You’ve gone down the various exporting sites for used cars from Japan and just when you are about to click “Buy”, someone tells you to “Stop!” Before paying for your car, you need to know the various restrictions that might apply. One of the biggest mistakes any first-time importers make is not knowing their country’s import regulations on used cars.
Import regulations vary from country to country. Some countries have age restrictions on the vehicle, while others might require extensive inspections before it can be picked up from the port. A common import regulation for used cars in the U.S. for example, is that all used cars must be older than 25 years old. Not newer but older than! Whereas in Kenya, a vehicle cannot be older than 8 years from the manufacturing date. So don’t get these mixed up!
What documents are needed to pick up your imported vehicle?
To get your car from the port, you will need to bring in a set of documents to prove that the vehicle is yours. Different countries may require different sets of documents or additional ones such as inspection reports before it even gets on a ship. Some of the basic documents all countries will need are:
- Bill of Lading (BL or BoL)
- Original Commercial Invoice
- Exporting certificate
For more details on these documents, you can read about them here. Additionally, if you are from the U.S., you will need to fill in the EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7 to declare emissions and safety standards for the car that is being imported. It is always important to know which documents you will need or hire a professional customs clearance service to help you out.
What can I expect to pay when importing a car from Japan?
Another common thing that gets overlooked by buyers is the additional fees you might need to pay when you buy a used car from overseas. Every country has their own set of import duties you have to pay and if you live in the U.S., every state varies or if you are from Canada, the PST is different as well depending on which province you live in.
Below is a comprehensive list of countries and the import regulations for used cars as follows:
North America
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 25 years or older | Required in certain states. | Varies by state; 2.5% on passenger cars, 25% on trucks. |
| Canada | 15 years or older | No pre-shipment inspection required. | GST (5%) and PST (0-10%); 6.1% duty is required if not a NAFTA-certified vehicle. |
Europe
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No age restrictions but strict emissions regulations | SVA (single vehicle approval) or IVA (individual vehicle approval) | 10% duty, 20% VAT but classic vehicles (30+ years old) might be exempted from duty. |
| France | No age restrictions but must meet Euro 6 standards | No pre-shipment inspection required | VAT 20%, 10% import duty on non-EU vehicles; emissions-based registration fees. |
| Ireland | No age restriction, but older cars may incur higher taxed | National Car Test (NCT) for cars over 4 years. | VAT 25%, VRT (vehicle registration tax) based on CO2 emissions, and import duty 10% on non-EU vehicles. |
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Oceania
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | No age limit but must meet safety and emissions standards (Euro 4 or higher) | JEVIC or MAF | Import levies based on value and emissions fees are required if over the threshold. |
| Australia | No specific age restrictions but only certain models are allowed to be imported into Australia. Always check beforehand. | Quarantine and safety inspections required (AQIS) after arrival at the port | Import duty 5%, GST (10%), luxury car tax LCT (33%) if the car exceeds the AUD threshold. For more details on LCT, click here. |
| Fiji | Must be less than 5 years old for passenger cars | JEVIC | Import duty 15%, Excise duty 15-32% based on engine size, VAT 9%. |
| Malaysia | Max. 5 years old | No pre-shipment inspection required. | Import duty varies from 10-30% based on vehicle type, excise duty up to 100%, GST 6% |
Africa
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Must be less than 8 years from the year of manufacture. | QISJ or JEVIC | Import duty 25%, Excise duty 20%, VAT 16%, other cumulative duty may reach 60% |
| Tanzania | No age restriction but used cars of 8 years or older might have additional excise duty charged | EAA | Import duty 25%, Excise duty 10-25%, VAT 18% |
| Uganda | Max. 15 years old | EAA | Import duty 25%, VAT 18%, withholding tax 6%, environmental levy 20-50% based on the age. |
| Zambia | No age restriction | JEVIC | Import duty 25%, VAT 16%, Excise duty 10-30% based on engine size. |
| Zimbabwe | Max. 10 years old | EAA | Import duty 25-40%, surtax 35% on vehicles over 5 years, VAT 14.5% |
| Malawi | No age restriction | No pre-shipment inspection required | Import duty 25%, VAT 16.5%, excise duty 15-30% based on age and engine size |
| Mozambique | No age restriction | No pre-shipment inspection is required but Intertek inspection should be applied after purchase. | Import duty 20%, VAT 17%, Excise duty 3-5% based on engine size. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) | No age restriction | DGDA, OCC, Ministry of Commerce | Import duty 8-13%, VAT 16%, additional taxes for older vehicles |
Middle East
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | Max. 4 years and LHD-only. | No pre-shipment inspection is required but is recommended. | Import duty of 5%, may include customs duty of non-GCC certified cars |
Asia
| Country | Age & Other Restrictions | Inspection | Import Duties & Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Max 7 years. | No pre-shipment inspection required | No import duty for most imported vehicles but the car must comply with specific regulations. |
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Remember, import regulations are regularly updated. So if you plan on importing a used car from Japan yourself, make sure to do your research or ask your local government. Additionally, you can reach out to your exporting company Carused.jp. Our expert sales team has experience exporting to over 150 countries worldwide, with services in English, French, Portuguese, Swahili, and more!
Updated November 8th 2024 for accuracy and relevancy. Please feel free to contact us or give us any feedback for improvement. Thank you!
