If you are new to the car business, we strongly recommend checking import regulations before purchase. Each country has its own unique import regulations and procedures, mainly you will have to check:
Age restriction
Inspection upon arrival or export inspection before shipment in Japan
Steering side location ( Right Hand Drive (RHD) and/or Left Hand Drive (LHD) )
Duties, tariffs and taxes based on vehicles engine capacity
Some countries demand the year of manufacture
AFRICA
BOTSWANA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.finance.gov.bw/customs/index.htmImportantNone
BURUNDI Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.english.obr.bi/ImportantMostly Left Hand Drive cars. Some limitation on special equipment
DRC Year RestrictionNo more than10 years from first registration year for passenger vehicles, for commercial 7 years Inspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.azfreight.com/azworld/aw13955.cfm ImportantPlease confirm the duty before the shipment and check the seat numbers for commercial vehicles and minibuses
GHANA Year RestrictionUnder 10 yearsInspection/-Agents Customs: http://www.gra.gov.gh ImportantOnly Left Hand Drive cars are allowed to be imported, except special-purpose cars
KENYA Year RestrictionLess than 7 yearsInspection/-AgentsJEVIC or QISJ/-Clearing agents: http://www.kra.go.ke/ImportantRight-Hand Drive cars only. (Exceptions for special cars e.g. ambulance and fire trucks)
MALAWI Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://malawibook.com/gouvernement/customs-clearing/ImportantRight Hand Drive mostly ( There is an exception for special equipped vehicles)
MOZAMBIQUE Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsINTERTEK/- Clearing agents: http://www.mcli.co.za/mcli-web/spd/cfa.htmImportantYou will need to apply for vehicles MOZ number at your local INTERTEK office.
NAMIBIA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.mof.gov.na/customs-exerciseImportantFor exact numbers and recent regulation, please contact local authorities
NIGERIA Year RestrictionNoneInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: https://www.customs.gov.ng/ImportantAll vehicles must be Left Hand Drive cars, except special equipped vehicles
TANZANIA Year RestrictionNoneInspection/-AgentsJAAI or EAA-Clearing agents: http://www.tra.go.tz/ImportantVehicles up to 10 years are preferred, for older cars some additional charges will apply
UGANDA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsJEVIC/-Clearing agents: https://uganda.visahq.com/customs/ImportantRight-Hand Drive vehicles only. (Exceptions for special cars e.g. ambulance and fire trucks)
SOUTH AFRICA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents -for transit vehicles please check them locally since the rates differ quite muchImportantImport is not allowed, permitted only for few models and for transit vehicles
ZAMBIA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsJEVIC/-Clearing agents: https://www.zra.org.zm/ImportantRight-Hand Drive vehicles only. (Exceptions for special cars e.g. ambulance and fire trucks)
ZIMBABWE Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.zimra.co.zw/ImportantRight-Hand Drive vehicles only. (Exceptions for special cars e.g. ambulance and fire trucks)
JAMAICA Year RestrictionPassenger cars: 3 years Commercial cars: 4 yearsInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/ImportantPlease check the genuine Manufacture date, same as on the belt
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.customs.gov.ag/Important
BAHAMAS Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/customsImportant
DOMINICA Year RestrictionUnder 5 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms office: http://customs.gov.dm/Important
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Year RestrictionUnder 6 yearsInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://dominican-republic.shipping-international.com/freight-forwarders/Important
GRENADA Year RestrictionNo Year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.grenadacustoms.comImportant
SAINT KITTS AND NAVIS Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.skncustoms.com/Important
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Year RestrictionLess than 6 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.customs.gov.tt/ImportantPlease check the actual manufacture date
SOUTH AND NORTH AMERICA
CANADA Year RestrictionOver 15 years old from the manufacture date. Buses manufactured before January 1, 1971Inspection/-AgentsCustoms office: http://http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pdt-pdt-eng.html#ImportantVehicles weighing more than 4,425 pounds are subject to extra tax
CHILE Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.aduana.cl/ImportantRight-Hand Steering Wheel has to be changed into Left-Hand Steering Wheel.
PERU Year RestrictionLess than 5 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://peru.visahq.com/customs/ImportantOnly Left Hand Drive cars only
PARAGUAY Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.mic.gov.py/Important
US Year RestrictionPlease carefully check http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/Inspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.hotfrog.in/Products/Clearing-And-Forwarding-AgentsImportantYear restriction and safety, bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards will be checked upon arrival
OCEANIA
AUSTRALIA Year RestrictionAccording to RAWS the year restriction is 15 years old / Vehicle Import Approval is a must/Inspection/-AgentsAQIS/- Customs: http://www.customs.gov.au/ImportantA freon (R12) gas removal is compulsory.
NEW ZEALAND Year RestrictionNo Year restrictionInspection/-AgentsMAF /odometers inspection/-Customs agents: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/ImportantYou will have to pass the compliance test upon arrival of your car/ no rust, no structural changes or accidents cars/
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Year RestrictionNo Year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: www.customs.gov.pg/Important
SOLOMON ISLANDS Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.mof.gov.sb/Important
FIJI Year RestrictionLess than 6 yearsInspection/-Agentshttp://www.frca.org.fj/customs-charges-and-duties/ImportantPlease check the actual manufacture date
SOUTHERN ASIA
HONG KONG Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.td.gov.hk/ImportantEnvironmental Protection Department approval is needed, before shipping a vehicle into Hong Kong.
MALAYSIA Year RestrictionImport License is requiredInspection/-AgentsNONE/-Customs: http://www.customs.gov.myImportantRight-Hand Steering Wheel has to be changed into Left-Hand Steering Wheel.
MYANMAR Year RestrictionFrom 2007 onwardsInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.myanmarcustoms.gov.mm/ImportantOnly Left Hand Drive cars only
PAKISTAN Year RestrictionPassenger cars: 3 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.fbr.gov.pk/ImportantPlease check import taxes and vehicle category, engine capacity and Capital Value Tax
SINGAPORE Year RestrictionLess than 3 yearsInspection/-AgentsEmission Standarts/-Customs agents: http://www.customs.gov.sg/ImportantCheck in advance emission codes and restrictions
SRI LANKA Year RestrictionPassenger cas：2 years Commercial vehicles：Light Weight Vehicle:4 years /Heavey Weight Vehicle:5 yearsInspection/-AgentsJAAI/-Clearing agents: http://www.shiplink.lk/cargo-clearing-forwarding.htmlImportantL / C settlement is a condition of import payments.
THAILAND Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://Customs: www.customs.go.thImportantYou will have to pass the compliance test upon arrival of your car/ no rust, no structural changes or accidents cars/
UAE Year RestrictionNo Year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms: http://www.dubaicustoms.gov.ae/enImportant
BANGLADESH Year RestrictionLess than 5 yearsInspection/-AgentsJAAI/- Clearing agents http://www.bdtradeinfo.com/yellowpages/des_data.asp?subcategory_id=195ImportantThe payment is only on L/C terms, please contact your local Bank for payment terms and conditions.
Europe
IRELAND Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms and Tax: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vrt/vrt-guide.htmlImportant
CYPRUS Year RestrictionSouth Cyprus: years North Cyprus: 3 yearsInspection/-AgentsClearing agents: http://www.gmbds.com/10237.htmImportantPlease check the actual manufacture year, vehicle category and engine size
UK Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-Agents(COC)/Individual Vehicle Approval is need/-Clearing agents: http://www.azfreight.com/azworld/aw27205.cfmImportant
RUSSIA Year RestrictionLess than 5 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents:http://www.russian-customs.org/Importantplease visit www.akebono.in
GERMANY Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.zoll.de/EN/Home/home_node.htmlImportantDifferent regulation for RHD and LHD cars, please check locally
NETHERLANDS Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.belastingdienst.nl/contact_en/ImportantDifferent regulation for RHD and LHD cars, please check locally
POLAND Year RestrictionNo year restrictionInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.finanse.mf.gov.pl/strona-glownaImportantDifferent regulation for RHD and LHD cars, please check locally
FINLAND Year RestrictionLess than 5 yearsInspection/-AgentsCustoms agents: http://www.tulli.fi/en/ImportantDifferent regulation for RHD and LHD cars, please check locally
SPAIN Year Restriction6 YearsInspection/-AgentsRequired/-Clearing agents: http://transport-auxiliaries.europages.co.ukImportantDifferent regulation for RHD and LHD cars, please check locally