Reconditioned car price in Bangladesh: what does car import duty add to a car from Japan? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
The reconditioned car price in Bangladesh is driven by car import duty: 25% customs duty, supplementary duty from 45% (up to 1,500 cc) to 500% (above 4,000 cc), 15% VAT, 3% regulatory duty and 5% advance income tax, about 116% of CIF for a 1,500 cc car and 196% at 2,000 cc. Cars must be right-hand drive, no more than 5 years old and inspected in Japan.
Worked example: a 2022 Toyota Corolla Axio 1.5 L costs about 3,240,000 to 3,370,000 BDT (US$26,300 to US$27,400) delivered to Dhaka, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Bangladesh
Bangladesh drives on the left and does not register left-hand-drive cars, so Japanese domestic stock fits the steering rule as it is. Most used cars arrive as "reconditioned" vehicles sold by importers who belong to BARVIDA, the reconditioned vehicle importers' association. The Import Policy Order limits used cars to 5 years old, so in practice only recent cars qualify. The Import Policy Order 2026-2029, published on 24 August 2026, also stopped imports of reconditioned electric vehicles. Cars from Japan arrive by ro-ro vessel at Chattogram, and some ships continue to Mongla, which also receives reconditioned cars from Japan. Each car is inspected in Japan before shipping. Engine size decides the tax bill. Customs duty, VAT and the smaller levies are fixed percentages, but the supplementary duty climbs steeply with displacement. A 1,500 cc car pays 45% supplementary duty, while the next band pays 100%. Customs applies its own valuation, with a depreciation allowance for age, so the assessed value can differ from the invoice.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Bangladesh?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Reconditioned cars ≤5 years from manufacture (BARVIDA).
- Inspection
- JEVIC/QISJ
- Restrictions
- LHD not registrable.
- Entry ports
- Chattogram Port (Chittagong)
How do you import a car from Japan to Bangladesh, step by step?
Check age, steering and engine size
The car must be right-hand drive and no more than 5 years old under the Import Policy Order. Check the engine size before buying, because it sets the supplementary duty band.
Choose who imports the car
Imports are paid through a Bangladeshi bank. Most private buyers purchase through a registered reconditioned-car importer, who opens the import and handles clearance.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Its English translation proves the year of manufacture and the cancelled registration.
Pass the pre-shipment inspection in Japan
The car is inspected in Japan before it ships, by JEVIC or QISJ. The inspection certificate goes with the shipping documents.
Ship to Chattogram or Mongla
Ro-ro vessels from Japan unload at Chattogram, and some continue to Mongla. The shipping line issues the bill of lading needed for the customs entry.
Lodge the bill of entry and pay the taxes
A licensed clearing and forwarding agent lodges the bill of entry with the National Board of Revenue. Customs assesses customs duty, supplementary duty, VAT, regulatory duty and advance income tax.
Clear the port and register with BRTA
After customs release and port charges, the car leaves the port. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) then registers it and issues number plates.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice
- Japanese export certificate (cancelled registration) with English translation
- Bill of lading
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate (JEVIC or QISJ)
- Bank import documents for the payment
- Bill of entry lodged by a licensed clearing and forwarding agent
- Customs release and tax payment receipts
- BRTA registration application
What import duties and taxes does Bangladesh charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | 25% | CIF value |
| Supplementary Duty (engine) | 45%–500% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| VAT | 15% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
| Regulatory Duty | 3% | CIF value |
| Advance Income Tax | 5% | CIF value |
Customs Duty
Rate: 25%. Charged on: CIF value.
Supplementary Duty (engine)
Rate: 45% up to 1,500 cc; 100% up to 2,000 cc; 250% up to 2,750 cc; 350% up to 4,000 cc; 500% above 4,000 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
VAT
Rate: 15%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Regulatory Duty
Rate: 3%. Charged on: CIF value.
Advance Income Tax
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF value.
Customs duty is 25% of the CIF value, the rate in the National Board of Revenue tariff for motor cars under heading 87.03. Supplementary duty is charged on CIF plus customs duty and depends on engine size: 45% up to 1,500 cc, rising in steps to 500% above 4,000 cc (see the table for the bands in between). VAT of 15% is charged on CIF plus customs duty plus supplementary duty. Regulatory duty of 3% and advance income tax of 5% are charged on CIF. Because supplementary duty is applied after customs duty and VAT is applied after both, a small rise in engine size can almost double the tax. Customs does not simply accept the invoice for a used car: it applies its own valuation with a depreciation allowance for age. The tariff splits reconditioned cars into several engine bands, so check the current rates for the exact displacement before buying.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Bangladesh?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Toyota Corolla Axio 1.5 L | US$10,900 | US$11,900 | US$13,900116% of CIF | BDT 3,240,000 – 3,370,000US$26,300 – US$27,400 |
| 2022 Toyota Corolla Fielder 1.5 L hybrid | US$12,300 | US$13,700 | US$16,000116% of CIF | BDT 3,710,000 – 3,860,000US$30,100 – US$31,300 |
| 2022 Toyota Harrier 2.0 L | US$33,600 | US$35,000 | US$68,500195% of CIF | BDT 12,810,000 – 12,950,000US$104,000 – US$105,000 |
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 Dhaka. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
Bangladesh has complex or fast-changing import taxes, so this is an indicative range only. Customs may assess a different amount.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | RoRo | 18–26 | US$1,050 |
| Chittagong | RoRo | 20–25 | US$750 |
Ro-ro vessels from Japan discharge at Chattogram, and some continue to Mongla with the rest of their cars.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Bangladesh?
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla Axio
A 1.5-litre sedan that stays in the lowest supplementary duty band (45%). It is one of the most common reconditioned cars in Bangladesh.
- Models and prices
Toyota Premio
A 1.5-litre family sedan in the lowest supplementary duty band. Production ended in 2021, so few examples still meet the 5-year rule.
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla Fielder
A 1.5-litre estate sold in petrol and hybrid form. It shares parts with the Axio, so servicing is straightforward.
- Models and prices
Toyota Noah
A seven- or eight-seat people carrier with a 2.0-litre engine or a 1.8-litre hybrid. Engine size decides whether it falls in the 45% or 100% supplementary duty band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Harrier
A 2.0-litre SUV. It pays 100% supplementary duty, so its tax bill is much higher than a 1.5-litre car's.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Bangladesh?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | US$200 | US$250 | 2 |
| Sylhet | Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | US$240 | US$300 | 2 |
| Chattogram | Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Khulna | Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | US$220 | US$280 | 2 |
| Rajshahi | Chattogram Port (Chittagong) | US$290 | US$360 | 3 |
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
- How do I ship a car from Japan to Bangladesh?
- By ro-ro vessel to Chattogram or Mongla. The car is inspected in Japan first, then a licensed clearing agent lodges the bill of entry and pays the taxes before BRTA registration.
- How old can an imported car be in Bangladesh?
- No more than 5 years old. The Import Policy Order sets the limit for used and reconditioned cars, so only recent cars qualify.
- Can I import a left-hand-drive car to Bangladesh?
- No. Bangladesh does not register left-hand-drive cars. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive, so they meet the rule as they are.
- How much is the duty on a 1,500 cc car from Japan to Bangladesh?
- About 116% of CIF. That is 25% customs duty, 45% supplementary duty on CIF plus customs duty, 15% VAT, 3% regulatory duty and 5% advance income tax.
- Why are cars above 1,500 cc so expensive to import to Bangladesh?
- Because supplementary duty jumps from 45% to 100% above 1,500 cc and keeps rising, to 500% above 4,000 cc. VAT is then charged on top, so the total tax roughly doubles.
- Which ports in Bangladesh take cars from Japan?
- Chattogram and Mongla. Chattogram is the main port. Ro-ro ships also discharge reconditioned cars from Japan at Mongla, often after unloading part of the cargo at Chattogram.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Chattogram take?
- Around 18 to 26 days at sea, depending on the vessel and its stops. Customs clearance and road transport add several days.
- Can I import a used electric car to Bangladesh?
- No. The Import Policy Order 2026-2029, published on 24 August 2026, removed permission to import reconditioned or used electric vehicles.
- How does Bangladesh Customs value a reconditioned car?
- Customs applies its own valuation with a depreciation allowance for the car's age, rather than relying on the invoice alone. The assessed value can differ from the price paid in Japan.
- Who registers an imported car in Bangladesh?
- The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). It registers the car and issues number plates after customs has released it.
Sources
- National Board of Revenue — Customs Tariff, Chapter 87 — checked 15 October 2026
- Bangladesh Customs — Vehicle import — checked 15 October 2026
- Bangladesh Road Transport Authority — checked 15 October 2026
- The Financial Express — Import Policy Order 2026-2029 and reconditioned EVs — checked 15 October 2026
- The Business Standard — Ship docks at Mongla with 761 cars from Japan — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Bangladesh
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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.