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Shipping a car to the islands looks like the simple part of a move. You drive it to the depot, it goes in a box, it comes out the other end. In practice, vehicles are where Pacific shipments most often go wrong: a car that's too old for the destination's rules, a ute with soil caked in the wheel arches, or finance owing that nobody mentioned. Each can cost more than the freight.
This guide covers how to ship a car or ute to the Pacific Islands, RoRo versus container, the preparation needed in Australia, and the country rules that matter most. For the full picture, see our complete guide to shipping to the Pacific Islands.
Key takeaways
- Most private vehicles go to the Pacific in containers. RoRo services to the islands are limited.
- Check the destination's age limits and import licence rules before you buy or ship. Fiji and Tonga both restrict older vehicles.
- Clean the vehicle to biosecurity standard, inside and out, including the underbody.
- In Australia, check for finance owing on the PPSR and sort out the registration before export.
- Budget for duty, excise and VAT or GST, which can exceed the vehicle's freight many times over.
RoRo vs container
| Container | RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Vehicle is driven or loaded into a 20-foot or 40-foot container, braced and sealed | Vehicle is driven onto a specialised vessel and parked on a vehicle deck |
| Availability to the Pacific | Widely available on regular container services | Limited and irregular to most islands |
| Security | High, sealed until destination | Lower, vehicle is accessible during the voyage |
| Space for other goods | Spare space in the container can be used, subject to carrier and customs rules | Generally not allowed |
| Best for | Most private cars and utes | Large volumes of vehicles, or vehicles too big for a container |
A 20-foot container usually fits one car or ute. A 40-foot can take two cars, or a car plus household goods. Larger vehicles, trucks and machinery may need a flat rack or open-top container, or breakbulk on a multipurpose vessel. See our guide to project cargo in the Pacific for oversized equipment.
Check the destination rules first
Before you buy a vehicle to ship, or commit to shipping the one you have, confirm it's allowed in. Rules change, sometimes at short notice.
| Country | Key vehicle rules |
|---|---|
| Fiji | From 1 January 2026, used vehicles must be 2021 or newer for hybrids and 2018 or newer for petrol and diesel. An import licence must be obtained before shipment. Ineligible vehicles are prohibited imports and must be re-exported at the importer's cost. |
| Tonga | A ban on importing vehicles aged 10 years or older was due to take effect on 30 June 2026 after several deferrals. Quarantine clearance is required. |
| Papua New Guinea | Excise on private motor vehicles can reach 40%, plus duty and 10% GST. PNG Customs requires a statutory declaration of ownership. NAQIA inspects vehicles for contamination. |
| Samoa | Samoa has driven on the left since 2009, so right-hand-drive vehicles suit. Quarantine clearance is required. |
| Vanuatu | Second-hand goods, including vehicles, need a biosecurity import permit before shipment. |
Summary only, current as reported in 2026. Confirm the latest rules with the destination customs service before you buy or ship.
Fiji's Revenue and Customs Service publishes its used vehicle import criteria, and specifically encourages importers to obtain the import licence before loading. A vehicle that doesn't qualify will be refused, and you'll pay to ship it back.
Preparing the vehicle in Australia
Ownership and finance
Search the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) before you buy, and before you ship. If there's finance owing, the lender has a security interest and you'll need their consent, or to pay out the loan, before exporting. Have proof of ownership ready: the purchase invoice, transfer papers and registration documents.
Registration
Contact your state or territory road authority about cancelling or surrendering the registration once the vehicle is leaving. Keep the paperwork, because the destination may ask for evidence of previous registration. Remove toll tags and personal items.
Export declaration
An export declaration is required for goods worth more than AUD 2,000 unless an exemption applies, and personal effects are exempt. Whether your vehicle is declared as part of your personal effects or as a separate export depends on the circumstances, so ask your forwarder how they'll handle it.
Cleaning
This is the step that decides whether your car is released quickly or held for treatment. Biosecurity officers in Fiji, PNG and elsewhere inspect vehicles for soil, seeds, plant material and insects. Before the vehicle is packed:
- Steam-clean the underbody, chassis rails, wheel arches and spare wheel well.
- Clean the engine bay and radiator, where seeds and insects collect.
- Vacuum the cabin and boot, and remove floor mats to clean underneath.
- Clean the tray, tow bar, bull bar and roof racks of a ute.
- Keep the cleaning invoice. It helps if questions arise.
Mechanical and loading preparation
- Leave only a small amount of fuel in the tank. Carriers set limits, and some require dangerous goods documentation for vehicles in containers, so follow your forwarder's instructions.
- Secure the battery and check for leaks of oil, coolant or fuel.
- Photograph the vehicle from all sides, record the odometer and note existing damage.
- Don't load personal items inside the vehicle unless your forwarder confirms it's permitted and they're fully declared.
What it costs
The freight is often the smallest part of the bill. Expect:
- Container or RoRo freight, plus origin and destination charges
- Bracing, lashing and loading
- Cleaning and any destination treatment
- Import licence, inspection and registration fees at destination
- Import duty, excise and VAT or GST, usually calculated on a value that includes freight and insurance
- Marine insurance
In PNG, for instance, excise of up to 40% on private vehicles is added before GST is calculated. Run the numbers before you ship, and compare them with the price of buying a vehicle locally. See import duty and taxes in the Pacific Islands.
Documents to have ready
- Proof of ownership and purchase invoice
- Registration papers and evidence of cancellation or surrender
- PPSR certificate showing no security interest, or the lender's consent
- Destination import licence or permit, obtained before shipment where required
- Cleaning invoice
- Bill of lading and commercial invoice or valuation
- Destination-specific declarations, such as PNG's statutory declaration of ownership
For PNG specifically, see our PNG customs clearance checklist.
On arrival
Once the container is cleared, the vehicle is unpacked and inspected by biosecurity, released by customs and the shipping agent, and then needs local registration and roadworthiness checks. In Fiji, imported vehicles are also subject to Land Transport Authority inspection and licensing. Allow time for each step, and don't book the vehicle for urgent use the week it lands.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship my car with my household goods?
Often, in a 40-foot container, subject to carrier rules and the destination's customs treatment. The car and goods may be assessed differently for duty, so list them separately and check concessions before you pack.
Is it cheaper to ship a car or buy one locally?
It depends heavily on the destination's duty and excise. Once taxes and fees are added, buying locally is often competitive, especially for older vehicles that may not meet import rules anyway.
What if my car fails the age limit?
In Fiji, an ineligible vehicle is treated as a prohibited import and must be re-exported at the importer's cost. Always check the age rules before shipping.
How clean does the car need to be?
Free of soil, seeds, plant material and insects, inside and out, including the underbody and engine bay. A professional steam-clean is the safest approach.
How this guide was researched
This guide draws on Fiji Revenue and Customs Service vehicle import criteria, announcements by Tonga's Ministry of Revenue and Customs, PNG Customs Service procedures and PNG tax summaries, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and Biosecurity Vanuatu requirements, Australian Border Force export guidance, and the author's experience shipping vehicles to the islands. Vehicle rules change often, so confirm current requirements before you buy or ship.
Written by
Peyton Brown
Senior Editor of The Pennsy's Pacific shipping desk, with more than a decade in Pacific freight operations, documentation and customs coordination across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
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