Importing a JDM car to Australia from New Zealand is one of the shortest, cheapest import routes there is, but the sticker price is only part of the landed cost. Here's every component and where each comes from.
The car price
Already includes our margin. When you buy from Importify there is no separate service fee added on top. The listing price is the price of the car, delivered to freight.
Tasman freight
Shipping from New Zealand into Brisbane, Port Kembla (Sydney), Melbourne or Fremantle. RoRo is the cost-effective standard; container costs more but protects high-value cars. Our import cost calculator shows an indicative freight figure to each Australian port in AUD.
Duty, GST and LCT
Budget for 5% import duty, 10% GST, and Luxury Car Tax (33% on the amount above the threshold, AU$80,567 for fuel-efficient vehicles, AU$71,849 for others in 2026). The calculator itemises all three.
Asbestos, biosecurity and rego
Every car must be certified asbestos-free before Australian customs, and we handle NATA-accredited testing in Auckland as part of pre-shipment prep (see the asbestos rule). Add the DAFF biosecurity wash and your state registration fees to finish the total.
Which cars are even eligible? See which JDM cars you can import to Australia, or jump to your state: Queensland, NSW, Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to import a JDM car to Australia?
The landed cost is the car price plus Tasman freight, 5% import duty, 10% GST, Luxury Car Tax if the value is above the threshold, asbestos certification, biosecurity, and state registration. Importify does not add a separate service fee; our margin is in the car price. Run your exact numbers in the calculator.
How much is import duty and GST on a car in Australia?
Import duty is 5% of the customs value and GST is 10% of the customs value plus duty plus freight. Luxury Car Tax of 33% applies to the amount above the LCT threshold (AU$80,567 for fuel-efficient vehicles, AU$71,849 for others in 2026).
Why is importing from New Zealand cheaper than from Japan?
The Tasman crossing is short and cheap, the cars are right-hand drive with English documentation (no conversion, no translation), and you avoid Japanese auction fees and sight-unseen risk. On a like-for-like car the landed cost is often meaningfully lower.
