Cost to import a car from Japan to Canada

Rates & rules last reviewed

Canada is a left-hand-drive market, and Japanese domestic stock is right-hand drive — so importing a car from Japan to Canada is possible, but two key facts shape every decision. First, Canada enforces a 15-year minimum age rule, measured from the vehicle's month of manufacture: once a car is 15 or more years old it becomes EXEMPT from Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and from the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program — there is no RIV fee and no RIV inspection. That exemption is exactly why the 15-year mark matters; a car built in, say, mid-2011 becomes importable in mid-2026. It clears through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on a Vehicle Import Form (Form 1) with the box marked "not required to enter the RIV Program." Second, right-hand-drive vehicles are importable across Canada and registerable in most provinces — with two notable exceptions: Quebec only registers RHD vehicles that are 25+ years old, and Prince Edward Island restricts RHD use (insurers may also surcharge). The tax structure is lean: Japanese-brand cars qualify for 0% customs duty under the CPTPP free-trade agreement when a certificate of origin is filed (our team self-certifies this), otherwise the 6.1% MFN rate applies; on top sits 5% federal GST and a CAD $100 air-conditioning excise at import, with provincial sales tax paid later at registration. Cars arrive at the Port of Vancouver on the Pacific side (the route for western Canada) or the Port of Halifax on the Atlantic side (for central and eastern Canada). Our licensed team confirms exact eligibility, handles the CBSA paperwork and CPTPP certificate, and coordinates the full process so there are no surprises.

Main ports
  • Port of Vancouver
  • Port of Halifax
Import age rule
15-year minimum age; 15+ is RIV/CMVSS-exempt (CBSA Form 1).
Steering
LHD
Duties & taxes
Customs duty 0% under CPTPP (self-certified Japan origin; 6.1% MFN fallback) + 5% GST + a CAD $100 A/C excise. Provincial sales tax is at registration. A 15-YEAR minimum-age rule applies, and 15+ vehicles are RIV/CMVSS-exempt.

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Estimate only — duties, freight and last-mile delivery vary and policies change. Our team confirms exact, current figures on WhatsApp before any bid.

How to import a car from Japan to Canada

  1. Confirm the 15-year eligibility rule

    The first check is always age: the car must be at least 15 years old from its month of manufacture. At that point it is exempt from CMVSS and the RIV program. In 2026 that means a vehicle built in 2011 or earlier (checked against the build month). Our team confirms this before a bid is placed.

  2. We source it from Japan's auctions

    With our licensed USS auction access, we find the right car, read the auction sheet and grade, and verify actual condition. We focus on age-eligible models with strong auction grades.

  3. Export and CBSA documentation

    We prepare the Japanese export documents and the CBSA Vehicle Import Form (Form 1) — marked as a vehicle not required to enter the RIV program, since 15+ cars are exempt — plus a CPTPP certificate of origin so the car clears at 0% customs duty. There is no RIV fee for an age-exempt vehicle.

  4. Ocean shipping to Vancouver or Halifax

    The car sails to the Port of Vancouver (for western Canada) or the Port of Halifax (for Ontario, Quebec and the east). We send you the sailing schedule and tracking.

  5. CBSA customs, duty and GST

    At the port our team handles Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) clearance: 0% customs duty with the CPTPP certificate (or 6.1% MFN if none applies), 5% federal GST on the imported value, and the CAD $100 air-conditioning excise where the car has A/C.

  6. Provincial safety inspection and registration

    A 15+ car needs no RIV inspection. Most provinces require a provincial out-of-province safety inspection before the car is registered in your name; provincial sales tax (PST/QST/HST) is paid at that point. We coordinate the inspection and registration steps.

Import duties & taxes in Canada explained

For a Japanese-brand car, the customs duty is 0% under the CPTPP free-trade agreement when a certificate of origin is filed — our team self-certifies this, which is standard for Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other Japanese makes. The 6.1% MFN rate only applies if no CPTPP certificate is filed (for example a non-CPTPP-origin badge). On top of duty, CBSA collects 5% federal GST on the imported value and a CAD $100 air-conditioning excise where the car has A/C. A federal "green levy" only bites on thirsty vehicles (weighted fuel use of 13 L/100km or more), so typical economy JDM cars pay nothing extra; a luxury tax applies only above CAD 100,000. Provincial sales tax (PST, QST or HST) is paid later at registration — not at import — and ranges from 0% in Alberta to about 10% in the Maritimes. The defining rule is the 15-year minimum age: vehicles under 15 years from their month of manufacture are inadmissible, but once 15+ they are exempt from the RIV program and CMVSS. Right-hand drive is registerable in most provinces (Quebec requires 25+ years; PEI restricts RHD). Our team confirms the exact, current figure for your car.

Popular Japanese cars for Canada

  • Honda Fit

    Age-eligible examples from 2011 or earlier are available at Japanese auction — fuel-efficient and practical for everyday Canadian driving.

    See prices

  • Mazda Demio

    Reliable compact hatchback with eligible vintage models — a low-cost import option once the 15-year threshold is met.

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  • Suzuki Swift

    Light and economical older examples are available at auction — good value for buyers in provinces that accept right-hand drive.

    See prices

  • Toyota Corolla Axio

    Age-compliant Corolla variants are among the most reliable and widely serviced options at Canadian independent garages.

    See prices

  • Daihatsu Mira

    Eligible vintage kei cars are popular with collectors and low-budget buyers in provinces where kei-sized vehicles are registerable.

    See prices

Shipping cost to major cities in Canada

  • Vancouver — You are at the Pacific port, so local delivery for a sedan runs roughly $140.
  • Halifax — You are at the Atlantic port, so local delivery for a sedan runs roughly $150.
  • Montreal — Delivery from Halifax to Montreal adds roughly $660 for a sedan.
  • Ottawa — Delivery from Halifax to Ottawa adds roughly $770 for a sedan.
  • Toronto — Delivery from Halifax to Toronto adds roughly $820 for a sedan.
  • Calgary — Calgary is served by the Pacific Port of Vancouver, so delivery runs roughly $640 for a sedan — not trucked across the country from Halifax.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 15-year rule for importing a car from Japan to Canada?
A vehicle must be at least 15 years old from its month of manufacture. Once it crosses that mark it becomes exempt from CMVSS and the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program — no RIV fee, no RIV inspection — and clears through CBSA on Form 1. In 2026 that means a car built in 2011 or earlier. Cars under 15 years are inadmissible regardless of condition. Our team confirms eligibility before any bid is placed.
Can a right-hand-drive Japanese car be registered in Canada?
Yes in most provinces. A 15+ car needs no RIV inspection, but most provinces require an out-of-province provincial safety inspection before registration. Two exceptions: Quebec only registers RHD vehicles that are 25+ years old, and Prince Edward Island restricts RHD use. Some insurers apply a surcharge. Our team checks your province before sourcing.
What taxes do I pay to import a car from Japan to Canada?
For a Japanese-brand car the customs duty is 0% under CPTPP with a certificate of origin (our team files this); otherwise the 6.1% MFN rate applies. You also pay 5% federal GST and a CAD $100 air-conditioning excise at import. Provincial sales tax (PST, QST or HST, 0%–~10%) is paid later at registration. Our team quotes the full landed cost before you commit.

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