must be treated and certified before loading, or on arrival for sealed full containers, which adds days either way. We confirm the sailing and transit for each booking.

Question 2

Can I ship my car from the USA to Australia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with a federal import approval granted before the car arrives — in practice, before it ships, because a car that lands without one is held by the Australian Border Force at the importer's cost. Under the Road Vehicle Standards Act the main routes are the older-vehicles criterion, for vehicles built at least 25 years before the application; the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles scheme, for listed newer models complied by a Registered Automotive Workshop; and the personal import route, for a car you have owned and used overseas for at least 12 months. Registration is decided by each state, and the age at which a left-hand-drive car can be registered varies. The car must also be free of asbestos — brake pads and gaskets are the usual finds — and, if it ships between September and April, treated for BMSB, before loading if it goes RoRo.

Question 3

What is the car import tax from the USA to Australia?

Accepted Answer

A car built in the US that meets the AUSFTA rules of origin enters free of Australian customs duty; a car built elsewhere and bought in the US takes the treatment of the country where it was made. GST of 10% is charged on the customs value plus any duty, freight and insurance, and luxury car tax applies to the part of the value above the threshold for that financial year. The special duty that used to apply to used imports was abolished in 2018. No certificate of origin is needed under AUSFTA, but the importer must hold evidence that the car qualifies, such as the title and build records. The Australian customs broker confirms the classification and taxes; registration and stamp duty are state charges on top.

Question 4

When is BMSB season, and does it apply to shipments from the USA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The United States is a BMSB target risk country, and for the 2026–27 season the measures apply to target goods shipped between 1 September 2026 and 30 April 2027, judged by the shipped-on-board date on the bill of lading. Vehicles, machinery, parts and many metal, stone, ceramic and timber goods are target high-risk goods that must be treated by heat or fumigation. Break bulk, RoRo, flat-rack and open-top cargo must be treated before loading by a provider approved by the Australian government; sealed full containers can be treated before loading or on arrival. New, unused goods in some chapters, made on or after 1 December, may be exempt with a manufacturer's declaration. The Safeguarding Scheme is no longer available this season. We book treatment with the freight.

Question 5

How do I ship household goods from the USA to Australia?

Accepted Answer

Declare them on form B534, the Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement, which the Australian Border Force uses to clear belongings that arrive separately from you; used personal effects you have owned and used for 12 months or more are generally free of duty and GST if you are an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or another eligible visa holder. A car is not a personal effect for this purpose and needs its own import approval. Every household shipment is also a biosecurity matter: outdoor furniture, garden tools, bicycles and sports gear must be free of soil and plant material, and the shipment may be inspected on arrival. We arrange packing, a full or shared container from the US, and clearance and delivery through our partner in Australia.

Question 6

Can I import used machinery from the USA to Australia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if it arrives clean. Used machinery must be free of soil, seeds and plant and animal material before it leaves the US, which often means pressure-washing and partial dismantling so every cavity can be reached. It is inspected on arrival: lightly contaminated units are re-cleaned at an approved site at the importer's cost, and heavily contaminated ones can be ordered out of Australia. Between September and April, machinery is also a BMSB target high-risk good that must be treated, and older equipment should be checked for asbestos in gaskets, seals, brake and clutch linings, because Australia bans asbestos imports outright. We arrange the cleaning, crating, treatment and loading before the machine sails.

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