Holden import

On 20 October 2017, the last Holden Commodore rolled off the line in Elizabeth, near Adelaide. A red SS V8, surrounded by workers who clapped and cried. Three years later, General Motors pulled the plug on the entire brand. With it went Australia's answer to the American muscle car: big saloons and utes with a V8 up front, rear wheel drive and a sound you can hear three gardens away. Holden was never officially sold in mainland Europe, and no new ones will ever be built. If you want one, Holden import is the only way. SCL Rotterdam brings your Holden from Australia and handles everything up to registration. Before you commit, we tell you honestly what to expect, from right hand drive to inspection.

Why import a Holden into Europe?

A Holden is a piece of Australian car culture. For decades, Holden and Ford fought for national pride at Bathurst, and that rivalry shaped the cars. A Commodore SS combines the space of a family saloon with the V8 of a Corvette. The Ute, a saloon with an open load bed, was built like nowhere else.

Because the brand no longer exists, good examples are getting scarce. Prices of the last V8 models have been rising in Australia for years, while in Europe only a handful are on the road. Importing a Holden is not just a dream come true, it is a car that holds its value.

Popular Holden models to import

Holden Commodore SS and SS V (VF and VFII)

The last Commodore generation built in Australia. The 2015 to 2017 VFII has the 6.2 litre LS3 V8 from the Corvette of that era, with an automatic or manual gearbox.

Holden Ute SS

A Commodore with an open load bed. As comfortable as a saloon, as practical as a pickup and with the same V8. A true Australian icon.

HSV GTS and Maloo

Holden Special Vehicles was to Holden what AMG is to Mercedes. The GTS and Maloo ute got a supercharged V8 with around 580 horsepower. The GTSR W1, with the Corvette ZR1 engine, was built only around 300 times.

Holden Monaro

A two door V8 coupé. The modern 2001 to 2005 Monaro was sold in the US as the Pontiac GTO. Classic Monaros from the 1960s and 1970s are sought after.

Classics: Torana, Kingswood and Statesman

For classic car fans there is the Torana A9X, the Kingswood and the luxurious Statesman. A rare sight anywhere in Europe.

Prefer left hand drive?

Australian cars are right hand drive. That is legal across Europe, but not everyone likes it. GM sold several Holdens in the US under different names with left hand drive: the Commodore as the Pontiac G8 and later the Chevrolet SS, and the Monaro as the Pontiac GTO. Same car, easier on continental roads. In the UK, the Commodore was also sold in right hand drive as the Vauxhall VXR8.

What to know before you import a Holden

Duties and VAT

A passenger car from Australia pays 10 percent import duty plus import VAT. A Ute may fall under a different rate depending on its classification. Classics over 30 years old in original condition often qualify for the favourable collector's vehicle rules.

Registration and taxes differ per country

Once cleared through customs in Rotterdam, the car can move freely within the EU, but registration and road tax are national matters. A V8 can be expensive to register in countries that tax CO2 heavily, such as the Netherlands with its BPM, while Germany has no registration tax. SCL arranges Dutch and German registration in house and can advise on other European countries.

Conversion and parts

An Australian Holden has headlights set for driving on the left and the rear fog light on the wrong side. Our workshop takes care of that. The V8 engines come from Chevrolet and are well supported worldwide, while body and trim parts are available from specialist suppliers in Australia.

How your Holden import works

1. Advice first. We discuss the model, right or left hand drive, your destination country and a realistic cost estimate.
2. Purchase and inspection. We help you find a good car and have it inspected before you pay. For HSV models we also check the paperwork and build number.
3. Shipping. Your Holden travels from Australia to Rotterdam by container or RoRo ship. We strongly recommend transport insurance.
4. Customs clearance. We file the declaration and settle all duties and taxes correctly.
5. Conversion and inspection. We prepare the car for European rules, ready for the inspection in your country.
6. Registration and delivery. We arrange registration where possible and deliver your Holden by road to your door, wherever you are in Europe.

You can follow every step in real time through our customer portal.

What does it cost to import a Holden?

The final price is made up of the purchase price, shipping, import duty, import VAT, conversion work, inspection and registration. Shipping from Australia takes longer than from the US, but costs are in a similar range. Classics usually work out more favourably. Want to know where you will end up? Calculate your costs or ask us for a tailored quote.

Why SCL Rotterdam?

For more than 15 years we have been bringing vehicles into Europe from all over the world. V8s, muscle cars and classics are part of our daily work, and we know how to get a right hand drive car through inspection. Rotterdam is Europe's largest port and a natural gateway to the rest of the continent. Customs, storage, workshop and registration are all under one roof. Our customers rate us 9.2 out of 10 on average.

Bring your Holden to Europe

Picture yourself cruising in a Commodore SS or Ute? Call us on +31 10 427 77 20 or request a free quote. Within 24 hours you will know where you stand and whether a Holden import is the right move for you.