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

No FTA exists between Australia and South Africa, so MFN duty rates apply to all Chapter 87 vehicle imports; the most critical compliance obligation is securing RVCA approval or a valid RAW/Concessional RAV entry before lodging the import declaration. Importers should also verify the Anti-Dumping Commission public register for any measures on South African steel or aluminium components included in the shipment.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 87

Compliance requirements

⚠Confirm RVCA registration or obtain RAW/Concessional RAV entry approval before vessel departure from South Africa.
⚠Ensure used vehicles meet DAFF clean, dry and contamination-free standard to avoid costly border treatment.
⚠Check Anti-Dumping Commission register for South African steel wheels or components before lodging the import entry.
⚠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 South Africa, so MFN (general) duty rates apply to all imports; a commercial invoice with accurate country of origin declaration is required for tariff classification purposes but no preferential origin certificate is needed
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain steel and aluminium products from South Africa; importers should check the public register prior to lodging entries to avoid unexpected duty liabilities
⚠Biosecurity requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are strictly enforced for South African goods including fresh fruit, timber, plant material, animal products and soil-contaminated machinery; import permits, phytosanitary certificates and mandatory treatment or inspection on arrival are commonly required given South Africas pest and disease risk profile
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian mandatory safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards under the Electrical Equipment Safety System and ACMA frameworks; products such as appliances, cables and switchgear require supplier declarations of conformity and may need registration on the EESS database before being offered for sale in Australia

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 South Africa — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from South Africa

Ch.71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin Ch.26Ores, slag and ash Ch.72Iron and steel Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.22Beverages, spirits and vinegar Ch.8Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons