Import a Car from the USA to Australia
Prestige Car Imports helps Australian clients source and import vehicles from across the USA, with a strong focus on 25+ year old sports cars, muscle cars, classics and collector vehicles that can remain left-hand drive in Australia. We help with sourcing, inspections, history checks, purchase, US transport, shipping, import paperwork, customs/biosecurity, compliance and getting the vehicle on the road.
Melbourne, Australia · Speak directly with Dyson · Inspections in the USA can be arranged before purchase
Why Import From the USA?
25+ year old vehicles
The USA has a huge supply of older vehicles that may qualify under the rolling 25-year import pathway and can remain left-hand drive.
American performance & muscle
Access Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros and older American muscle cars in far greater variety than is typically available locally.
Rare & collector cars
The American market offers unusual specifications, rare classics, collector vehicles and hard-to-find cars that may rarely appear in Australia.
Why Import With Prestige Car Imports?
Australian based
Prestige Car Imports is based in Melbourne, Australia.
USA inspections
Where appropriate, we help arrange an inspection in the USA before purchase and send you the condition information.
Vehicle history checks
We can use available VIN, history and background tools, plus documentation, to help assess a vehicle before you buy.
Direct contact
Speak directly with Dyson about the vehicle, budget and whether importing from the USA is the right move.
Full process assistance
We help coordinate sourcing, purchase, US transport, shipping, import paperwork, customs/biosecurity, compliance and getting the vehicle on the road.
How Importing From the USA Works
Send the listing you are considering, or tell us the 25+ year old car you want to find. We inspect and check history where appropriate, help with the purchase, then help with US transport, shipping, customs, quarantine, compliance and getting the vehicle on the road.
1
Talk to us
Enquire, call, email or WhatsApp. Send the listing if you have one, or tell us the make/model, year, budget, eligibility and requirements.
2
Engage Prestige Car Imports
When you are ready to proceed with sourcing or inspection work, the $1,190 AUD engagement/deposit fee becomes payable.
3
Find the vehicle
We help source from private sellers, dealers, specialist dealers, online listings and auctions where appropriate. If you have already found the car, send us the listing.
4
Inspection & history
Where appropriate, we arrange inspection. We can also review available VIN information, vehicle history, service documentation, ownership records and other relevant paperwork.
5
Negotiate & approve
We help communicate and negotiate with the seller where required. You approve the vehicle and the purchase before we proceed.
6
Purchase
We assist with the vehicle purchase and payment process. At this stage, the balance of the Prestige Car Imports fee is also payable if the total fee was not paid upfront. Prestige Car Imports is the import broker, not the vehicle dealer or seller.
7
USA transport, shipping & import
We help arrange inland transport to a suitable export port, export and shipping, import paperwork, customs, biosecurity/quarantine and other applicable requirements.
8
Compliance & on the road
We help arrange Australian compliance and the process of getting the vehicle on the road in your state. Compliance is not the same as registration or roadworthy — those are state-based.
Typically around 12–16 weeks from purchase in the USA to being road-ready in Australia, depending on shipping and compliance.
Buying a Car in the USA
The US market is enormous. We help Australian clients buy from private sellers and dealers. If you have already found a car, send the link.
Private sellers
The US private market is huge. We can help communicate with sellers, arrange inspection and assist with the purchase once you have approved the car.
Dealers
We also help purchase from dealers and specialist dealers when that is the better car or the better way to buy it.
Find your own car
If you find something on Autotrader, Cars.com, Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, a dealer site or similar, send us the link and we can discuss whether it is suitable to import.
Inspections
Where an inspection can be arranged, we recommend inspecting the actual vehicle before you commit. You get the condition information and can walk away from that car.
Vehicle history
Prestige Car Imports can use available US tools to run VIN checks, review vehicle history and background information, assess available title and history records, review service information and check other documentation. We use this alongside an independent physical inspection where appropriate. History checks help assess the vehicle’s records; they do not guarantee its physical condition.
Importing 25+ Year Old Cars From the USA
Vehicles 25 years or older may be eligible under the rolling 25-year import pathway, subject to the applicable requirements. Eligible 25+ year old vehicles can remain left-hand drive — no RHD conversion is required. That preserves originality and opens up a huge US collector and classic market.
Corvettes
Older C4, C5-era and other Corvettes as they become eligible under the rolling 25-year pathway.
Mustangs
Classic and older performance Mustangs that are hard to find in the same variety in Australia.
Camaros
Classic and older performance Camaros, including specifications that rarely come up locally.
American muscle
Older Dodge, Plymouth, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Ford and similar muscle cars from the US market.
Classics & collector cars
Rare classics, unusual specifications and collector vehicles that can be extremely difficult to source in Australia.
If you are unsure whether a car qualifies, send the make, model and year. Eligibility depends on the actual vehicle.
What About Cars Under 25 Years Old?
Vehicles under 25 years old must have an applicable Australian import pathway. For many eligible US vehicles, that can involve LHD to RHD conversion as well as compliance.
Conversion eligibility depends on the exact vehicle. Not every model can be converted. Conversion alone can be expensive — current conversion costs may be around the $50,000–$70,000 AUD range depending on the vehicle and converter.
Talk to us before you purchase. We can check whether the car has a pathway and whether conversion is realistic for that model.
Many newer vehicles are only eligible if they appear on the federal Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (SEVS) approved list, or another applicable import pathway.
What Does It Cost to Import From the USA?
There is no single landed price. The USD purchase price, exchange rate, inland US transport, shipping, customs/clearance, duty where it applies, GST, luxury car tax where it applies, compliance, conversion if required, our fee and your state on-road costs all change the total.
When you are ready to begin sourcing or inspection work, the initial engagement/deposit payment is $1,190 AUD. Prestige Car Imports’ total fee depends on the vehicle and the transaction. You pay in stages as invoices fall due, rather than everything up front.
Estimates do not include state roadworthy, registration or stamp duty.
Import cost example
2001 Dodge Viper GTS
A vehicle Prestige Car Imports helped import from the USA. Figures below are from this example. Note: this is an estimate, not a quote. Exchange rate used: 1 AUD = 0.70 USD.
| Car cost | US$50,000 |
| Exchange rate | 1 AUD = US$0.70 |
| Vehicle value in AUD | A$71,428.57 |
| Freight | A$7,000 |
| CIF (FOB + Freight) | A$78,429 |
| 10% GST | A$7,843 |
| Landed incl. GST | A$86,271 |
| Luxury Car Tax (LCT) | A$1,711 |
| Transport to compliance | A$300 |
| Compliance | A$2,200 |
| Prestige Car Imports fee | A$2,990 |
| TOTAL INCLUDING LCT | A$91,761 |
Estimate Import Costs
Use our USA Import Cost Calculator to estimate the total based on the vehicle price, then contact us for a more detailed estimate on the actual vehicle.
Prestige Car Imports
Unit 4/43-45 Launceston St, Williamstown
- This was the first car I’ve imported. I was really uneasy about importing a car. I reached out to Prestage Car Imports through an add on Facebook and Dyson was the person that answered. He was very professional and upfront about the … More process what was involved and most importantly the time frame it was going to take. After that initial phone call I knew Prestage Car Imports were the people I was going to go with. I didn’t even bother contacting anyone else. I was still very hesitant about going through with importing a car. In the end I bit the bullet and done it. Now that I have the vehicle in my possession I’m very happy and pleased with the condition of the car. A big thank you to Dyson and Tayla for the dedication and work. I would highly recommend Prestage Car Imports. This won’t be my only import.
Ben Campbell - Dyson is knowledgeable and I definitely never felt that he was annoyed by my questions or repeated messages, he's always accommodating and respectful. He's a true businessman.
You can text him anytime and he always came back to … More me.
I initially approached him for a certain car but he showed me that it cannot be imported and directed me to a different car.
Car arrived safely and I drove it with pleasure, he wasn't bothered that I chose my own compliance warehouse in Sydney as my ones can do cars within 48 hours, very quick.
Downsides, car required a set of tyres, a new battery and service, but that is reasonable and can be expected.
Overall, I would recommend Dyson if you want to buy from Japanese auctions, as he had best prices so far. Doesn't matter which state you're in, Dyson is able to help - Review
I recently purchased a car from Prestige Cars and couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the beginning, the Dyson and Tayla was friendly, professional and easy to deal with. There was no pressure, and everything was explained … More clearly throughout the process.
The car was exactly as described, the whole process was smooth and straightforward, and the team went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of.
I would definitely recommend Prestige Cars to anyone looking for a quality vehicle and a dealership that genuinely cares about its customers. I’d happily buy from them again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Just wanted to give a huge shoutout to Dyson and the team at Prestige Car Imports.
I recently purchased an R35 GT-R from Japan, and the whole experience was far easier than I ever expected. Importing a car can seem pretty daunting when … More you're doing it for the first time, but Dyson guided me through every step and was always available to answer questions and provide updates.
Communication was excellent from start to finish, and I always felt confident that everything was being handled properly. The car arrived exactly as described and exceeded my expectations.
If you're thinking about importing a car from Japan, I'd highly recommend talking to Dyson. He's knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely cares about helping you find the right car.
Couldn't be happier with my GT-R and the service I received. Thanks again, Dyson! - Here’s a polished Google review that sounds genuine and highlights the key points you mentioned:
I had an excellent experience with Prestige Car Imports when importing my 2021 Toyota Crown RS Advance. From the very beginning, they were … More professional, transparent, and incredibly easy to deal with.
They initially advised that the process would take around 3–4 months from the auction date, but I had my car delivered in just 2.5 months, which exceeded my expectations. The final cost was also within the indicative budget they had provided, with no surprises along the way.
What really stood out was their communication. They kept me updated throughout the entire process, were always on top of everything, and I never had to chase them for updates. Their professionalism and honesty made the whole experience completely stress-free.
I highly recommend Prestige Car Imports to anyone looking to import a vehicle. I wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again in the future!
Facebook reviews
Common Questions About Importing From the USA
Yes, where the vehicle is eligible. Vehicles 25 years or older may remain left-hand drive under the rolling 25-year import pathway, subject to the applicable requirements. Newer vehicles usually need another import pathway and often LHD to RHD conversion.
No. Eligible 25+ year old vehicles can remain left-hand drive. That is a large part of why older Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, muscle cars and classics from the USA are such a strong import path.
Eligibility depends on the actual vehicle. Vehicles 25 years or older may qualify under the rolling 25-year pathway. Vehicles under 25 years old must meet another applicable Australian import pathway, such as the federal SEVS approved list, and may require conversion. If you are unsure, send the make, model and year.
Where appropriate, yes. We help arrange an inspection in the USA before purchase and can also review VIN, history and other documentation. You get the information and can walk away from that car if it is not right.
It depends on the USD purchase price, exchange rate, US inland transport, shipping, duty where it applies, GST, luxury car tax where it applies, compliance, conversion if required, and state on-road costs. When you are ready to start sourcing or inspection work, the initial engagement payment is $1,190 AUD. Use the USA Import Cost Calculator for an estimate, then we can talk through a more detailed figure on the actual vehicle.
Ready to Import From the USA?
Send the listing you are considering, or tell us the 25+ year old car you are trying to find. We will talk through eligibility, likely costs and the process.