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A factory-direct caravan can look dramatically cheaper than the equivalent on an Australian dealer’s lot — and often it genuinely is. But the price the factory quotes is not the price in your driveway. Between the two sits a stack of freight, taxes, fees and compliance costs that catch out anyone importing for the first time.

Here’s the honest breakdown, so you can compare apples with apples.

The cost stack

1. The van itself (factory price). Usually quoted “FOB” — the price to get it loaded at the port of origin. This is your starting figure, not your finishing one.

2. Ocean freight and insurance. Shipping the van from China to an Australian port, plus marine insurance. This varies with the van’s size, the route and current freight rates.

3. Import duty — 5%. Caravans and trailers attract a 5% customs duty, calculated on the customs value of the goods.

4. GST — 10%. Applied to the Value of Taxable Importation — that’s the customs value plus freight, insurance and the duty. In other words, GST is charged on top of the duty, so the two compound slightly.

5. Import Processing Charge. A government fee per consignment for processing the import, which can range from around $50 to roughly $1,050 depending on value and how it’s lodged.

6. Biosecurity and quarantine. Australia inspects imported goods for contamination. Budget for inspection fees, and potentially a steam-clean or asbestos test — Australia has zero tolerance for asbestos, and the van must arrive free of soil and pests.

7. Compliance and approvals. Getting the van legal: the federal import approval through ROVER, the VIN, entry on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV), gas and electrical certification, and any modifications needed to meet the Australian Design Rules. Costs here depend heavily on whether the van was specced correctly before it was built — which is where doing it right up front saves real money.

8. Delivery within Australia. From the port to your door.

9. State registration (and stamp duty). Plates, registration and any stamp duty are charged by your state or territory and vary — this is separate from everything above.

One piece of good news: no Luxury Car Tax

Buyers often worry about the 33% Luxury Car Tax that hits expensive cars. The good news: LCT applies to cars, not trailers — and a caravan is a trailer. So even a high-end caravan generally won’t attract LCT, unlike a car at the same price. (As always, confirm your own circumstances.)

A rough way to think about it

A useful rule of thumb: on the duty-and-GST side alone, expect roughly 15% on top of the customs-plus-freight value (5% duty, then 10% GST on the lot). Then add the fixed fees, biosecurity, compliance and local delivery and registration on top of that.

The exact total depends on the van’s value, its size, freight rates and your state — which is why a real number always comes from a quote, not a blog post.

Why a managed import can cost less, not more

It seems counter-intuitive that paying someone to handle the import could be cheaper than doing it yourself. Here’s why it often is:

• No surprise bills. A good importer rolls freight, duty, GST, compliance and delivery into one quoted, drive-away figure — so the price you see is the price you pay.
• Compliance done right the first time. The single biggest cost blow-out is a van that arrives needing modifications to pass the ADRs. Speccing it correctly before the build avoids that entirely.
• Freight and process efficiency. Established shipping and customs relationships, and a process that’s been run dozens of times rather than once.
• No costly mistakes. A held container, a failed inspection or a rejected approval can cost more than the entire margin you were trying to save.

At China Caravans, the price we quote includes the import managed end to end — sourcing, inspection, freight, customs, duties, compliance and delivery — with a 12-month national warranty after it lands. You get the factory-direct saving without personally carrying the import risk.

A note on the numbers: duty rates, fees, tax thresholds and state registration costs change over time and vary by circumstance. This article is general information, not financial or tax advice — always get a current, itemised quote and confirm specifics with the Australian Border Force, the ATO and your state registration authority.