new car quarantine australia

Australia treats new car quarantine like a reality show with fewer ad breaks: every imported vehicle is held at the wharf until it passes biosecurity.

Your pride and joy must be spotless—no soil, seeds, bugs or mystery picnic crumbs. During Brown marmorated stink bug season (roughly September to April), extra treatment rules apply, and any contamination means cleaning or fumigation at your cost.

With paperwork in order and a genuinely clean car, expect about 1–3 weeks from landing; backlogs or biosecurity hits can stretch that by several weeks.

You’ll need an Import Approval from the Department of Infrastructure before it ships, plus the usual invoice/packing list and a broker to lodge the biosecurity entry.

Fees vary, but budget a few hundred to a couple of thousand AUD for inspections, treatment and storage—delays make the meter run faster than a taxi in peak hour.

Top tip: empty the car, get it professionally detailed before loading, and you’ll sail through faster than your patience usually does.