How do you import a car from Japan to Burkina Faso, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Approx. duty 20%, VAT 18% on the imported value. Indicative WAEMU/ECOWAS-style duty baseline only.
Car import duty calculator for Burkina Faso
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Burkina Faso we can only source the limited left-hand-drive cars that come up at Japanese auctions, mostly European and American imports, so choice is narrow and prices are higher than for ordinary Japanese stock.
Burkina Faso is landlocked and relies on either Tema (Ghana) or Lomé (Togo) as its sea entry point for Japanese vehicles, with an overland leg of several hundred kilometres to reach Ouagadougou. The choice of transit port depends on availability and current road conditions. Indicative duty is around 20% with 18% VAT under the WAEMU/ECOWAS framework, though a broker quote is needed to confirm the current Burkinabè tariff.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Burkina Faso?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No reliable simple age cap confirmed; customs duties and transit charges depend on route.
- Inspection
- Customs clearance, registration
- Entry ports
- Tema/Lomé + inland to Ouagadougou
How do you import a car from Japan to Burkina Faso, step by step?
Check the import rules
No reliable simple age cap confirmed; customs duties and transit charges depend on route. Burkina Faso requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the car's registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. An English translation of it is needed for customs and registration in Burkina Faso.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Burkina Faso: Customs clearance, registration.
Ship to Tema/Lomé + inland to Ouagadougou
Cars from Japan arrive at Tema/Lomé + inland to Ouagadougou. Sea transit is about 42–65 days. The shipping line issues the bill of lading, which customs needs for the entry.
Lodge the customs entry and pay the taxes
A licensed clearing agent lodges the import declaration with the invoice, bill of lading and export certificate. Customs assesses Import duty and VAT / GST; the rates are in the duty table on this page.
Register the car
After customs release and payment of port charges, the car is registered and plated by Burkina Faso's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Burkina Faso charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 20% | CIF value |
| VAT / GST | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT / GST
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Indicative rates for Burkina Faso are approximately 20% import duty and 18% VAT on the CIF value, consistent with the WAEMU/ECOWAS regional tariff. Transit handling through Ghana or Togo adds further costs.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Burkina Faso?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tema/Lomé + inland to Ouagadougou | RoRo or container | 42–65 | US$3,700 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Burkina Faso?
- Models and prices
Ford Explorer
Sold new in Japan with left-hand drive, so used Explorers turn up in Japanese stock from time to time.
- Models and prices
Porsche Cayenne
Some Cayennes were sold new in Japan with left-hand drive and resurface in Japanese used stock in small numbers.
- Models and prices
Cadillac SRX
An American SUV sold new in Japan with left-hand drive; examples appear in Japanese used stock occasionally.
- Models and prices
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Left-hand-drive S-Class cars sold new in Japan appear in Japanese used stock, mostly older examples.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Burkina Faso?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouagadougou | tema | US$650 | US$810 | 7 |
| Bobo-Dioulasso | tema | US$660 | US$820 | 7 |
| Koudougou | tema | US$660 | US$820 | 7 |
| Ouahigouya | tema | US$730 | US$910 | 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
- How does a Japanese car reach Burkina Faso?
- Vehicles arrive by sea at either Tema port in Ghana or Lomé port in Togo, clear transit customs, and then travel overland to Ouagadougou and other cities.
- What duty and tax will I pay to import a car to Burkina Faso?
- Indicative rates are around 20% import duty and 18% VAT on the CIF value under the WAEMU/ECOWAS framework, plus transit handling costs through Ghana or Togo.
- Does Burkina Faso use left- or right-hand-drive vehicles?
- Burkina Faso is a left-hand-drive market.
Car import duty calculator for Burkina Faso
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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.