IMPORT REGULATIONS

Right hand drive and Japanese Left hand drive cars

Basically, Right hand drive cars (RHD) rule the streets of Japan and its automobile market. However, you can find easily Japanese Left hand drive cars (LHD) in the country. In fact, Japan auto auctions are very popular for Japan left hand drive cars. Although RHD cars are more common, LHD cars are legal in the country too.

In fact, the quality of these cars is what makes them stand out not only in Japanese car market, but also overseas.

Generally, each country has its own import regulations and customs duty terms for importing products or services. Consequently, they differ for importing used motor-vehicles as well. Therefore, we present some information about country import regulations for Left hand drive cars (LHD).

Meanwhile, please note it is customer’s duty to make sure that he/she has the updated regulations on his/her country for importation of a vehicle(s).

AUSTRALIA

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions is required for certain models of a car. However, some models are not allowed to be imported into Australia. Please check it with local authorized government bodies.

– Steering wheel:     Right hand drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney.

– Inspection:            No Inspection is required for the motor vehicles older than 15 years.

However, Vehicle Degas is required and can be proceeded in Japan and in Australia as well. In addition, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) should be conducted after the road vehicle has arrived at the port of entry.

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BELGIUM

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions.

– Steering wheel:     Left hand drive (LHD).

(Source: Japanese left hand drive)

– Destination ports: Antwerp, Zeebrugge.

– Inspection:             No inspection is required.

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BANGLADESH

– Age restriction:     Commercial vehicles & SUV’s should be up to 5 years old based on Manufacture year, while passenger vehicles up to 3 years old.

– Steering wheel:     Right hand drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Chittagong and Dhaka.

– Inspection:             JAAI.

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CANADA

– Age restriction:     Vehicles must be more than 15 years old based on manufactured year and month. Meanwhile, buses must be manufactured before 1st of January, 1970.

– Steering wheel:    Right hand drive (RHD) and Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Halifax, New Westminster, Toronto, Vancouver.

– Inspection:             No Inspection is required.

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CYPRUS

– Age restriction:     Passenger vehicles should not be more than 5 years old from manufacture and trucks (up to 3 tons) more than 4 years.

– Steering wheel:     Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Limassol, Famagusta, and Kyrenia.

– Inspection:             Inspection is not required.

– TAXES AND DUTIES:

Import Duty: 10 to 22% of CIF + Engine Capacity Tax.

VAT: 19% of CIF + Import Duty + Excise Duty.

Democratic Republic of the CONGO

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions.

– Steering wheel:    Left Hand Drive (LHD). You may also import Right Hand Drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Dar Es salaam (Tanzania), Mombasa (Kenya), Matadi (RD Congo).

– Inspection:            No inspection is required.

FIJI

– Age restriction:     A vehicle / Truck must have EURO 4 Standard or 3 Digits emission code. In addition, hybrid vehicle must be no more than 5 years old based on manufacture year.

– Steering wheel:    Right Hand Drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Lautoka, Suva.

– Inspection:           JEVIC.

FINLAND

– Age restriction:     No age restriction.

– Steering wheel:     Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Helsinki, Hanko, Kotka.

– Inspection:             No inspection is required before shipment.

However, an imported vehicle must be inspected before registration in Finland. In fact, it can be conducted after its arrival in the country even before the implementation of taxation.

– TAXES AND DUTIES:

GERMANY

– Age restriction:     No age restriction.

– Steering wheel:     Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Bremerhaven, Hamburg.

– Inspection:             Technical Inspection (Fahrzeug-Hauptuntersuchung), TUV is required for a vehicle imported into Germany.

– TAXES AND DUTIES:

A)   Import Duty of 10% of a vehicle Cost and Freight (C&F).

B)   Tax at 19% of a vehicle Cost and Freight (C&F).

C)   Every motor vehicle registered in Germany is subject to a special motor vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer). Consequently, the first payment must be paid soon after registering a vehicle.

Note: Available Japanese left hand drive cars would be great source.

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KENYA

– Age restriction:     A Vehicle should not be more than 7 years old based on First registration year. In addition, difference between Manufacture and First registration year should not be more than one year.

– Steering wheel:    Right hand drive (RHD). However, a special vehicle models such as ambulance, fire engine, and large construction vehicles are allowed for importing even Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Mombasa.

– Inspection:             QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan).

– Free storage at a terminal (CFS):

Generally, most of the terminals in Mombasa, Kenya, provide 21 Free days storage service from the date of arrival at a terminal.

MALAWI

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions.

– Steering wheel:     Right hand drive (RHD). Exception is provided on special vehicle cases like Ambulance, Fire engine.

– Destination ports: Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), Durban (South Africa) and Maputo (Mozambique).

– Inspection:             No inspection is required.

MONGOLIA

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions.

– Steering wheel:     Being Left hand drive (LHD) country, but allows importation of Right hand drive (RHD) vehicle with a valid import license.

– Destination ports: Ulaanbaatar and port of Tianjin.

– Inspection:              No inspection is required.

– Shipment:              Containers.

MOZAMBIQUE

– Age restriction:     No age restrictions.

– Steering wheel:    Right hand drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Maputo (Mozambique), (partly: Beira, Nacala (Mozambique)) Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), Durban (South Africa).

– Inspection:            No inspection is required.

NEW ZEALAND

– Age restriction:     A vehicle must have 3 Digit emission code, and also ESC (Electronic Stability Control) for particular models of the vehicle.

– Steering wheel:     Right Hand Drive (RHD).

– Destination ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Nelson, Wellington.

– Inspection:            JEVIC and Quarantine service (MAF Biosecurity).

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POLAND

– Age restriction:     No age restriction.

– Steering wheel:     Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Gdansk, Bremerhaven (located in Germany).

– Inspection:             No Inspection is required.

On the other hand, a passenger vehicle should go though roadworthiness test according to the country regulations.

– TAXES AND DUTIES:

All duties and taxes should be paid on a car imported from outside the EU. In addition, there is requirement of Certificate of origin for obtaining preferential treatment, when Customs authorities assessed duties.

With regard to tax and duty free importation, returning residents should submit the proof of owning and using a vehicle for at least six months to the Customs Office. In addition, an imported car into Poland cannot be sold, lent, rented, or used by another individual (either free of charge or charged) for a period of 1 year following the importation.

Generally, a shipper must fill out a notarized Power of Attorney to handle the import when importing a used vehicle into Poland. If this form is not filled, the shipper must be present for Customs clearance.

Note: Available Japanese left hand drive vehicles would be great source.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

– Age restriction:     A passenger car should be more than 4 years old from manufacture year.

– Steering wheel:    Left hand drive (LHD), and Right hand drive (RHD) might also be imported under some conditions.

– Destination ports: Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah.

– Inspection:             No Inspection is required.

Note: Available Japanese left hand drive cars might be considerable.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

– Age restriction:     A vehicle must be 25 years old or more based on month of Manufacture. For more detailed information, please follow NHTSA.

– Steering wheel:    Right hand drive (RHD) and Left hand drive (LHD).

– Destination ports: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Brunswick, Charleston, Galveston, Honolulu, Jacksonville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Newport News, Oakland, Palm Beach, Portland, Providence, Richmond, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tacoma, Tampa, Wilmington.

– Inspection:  No Inspection is required before shipment, but please follow NHTSA for compliance with USA government requirements.

– TAXES AND DUTIES:

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