Before importing a road vehicle into Australia you must obtain an approval to import the vehicle from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (the department).

There are several options to apply for an approval to import a road vehicle. This page outlines each type of approval. You should select the one suited to your circumstances.

Applications for an approval to import a road vehicle must be made through ROVER, the department’s online system that manages all applications and approvals.

  • 8 steps to importing a vehicle
  • Vehicle type approvals
  • Importing vehicles one-by-one (single road vehicles)
  • Importing a vehicle that is not a road vehicle
  • Transitional arrangements
  • Importing road vehicles under Status of Forces Agreements and certain Customs Tariff Act by-laws
  • Australian external territories
  • Assessment times
  • Warning about asbestos in vehicles

IMPORTANT: Should your road vehicle arrive in Australia without an import approval, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will not release it from customs control. Storage costs for such vehicles can be considerable and all costs incurred are the responsibility of the importer.

IMPORTANT: The Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV)

The RAV is a database of vehicles that have met the requirements of the RVS legislation and been approved for provision to the Australian market. The RAV replaces the requirement for vehicle identification plates under the MVSA.

Road vehicle import to Australia
Road vehicle import to Australia

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