There are several resources online providing information about importing used cars from Japan to the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, it is quite challenging to determine exactly what you’ll spend during the shipping process.

Here at Carused.jp, we can provide you with all the details you need. We have done our best to compile all the details you need to know, allowing you to gain an overview of what to expect. Whether you’re planning to import Japanese vans like a Nissan Urvan or Toyota HiAce van, you can go through this article and find the information you need.

Computing the Importation Costs

When calculating the expenses of importing a vehicle to Congo, you need to determine the FOB (Free on Board) price and the CIF (Cost of Insurance Freight). Keep in mind that the FOB is the actual price of the car without the inspection, insurance, and transport fees. When you go through our catalog, you will see that we always advertise the FOB on the listing. On the other hand, the CIF is the sum of the FOB, freight, insurance, and inspection fees.

Shipping Options

There are two ways to ship your vehicle to Congo—through container or roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping. If you’re planning to import a luxury car which requires optimum protection, container shipping service is the ideal option. The vehicle will be secured with straps and cables inside the container. As such, you can ensure that the vehicle will not be scratched or dented during loading and unloading. Moreover, you can protect it from tampering.

On the other hand, if you want to keep the shipping costs low, you can opt for Ro-Ro shipping. It may not be as secure as container shipments, but it requires less time to load and unload the vehicles. The car is driven onto the vessel and off of it, hence the name ‘roll-on-roll-off’.

Duties and Taxes

You should know that the importation fees in Congo vary significantly, depending on the type of vehicle you are shipping. That said, the cost of importing a Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter is different from what you’ll have to pay if you’re shipping a Land Cruiser Prado. The value-added tax (VAT) range from 8 to 13%. On the other hand, the import duties range between 8 to 46%, depending on the size of the engine. Some used cars from Japan, particularly trailers, semi-trailers, and tractors over 15 years old, are subject to a 12% excise tax.

The shipping fee depends on your chose port of delivery. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are three main delivery points to choose from:

• Port of Mombasa (Kenya): They offer the most affordable freight fees.
• Port of Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania): The location is strategic and the freight fees stand in the middle of the spectrum. However, you need to pay the additional fees for ferrying the car to Congo on a road carrier.
• Port of Matadi (Congo): Their freight fees may be the most expensive among the options, but you can expect the fees to include the container shipment costs.

Expect to pay for port clearing agent fees once you try to get your vehicle from the port. Also, remember that the VT depends on the tariff fees provided by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Moreover, aside from the excise and consumption duties, used cars from Japan are subject to different para-fiscal levies. Here are some details to remember:

• Administrative fees – 2% of the CIF
• Congolese Control Office (OCC) fees – 1.5% of the CIF and the administrative fees
• Office de Gestion du Fret Maritime (OGEFREM) fees – 0.58% of the CIF
• Funds for the Promotion of Industry (FPI) fees – 2% of the CIF
• Inspection fees from the Bureau of Inspection, Valuation, Assessment, and Control (BIVAC) – 1.5% of the FOB

If you want a more detailed guide on computing the costs, check out our article about importing used cars from Japan to Congo. Alternatively, you can contact Carused.jp for more information!