How do you import a car from Japan to Angola, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Japanese auction cars cannot normally be registered in Angola. A 2004 Ministry of the Interior decree prohibits registering right-hand-drive vehicles, and used light vehicles must be at most 5 years old. For an eligible car, duty is 10% of CIF, excise (IEC) 5–50% by engine size and VAT 14%, adding about 31–82% to CIF.
Car import duty calculator for Angola
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive and steering conversion is not offered. Angola prohibits registering right-hand-drive vehicles and limits used light vehicles to 5 years old, so there is no normal purchase path from Japan.
Angola drives on the right. Executive Decree 77/04 of 23 July 2004, issued by the Ministry of the Interior, prohibits the registration of right-hand-drive vehicles in Angola. Japanese auction cars are almost all right-hand drive and steering conversion is not offered, so standard Japanese used stock is not a route into Angola. Age is the second limit. Presidential Decree 155/20 of 1 June 2020 allows used light vehicles to be imported only if they are at most 5 years old from the date of first registration, heavy vehicles at most 8 years and motorcycles at most 3 years. The same decree regulates the businesses that import and sell road vehicles. The few left-hand-drive cars that pass through Japanese auctions are mostly European and American models, and few are young enough. For a car that does qualify, the taxes are customs duty, a special consumption tax (IEC) that rises steeply with engine size, and VAT. Cars arrive at the Port of Luanda.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Angola?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Used light vehicles may be imported up to 5 years old (heavy vehicles up to 8), under Presidential Decree 155/20. Angola drives on the right and restricts right-hand-drive registration, so most Japanese used stock does not qualify.
- Restrictions
- Angola is a left-hand-drive country and restricts right-hand-drive registration. Most Japanese used cars are RHD.
- Entry ports
- Port of Luanda
How do you import a car from Japan to Angola, step by step?
Check the steering rule
Right-hand-drive vehicles cannot be registered in Angola under Executive Decree 77/04. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive, and steering conversion is not offered.
Check the age
Used light vehicles must be at most 5 years old from first registration under Presidential Decree 155/20.
Source an eligible car
Only left-hand-drive cars within the age limit qualify, and Japanese auctions offer very few.
Ship to Luanda
Cars arrive at the Port of Luanda. The shipping line issues the bill of lading.
Clear customs
A licensed customs broker lodges the declaration with the General Tax Administration (AGT), which collects customs duty, IEC and VAT.
Register the car
Registration follows customs release. A right-hand-drive car will be refused registration.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice
- Export certificate or registration document showing the first registration date
- Bill of lading
- Customs declaration lodged by a licensed customs broker
- Proof of payment of customs duty, IEC and VAT
- Vehicle registration application
What import duties and taxes does Angola charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 10% | CIF value |
| Excise (IEC, engine cc) | 5%–50% by engine size | CIF value |
| VAT | 14% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs duty
Rate: 10%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise (IEC, engine cc)
Rate: 5% up to 1,000 cc; 15% up to 1,500 cc; 25% up to 2,500 cc; 50% above 2,500 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 14%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Customs duty is 10% of the CIF value. The special consumption tax (Imposto Especial de Consumo, IEC) is charged on CIF by engine size in the table: 5% up to 1,000 cc, 15% up to 1,500 cc, 25% up to 2,500 cc and 50% above. VAT is 14%, the standard rate, charged on CIF plus duty plus IEC. Together the lines add about 31% of CIF for a 1,000 cc car, about 54% at 2,500 cc and about 82% for larger engines. The duty and IEC bands are estimates that a local customs broker should confirm before purchase. These rates apply only to cars that meet the steering and age rules.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Angola?
Worked examples are not shown for this market. Use the calculator below with your own car.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Luanda | RoRo or container | 30–45 | US$1,800 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Angola?
- Models and prices
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Sold new in Japan in left-hand-drive form, and left-hand-drive examples appear at Japanese auctions. Only cars at most 5 years old meet the Angolan age rule.
- Models and prices
Porsche Cayenne
Some Cayennes sold new in Japan are left-hand drive. Recent examples are scarce, so choice is narrow.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Angola?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luanda | Port of Luanda | US$150 | US$200 | 1 |
| Lubango | Port of Luanda | US$520 | US$650 | 7 |
| Huambo | Port of Luanda | US$480 | US$600 | 7 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- Can I register a right-hand-drive car in Angola?
- No. Executive Decree 77/04 of 23 July 2004 prohibits the registration of right-hand-drive vehicles in Angola.
- Can I import a used car from Japan to Angola?
- In practice, no. Japanese auction cars are right-hand drive and cannot be registered in Angola. Only left-hand-drive cars within the age limit qualify, and Japanese auctions offer very few.
- What is the age limit for used cars imported into Angola?
- 5 years for light vehicles, counted from first registration, under Presidential Decree 155/20. Heavy vehicles may be up to 8 years old and motorcycles up to 3.
- How much is import duty on a car in Angola?
- Customs duty of 10% of CIF, IEC of 5–50% by engine size and 14% VAT. Together they add roughly 31–82% to the CIF value.
- What is IEC on cars in Angola?
- The Imposto Especial de Consumo, a special consumption tax that rises with engine size. The table applies 5% up to 1,000 cc, 15% to 1,500 cc, 25% to 2,500 cc and 50% above.
- What is the VAT rate on imported cars in Angola?
- 14%, the standard rate, charged on CIF plus customs duty plus IEC.
- Has Angola changed its used-car age limit before?
- Yes. Light vehicles were limited to 3 years under a 2014 decree, the limit rose to 6 years in 2018, and it has been 5 years since Presidential Decree 155/20 of June 2020.
- Are left-hand-drive cars available at Japanese auctions?
- A small number, mostly European and American models sold new in Japan in left-hand-drive form. Few are within the Angolan 5-year limit.
Sources
- ANTT Angola — Decreto Presidencial n.º 155/20 (import of road vehicles) — checked 15 October 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Angola, other taxes — checked 15 October 2026
- Polígrafo África — History of Angola's used-vehicle age limit — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Angola
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.