Buying a car in Australia to bring to the UK

Some of the best cars we bring over were bought in Australia by people who have never seen them in the metal: a 70 Series that was never sold here, a late Commodore, a Falcon ute. It works well, as long as the checks are done before the money is paid. Afterwards, there is not much anyone can do.

Before you pay

0 of 8 done

1. PPSR search on the VIN No finance owing, no write-off, not stolen.
2. Never written off or sold as salvage We cannot register one. How
3. Independent inspection Rust, accident repairs, anything a UK test would find.
4. Photos of the odometer, VIN and compliance plates
5. Know the tax 10% duty then 20% VAT, or 5% VAT if over 30. How
6. Know which test it needs IVA under ten years old, MOT over. How
7. A proper invoice or bill of sale Price, VIN, buyer and seller.
8. Handover arranged with us Where and when we collect it.

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1. Run a PPSR search on the VIN

The Personal Property Securities Register is the Australian government’s register of money owed against things like cars. A search costs very little, takes a couple of minutes online, and tells you whether a lender has an interest in the car.

If there is finance recorded, the car should not be exported until it is cleared, and you do not want to be the person who paid for it. The same search also brings back any record of the car being written off or reported stolen.

2. Make sure it has never been written off

This is the one that matters most to us. We are not able to register a written-off or salvage car from Australia, however good the repair looks. If the PPSR search, the seller or the listing mentions a write-off, a statutory or repairable write-off, or an auction described as salvage, walk away.

Our guide to written-off and salvage cars explains the categories, and why the answer is no.

3. Get someone to look at it

The state motoring clubs offer pre-purchase inspections, and so do plenty of independent mechanics. It is money well spent. You want to know about rust, accident repairs, worn suspension and anything that would need fixing before a UK test, while you can still negotiate or say no.

Ask for photos of the odometer, the VIN plate and the compliance plate, if it has one. They help us confirm the details before the car is collected.

4. Know what the tax will be

A car you have just bought normally pays import duty and VAT when it lands. The method is simple once you have seen it:

• Customs value is the price you paid plus the cost of getting it here
• Duty is 10% of the customs value
• VAT is 20% of the customs value plus the duty

A car over 30 years old in original condition is different: usually 5% VAT and no duty. Transfer of Residence relief, which removes both, is for people moving here with a car they have owned for more than 6 months, so it does not usually help with a fresh purchase. The calculator on our costs page runs the numbers for you.

5. Check the age, because it decides the test

A car under 10 years old goes through an IVA test. Older cars take an MOT. Both are done in our own lane, but an IVA involves more, so it is worth knowing which one your car will need. Our registration page covers what each test looks at.

6. Pay properly and keep the paperwork

Get a proper invoice or bill of sale showing the price, the VIN, and the buyer and seller. HMRC works from what you paid, so a clear document saves questions later. Keep the registration papers and any service history with it.

7. Arrange the handover with us

Once it is paid for, tell the seller we will be collecting, and tell us where and when. We pick it up from the dealer, the seller’s address or the auction yard and take it to the port. From there, it is the same journey as any other Australian car, around 10 to 16 weeks door to door.

If you are still deciding between a few cars, send them over with the quote form. We would much rather talk it through before you buy than after.

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