Importing a Toyota Hiace from Japan to Australia is one of the best ways to get a high-quality, well-maintained van at a fraction of the price you'd pay locally. But it's not as simple as finding one online and clicking buy — there are auctions, compliance schemes, shipping, and registration to navigate. Here's how it actually works.
Japan has some of the best-maintained used vehicles in the world. Strict shaken (vehicle inspection) laws mean cars are kept in excellent condition, and low mileage is the norm. A 2012 Toyota Hiace with 90,000km is not unusual — that same spec van would be almost impossible to find in Australia for under $40,000.
The other reason is supply. The Australian used Hiace market is thin. Japan has thousands. You can be specific about model year, grade, colour, transmission, and mileage in a way that just isn't possible buying locally.
Most Japanese used vehicles sell through auction houses. The biggest networks are USS, TAA, JAA, and CAA. Each auction assigns a grade to every vehicle — typically from 1 (poor) to 6 (excellent, near-new). A grade 4 or above is generally considered very good for a 10–15 year old van.
Auctions also produce detailed inspection sheets (auction sheets) that note every scratch, dent, rust spot, and mechanical issue — in Japanese, but translatable. At Bare Camper, we review these sheets before bidding and share them with customers.
Vehicles imported to Australia for road use must be complied under the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) scheme or, for vehicles older than 25 years, through a specialist. Most modern Hiaces are complied through the RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) scheme.
Compliance covers right-hand-drive conversion (usually not needed for Hiace — Japan is also RHD), emissions and safety checks, and modifications to meet Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Budget $5,000–$8,000 for compliance depending on the vehicle.
Shipping a Hiace from Japan to Australia (typically to Brisbane, Melbourne, or Sydney) takes around 3–5 weeks. Costs vary, but budget $2,000–$3,500 including port charges. Vehicles must pass biosecurity inspection — any soil, plant matter, or mud found on or under the vehicle means a cleaning bill and delay.
Pro tip: ask your importer to have the vehicle washed and inspected before shipping. It adds a small cost but avoids delays at the Australian border.
You'll pay 5% customs duty plus 10% GST on the customs value of the vehicle. The customs value is based on the Japanese purchase price converted to AUD. On a $25,000 AUD purchase, that's around $3,750 in taxes.
A licensed customs broker handles this for you — at Bare Camper we include this in our quoted landed cost so there are no surprises.
After compliance, the vehicle gets a compliance plate and can be registered in your state. QLD, NSW, and VIC each have slightly different inspection requirements — typically a roadworthy (safety certificate in QLD) before rego is issued.
Here's a realistic all-in cost breakdown for a 2012–2015 Toyota Hiace H200 SLWB diesel:
The wide range reflects how much model year, grade, and mileage affect the Japanese purchase price. A 2008 grade-3 van will land for $28,000. A 2015 grade-5 van might be $45,000.
From winning the auction to having a registered van in your driveway: 8–12 weeks is typical. Brisbane-bound vehicles tend to be a bit faster than Sydney or Melbourne due to shipping routes.
Technically yes — you can use a Japanese export agent and handle customs yourself. But sourcing through a reputable importer like Bare Camper removes the risk of buying a lemon, handles compliance paperwork, and gives you access to auction grades and sheets before you commit. The fee is worth it for most buyers.
Want us to find your van?
At Bare Camper, we handle the entire process — sourcing, bidding, shipping, compliance, and delivery. Fixed pricing, no surprises.
