How do you import a car from Japan to Canada, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
You can import a car from Japan to Canada once it is more than 15 years old: older vehicles are not regulated by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at import, so Japanese cars built in 2011 or earlier qualify in 2026. Duty is 0% under CPTPP with proof of origin (6.1% without it), plus 5% GST.
Car import duty calculator for Canada
Canada drives on the right, but it does not ban right-hand-drive cars. What decides whether a Japanese car can come in is its age. Transport Canada states that vehicles older than 15 years are not regulated by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at the time of importation, so they can be imported as long as they meet Canada Border Services Agency entry requirements, including an inspection for soil contamination. Newer cars built for the Japanese market do not meet Canadian safety standards and cannot be imported. In 2026 that means a car built in 2011 or earlier. Cars arrive at Vancouver for western Canada or Halifax for the east. Customs duty on a Japanese-built car is 0% under the CPTPP agreement when origin is claimed, and 5% GST is collected at the border. Provincial sales tax and the provincial safety inspection come later, at registration, and provincial rules on right-hand-drive cars differ.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Canada?
- Steering
- Right- and left-hand drive
- Age limit
- Minimum-age rule: vehicles older than 15 years are not regulated by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at import, so Japanese-market cars qualify once they pass 15 years. Right-hand drive is not banned at the border; provincial registration rules apply.
- Inspection
- CBSA Form 1 (no RIV inspection for 15+)
- Restrictions
- Under-15-year vehicles inadmissible; Quebec RHD 25+ only, PEI RHD restricted.
- Special rules
- CPTPP 0% duty requires importer origin self-certification; else 6.1% MFN.
- Entry ports
- Port of Vancouver, Port of Halifax
How do you import a car from Japan to Canada, step by step?
Check the car is more than 15 years old
Only vehicles older than 15 years escape Canadian safety regulation at import. Confirm the month and year of manufacture from the Japanese registration before buying.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Its English translation proves ownership and age for customs and provincial registration.
Ship to Vancouver or Halifax
Cars from Japan arrive at the Port of Vancouver or Halifax. The shipping line issues the bill of lading, which customs needs for the entry.
Clear customs with CBSA
The car is declared to the Canada Border Services Agency, which confirms its non-regulated status by age and inspects it for soil contamination. Duty (0% with a CPTPP origin claim) and 5% GST are paid at this point.
Pass the provincial inspection and register
Each province sets its own safety inspection, sales tax and rules for right-hand-drive cars. Check your province before buying, then register and plate the car there.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice or bill of sale
- Japanese export certificate (cancelled registration) with English translation
- Bill of lading
- Proof of Japanese origin for the CPTPP 0% duty claim
- CBSA vehicle import declaration
- Provincial safety inspection and registration application
What import duties and taxes does Canada charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty (CPTPP 0%) | 0% | CIF value |
| GST | 5% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs Duty (CPTPP 0%)
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value.
GST
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Customs duty on a Japanese-built car is 0% under the CPTPP free-trade agreement when the importer claims Japanese origin; without that claim the 6.1% most-favoured-nation rate applies. The Goods and Services Tax of 5% is collected by CBSA on the value plus duty. Provincial sales tax is not collected at the border; it is paid when the car is registered in the province. The age rule matters more than the tax: a car that is not older than 15 years must meet Canadian safety standards, which Japanese-market cars do not.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Canada?
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 Vancouver | RoRo or container | 10–15 | US$1,250 |
| Halifax | RoRo or container | 34–46 | US$1,800 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in Canada?
- Models and prices
Mitsubishi Delica
A four-wheel-drive van sold in Japan as the Delica Space Gear and Delica D:5; examples built in 2011 or earlier are past the 15-year mark in 2026.
- Models and prices
Toyota Hiace
A van that Toyota did not sell in Canada; older Japanese-market examples become importable once they pass 15 years.
- Models and prices
Nissan Skyline GT-R
The R32, R33 and R34 GT-R were built from 1989 to 2002 for the Japanese market, so every one is now older than 15 years.
- Models and prices
Toyota Land Cruiser
Japanese-market Land Cruiser 80 and 100 series diesels were not sold in Canada in that form; 2011 and older examples qualify on age.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Canada?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Port of Vancouver | US$140 | US$180 | 1 |
| Toronto | Halifax | US$820 | US$1,030 | 5 |
| Halifax | Halifax | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| Montreal | Halifax | US$660 | US$820 | 3 |
| Ottawa | Halifax | US$770 | US$960 | 5 |
| Calgary | Port of Vancouver | US$640 | US$800 | 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 old does a car have to be to import it from Japan to Canada?
- More than 15 years old. Transport Canada does not regulate vehicles older than 15 years at import, so in 2026 a Japanese car built in 2011 or earlier qualifies. Newer Japanese-market cars cannot be imported.
- Can a right-hand-drive Japanese car be registered in Canada?
- Canada does not ban right-hand-drive cars at the border. Registration is a provincial matter, so check your province's rules and safety inspection before buying.
- What duty and tax do I pay to import a car from Japan to Canada?
- 0% customs duty on a Japanese-built car with a CPTPP origin claim (6.1% without it) and 5% GST at the border. Provincial sales tax is paid later at registration.
- Which ports do cars from Japan arrive at in Canada?
- Vancouver on the Pacific coast for western Canada and Halifax on the Atlantic coast for central and eastern Canada.
Sources
- Transport Canada — Importing older vehicles into Canada — checked 15 October 2026
- CBSA — Memorandum D19-12-1: Importing vehicles into Canada — checked 15 October 2026
- Registrar of Imported Vehicles — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Canada
Loading calculator…
Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.