With the US dollar being so weak, there has never been a better time to consider importing boats to Australia. You’ll find a huge range of boats from the USA, Europe, and New Zealand considerably cheaper than the local market. Even after you add the cost of boat transport to Australia, GST and Duty, you will still come out on top in most cases.
Taurus Logistics is one of only a handful of specialist boat transport companies around the world. We work together with our overseas agents who are all specialists in shipping boats.
80% receive a quote in 30 seconds! More complex jobs will receive a response within 24 hours.
Costs to Consider When Importing a Boat to Australia
You will find that many boats available in Australia are much cheaper in other countries.
However, we need to consider the total landed cost. Including shipping, Import GST, Duty and other costs such as Quarantine on arrival. This is where Taurus logistics can help. With over 40 years of experience, we can help guide you through this process of what these costs will be.
Ports We Ship to in Australia
Taurus Logistics can ship your boat to the main ports across Australia, including Brisbane, Sydney and Fremantle. In most cases, we arrange delivery by truck from the port to your chosen marina, or you may prefer to collect from the depot.You can collect from the port yourself, but it can be a hassle. The port has strict security and health and safety rules. Ask us for a quote to have your boat delivered to a Marina or your home.
Ports we ship to in Australia:
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Fremantle (Perth)
- Melbourne
- Sydney (Port Kembla)
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Boat?
While it’s not possible to list the shipping times for every route Taurus Logistics offers, below are a few of our most popular routes. These are indicative transit times, and do not include all shipping lines, containers, or part container options. Please contact us to discuss container sailing dates, or for roll on roll off please refer to our RORO Sailing Schedule.
- Australia to New Zealand – 10 days Approx.
- New Zealand to Australia – 30 days Approx.
- Europe to Australia – 45 days Approx.
- USA to Australia – 50 days Approx.
- Australia to Europe – 80 days Approx.
- Australia to USA – 40 days Approx.
Getting started with boat transport to Australia.
If you want to buy a boat from another country, consider its condition, hours, and age. Check the local market prices against international markets like the US. Many websites auction boats. In most cases, professional boat dealers or liquidation companies sell the boats.
We strongly advise you to avoid private boat sellers on sites like eBay. They often end up costing you more than you expect due to problems with the seller or the boat.
I've found my boat, what now?
Once you find the import boat you like, gather as much information as possible about its dimensions. Pay special attention to the height.
Take off anything from the boat that you can remove before shipping. This will help reduce the size and get a better shipping price. As an example, if you remove the keel you can almost halve the shipping costs of most boats.
Once you have those dimensions, contact us. We can give you a price. This will help you decide if importing the boat is worth it.
If your boat is on a trailer, you need an import permit for the trailer before it arrives in Australia. We suggest getting the permit before your boat leaves the departure country.
It can be a big problem if your boat arrives and you still don't have the permit. We can apply for the trailer permit for you. Or, you can apply directly with the Australian Department of Infrastructure.
Apply for Permit
Tips before you import boats to Australia.
Quarantine Inspection
Quarantine is the biggest unknown cost when importing a boat because we can't know the condition of your boat when we quote for shipping. We include one inspection charge in our quotes. If the inspection finds a problem, washing or fumigation will cost extra.
It's a good idea to have the seller clean the boat well. If the boat is very dirty, it may not be allowed on the ship. We can clean it at the port for an extra charge.
Inspectors in Australia examine used boats very harshly, and only a tiny percentage pass the first time.
Fail Quarantine
Buying a Boat from America
Boat Trailers
The main consideration with importing a boat from USA is the trailer. You cannot bring any boat trailer into Australia that is wider than 2.5 meters. This rule applies even if you do not plan to use it on the roads. The government will not allow oversized trailers to cross the border.
The width is the maximum distance measured across the body, including wheel guards but excluding side-mounted lamps required for compliance. This width does NOT apply to American boats themselves. These can be wider than the trailer.
Electrical
Most American boats will be 110v, so you will need to either convert that or buy 110v appliances. Thats outside our expertise but just a reminder to talk to a Marine Electrician about any implications.
Cost to import a boat from USA
The cost of shipping boat from USA to Australia is all based on the total cubic volume. LxWxH = m3. This includes the boat trailer. It is important to get the right measurements from tip to tip. Measure the length, width, and height.
Some trailers have swing tongues or retractable tounges but these often need to be in the tow position to be shipped. For more information read our tips on How to reduce boat trailer length, when importing boats on trailers