IMPORT A MOTORCYCLE OR CAR TO AUSTRALIA FROM (ALMOST) ANYWHERE
We provide Full Service shipping and transport of vehicles to Australia from almost everywhere in the world, start to finish, end-to-end. Giving you “peace of mind” is our business – we aim to never leave you thinking “why me?” or feeling left high and dry.
With decades of experience in this industry, we are well connected. This enables our high levels of professionalism and transparency – working with the right people makes a very big difference, as working with the right vendors allows us to get those different elements in place.
Container Shipping made simple
The freight industry has a tendency to assume the client knows everything about what they need to do – in our experience, that’s often not the case.
That’s why we simplify things – by explaining potential situations, different risks, timeframes and everything else that comes along with any freight shipment, we aim for “no bad surprises”.
Ultimately, we’re keeping it as basic as possible because we recognise that our customer is is not a freight expert.
How do we ship your car or motorbike?
The process for both imports and exports begins with customer inquiries, followed by detailed quotations that include all cost elements (collection, holding, crating, etc.).
Once a customer commits, Bikes Abroad manages documentation, bookings with carriers, and customs processes. We ship motorcycles and import cars to Australia from USA, Japan and (almost) worldwide.
Importing A Vehicle
For imports, the company handles customs clearance, quarantine inspections (a particularly unpredictable and sometimes lengthy step), and delivery or collection arrangements.
If a vehicle fails quarantine, it must be cleaned at an approved facility and re-inspected. We can arrange this.
Exporting A Vehicle
For exports, the process is similar but starts with collection or receipt at a local crating station. Crating is mandatory for motorcycles unless they are part of a consolidation container managed by Bikes Abroad.
The company provides tracking and regular updates throughout the shipment process and connects customers with local agents at the destination for final arrangements.
For vehicles like four-wheel drives, crating is not required; these are shipped in containers or via roll-on/roll-off (roro) services.
Customs Challenges, Vehicle Quarantine and Risk Mitigation
Major challenges include navigating customs regulations in different jurisdictions, strict quarantine requirements in Australia, and logistical issues such as vessel delays or missed connections.
Bikes Abroad mitigates these risks by building contingencies into schedules, maintaining strong networks with reliable vendors and agents, and proactively communicating potential challenges to customers.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical events significantly impacted operations, leading to changes in freight costs and customs procedures. Our deep knowledge and experience in the industry means that we remain well placed to deal with even the most challenging difficulties and always complete delivery of our clients’ vehicles.
Additional Services
We also offer seasonal consolidation services to popular destinations, enabling customers to participate in events or tours (e.g. European summer rides, or Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August). To avail of these offers, please sign up to our mailing list.
Bikes Abroad handles as much of the documentation and process as possible for clients, including collectors and high-net-worth individuals, unless regulations require direct customer involvement.
These services are included in the standard offering, with no additional surcharge.
Please refer to our FAQs page with other queries, or contact us for a quote.
