How do you import a car from Japan to Bahamas, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
The Bahamas charges 65% excise on used petrol and diesel cars up to 10 years old, then 10% VAT on the duty-inclusive landed value, a 1% customs processing fee and an environmental levy of $250 for a car up to 10 years old. Used hybrids valued up to $70,000 pay 10% excise. Both right- and left-hand-drive cars can be registered.
Worked example: a 2018 Honda Fit 1.3 L costs about 17,100 to 18,000 BSD (US$17,100 to US$18,000) delivered to Nassau, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Bahamas
The Bahamas drives on the left but registers both right- and left-hand-drive cars, so Japanese domestic models and American imports share the roads. The Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, which keeps the cost calculation simple. Age matters through the environmental levy. A used vehicle up to 10 years old pays a fixed $250 levy, while one older than 10 years pays 20% of its landed cost, which makes older cars uneconomic. The calculator therefore covers cars up to 10 years old. The largest tax is the excise on the car. Hybrids valued at $70,000 or less pay a much lower excise rate than petrol or diesel cars, so a hybrid can cost less to land than a petrol car of the same price. VAT is charged last, on a value that already includes the excise, fees and freight.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Bahamas?
- Steering
- Right- and left-hand drive
- Age limit
- Used vehicles generally max 10 years from manufacture; exceptions by approval.
- Inspection
- Import permit/customs clearance
- Entry ports
- Nassau
How do you import a car from Japan to Bahamas, step by step?
Check the age, fuel and value
Confirm the car is no more than 10 years old to avoid the 20% environmental levy. Check whether it is petrol, diesel or hybrid, because the excise rate depends on it.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Customs uses it to confirm the year and specification of the car.
Ship to Nassau
Cars from Japan arrive at Nassau. Cars for Grand Bahama or the Family Islands continue from there.
Lodge the customs entry
A C-13 home consumption entry is lodged with Bahamas Customs with the invoice, bill of lading and export certificate. Customs values the car and assesses excise, the processing fee, the environmental levy and VAT.
Collect the Customs Vehicle Information Slip
After payment Customs releases the car with a Customs Vehicle Information Slip, which the Road Traffic Department needs for registration.
Inspect and register at the Road Traffic Department
The car is inspected at a Road Traffic Department location. If it passes, the owner is registered in the Transport Management System and receives a licence disc, title certificate and plates.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice or bill of sale
- Japanese export certificate with English translation
- Original bill of lading
- C-13 home consumption entry lodged with Bahamas Customs
- Customs Vehicle Information Slip after release
- Insurance certificate or cover note
- Proof of age (passport, birth certificate or voter's card) and a valid Bahamian driver's licence
What import duties and taxes does Bahamas charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty (used cars up to 10 years) | 65% | CIF value |
| Environmental levy + processing fee | 1% | CIF value |
| VAT | 10% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty (used cars up to 10 years)
Rate: 65%. Charged on: CIF value. Source: Bahamas Customs — Excise Act schedule 2023.
Environmental levy + processing fee
Rate: 1%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 10%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
The excise on the car is charged on its CIF value: 65% for used petrol and diesel motor cars up to 10 years old, under the schedule to the Excise Act, 2023. Used hybrids valued at $70,000 or less pay 10%, and those above $70,000 pay 25%, which the table does not model. The 1% line in the table stands for two fees: the customs processing fee of 1% of value, and the environmental levy, which is a fixed $250 for a vehicle up to 10 years old and 20% of landed cost above 10 years. VAT of 10% is charged on the landed value, which includes the car, excise, fees and freight, as shown in the worked example in the Bahamas Customs brochure.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Bahamas?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Nassau | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Honda Fit 1.3 L | US$7,080 | US$8,850 | US$7,31083% of CIF | BSD 17,100 – 18,000US$17,100 – US$18,000 |
| 2018 Suzuki Swift 1.2 L | US$6,130 | US$7,900 | US$6,53083% of CIF | BSD 15,400 – 16,200US$15,400 – US$16,200 |
| 2018 Toyota Noah 2.0 L | US$13,700 | US$15,800 | US$13,10083% of CIF | BSD 29,900 – 30,800US$29,900 – US$30,800 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Nassau. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | RoRo or container | 25–35 | US$1,750 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in Bahamas?
- Models and prices
Honda Fit
A small petrol hatchback with low running costs. A low purchase price keeps the value-based excise and VAT down.
- Models and prices
Nissan Note
A compact hatchback with a 1.2-litre engine. A low purchase price keeps the value-based charges down.
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A small hybrid. Used hybrids valued up to $70,000 pay 10% excise, much less than petrol cars.
- Models and prices
Toyota Noah
A 2.0-litre people carrier seating up to 8, suited to larger families.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Bahamas?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | Nassau | US$110 | US$140 | 1 |
| Freeport | Nassau | US$210 | US$260 | 2 |
| Marsh Harbour | Nassau | US$180 | US$220 | 2 |
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 import a right-hand-drive car to the Bahamas?
- Yes. The Bahamas drives on the left and registers both right- and left-hand-drive cars, so Japanese domestic models can be registered.
- Is there an age limit on cars imported to the Bahamas?
- Older cars are heavily penalised rather than banned. A used vehicle over 10 years old pays an environmental levy of 20% of landed cost instead of $250.
- How much is VAT on an imported car in the Bahamas?
- 10%. It is charged on the landed value, which already includes the car, the excise, customs fees and freight.
- Do hybrid cars pay less tax in the Bahamas?
- Yes. Used hybrids valued up to $70,000 pay 10% excise under the Excise Act schedule, far less than petrol or diesel cars.
- What fees does Bahamas Customs add to a car import?
- A processing fee of 1% of value and a $250 environmental levy for a vehicle up to 10 years old. Storage, landing and security fees may also apply.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Nassau take?
- Around 25 to 35 days at sea, depending on the vessel and its stops. Onward delivery to other islands adds time.
- What documents do I need to register an imported car in the Bahamas?
- The Customs Vehicle Information Slip, bill of sale or invoice, insurance, proof of age and a valid Bahamian driver's licence.
- Where are imported cars inspected in the Bahamas?
- At the Road Traffic Department. The inspector checks the documents and the car before it is registered.
Sources
- Bahamas Customs — Excise Act, 2023 Schedule — checked 15 October 2026
- Bahamas Customs — Frequently Imported Items brochure 2024 — checked 15 October 2026
- Road Traffic Department — New Vehicle Registration and Inspection — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Bahamas
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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.