Japanese used cars for Australia

25-year classics or SEVS/RAW — not a free import of ordinary 5–10 year JDM daily drivers.

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Australia is RHD. You cannot import a road vehicle without approval (Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018). Common pathways: (1) older vehicles originally built more than 25 years ago, concessional RAV via ROVER; (2) Specialist and Enthusiast (SEVs) Register plus RAW workshop modifications; (3) personal effects / moving to Australia with strict criteria.

KMC JAPAN will not sell a 2018 JDM hatch as if the 25-year rule applied. Build date, not first registration, drives the 25-year test. Apply in ROVER before the car is shipped. DAFF biosecurity: cars must arrive clean.

25 yr

Older-vehicle pathway (or SEVS/RAW)

6-10

Typical weeks plus ROVER wait

ROVER

Import approval before the vessel leaves

Australia import rules. Year rule: 25-year older-vehicle pathway, or SEVS/RAW for newer. Confirm inspection, taxes, and documents before you bid.

Open regulation page

How we export to Australia

Commercial sequence — legal detail stays on the regulation page.

Choose pathway (25-year vs SEVS)

ROVER approval

Buy and steam-clean

Ship

ABF/DAFF

State register

Importing to Australia - Quick Overview

Shipping

From Japan to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle

Request a quote

Rate depends on the unit and sailing — not a flat Africa-style figure

Duration

Typical Japan-to-registration window

6-10 weeks plus ROVER wait

Confirm current sailing

Expert Support

Full import assistance

Pathway before purchase

We only source units that match a named concessional pathway — not “ship to Melbourne and sort later”.

RHD sourcing

Japanese domestic (JDM) right-hand-drive cars matched to left-hand-traffic roads.

Pre-export checks

Auction sheet review plus the inspection your destination actually requires.

Port routing

Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane are the usual Japan car ports; Fremantle serves the west.

ROVER first

RAV/SEVS approval before sailing, then ABF and state registration.

Shipping to Australia

Do not book RoRo until ROVER concessional RAV (or another legal pathway) exists. Steam-clean for biosecurity. Budget 6–10 weeks plus ROVER wait. GST, possible LCT, and state stamp duty apply after ABF.