Importing Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof from Netherlands into Australia (2026)

No Australia-Netherlands FTA exists so MFN general tariff rates apply to all Chapter 87 vehicles and parts; the most critical obligation for this combination is securing RVCA approval or a valid RAW/Concessional RAV entry before lodging the import declaration, as ABF will not release the vehicle without it.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 87

Compliance requirements

⚠Confirm RVCA registration or obtain RAW/Concessional RAV approval before shipment departs Netherlands.
⚠Ensure used vehicles meet DAFF clean, dry and free of contamination standard to avoid costly border treatment.
⚠Declare MFN origin on commercial invoice; ABF may request non-preferential origin evidence for statistical verification.
⚠All road vehicles must comply with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (MVSA) — vehicles not on the Road Vehicle Certificate of Approval (RVCA) register require a RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) or Concessional RAV entry approval before import clearance
⚠New and used vehicles are subject to DAFF biosecurity inspection for soil, plant material and pests — used vehicles and machinery must be cleaned to 'clean, dry and free of contamination' standard or face mandatory treatment costs at the border
⚠Anti-dumping measures apply to certain steel road wheels from China (Case 2014/1) — importers of steel wheels must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register and may be liable for dumping duty in addition to customs duty
⚠Electric vehicles and e-bikes with lithium-ion batteries must comply with the Australian Consumer Law and relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 62133 for batteries) — ACMA type approval is required for any wireless components such as keyless entry or Bluetooth systems
⚠Personal imports of vehicles over 25 years old via the Enthusiast, Left Hand Drive or other concessional pathways require a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Department of Infrastructure before shipment departs — this is a pre-import requirement, not a post-arrival fix
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Netherlands so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all imports; a formal Certificate of Origin is not required for preferential purposes but may be requested by the ABF to confirm non-preferential origin for statistical or anti-dumping purposes
⚠ACMA regulatory compliance is mandatory for all electrical and electronic goods including telecommunications equipment; suppliers must provide declarations of conformity and relevant test reports prior to import
⚠Biosecurity declarations and potential DAFF inspection apply to any goods containing plant material, dairy-derived inputs, or biological reagents, which is particularly relevant for Netherlands agricultural inputs, cut flowers, seeds, and food products
⚠Therapeutic goods including pharmaceuticals and medical devices must be registered or listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) administered by the TGA before importation; Netherlands is a major pharmaceutical exporter and this is a critical compliance step

Key documents required

Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications — mandatory for most vehicle imports
Certificate of Conformity or Compliance Plate documentation confirming compliance with ADRs (Australian Design Rules) under the MVSA
Foreign registration certificate or title document (for used vehicles) to establish year of manufacture and ownership history
Commercial invoice with full VIN, engine number, make, model, year, engine capacity and FOB value — incomplete invoices are the leading cause of ABF delays for this chapter
Biosecurity declaration and evidence of pre-export cleaning or fumigation treatment (DAFF-approved treatment certificate where applicable)

Import tip

Always lodge the Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) application before the vessel departs the origin port — the Department of Infrastructure does not issue retrospective approvals and ABF will not release the vehicle without one, meaning demurrage and storage costs accumulate rapidly while you wait.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 87 goods from Netherlands — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from Netherlands

Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles Ch.30Pharmaceutical products Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products