How do you import a car from Japan to Chad, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Approx. duty 30%, VAT 18% on the imported value. Indicative CEMAC-style duty baseline only.
Car import duty calculator for Chad
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Chad 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.
Chad is a landlocked country that relies almost entirely on the Port of Douala in Cameroon as its gateway for vehicle imports from Japan. The road corridor from Douala to the capital N'Djamena is long and logistically demanding, and Chad drives on the right so only left-hand-drive vehicles can be registered. The indicative tax baseline is approximately 30% import duty plus 18% VAT on the imported value, but exact tariff classification and transit broker costs must be confirmed before shipment.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Chad?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No reliable simple age cap confirmed; high route/security risk and customs variability.
- Inspection
- Customs clearance, registration
- Entry ports
- Douala + inland to N'Djamena
How do you import a car from Japan to Chad, step by step?
Check the import rules
No reliable simple age cap confirmed; high route/security risk and customs variability. Chad 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 Chad.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Chad: Customs clearance, registration.
Ship to Douala + inland to N'Djamena
Cars from Japan arrive at Douala + inland to N'Djamena. Sea transit is about 45–75 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 Chad's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Chad charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 30% | CIF value |
| VAT / GST | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty
Rate: 30%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT / GST
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Chad follows an indicative CEMAC-region tariff baseline of approximately 30% import duty on the CIF value, plus 18% VAT. However, the actual rate depends on the vehicle's HS tariff heading, engine size and category, and additional transit and broker charges apply for the Douala-to-Chad corridor.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Chad?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douala + inland to N'Djamena | RoRo or container | 45–75 | US$4,450 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Chad?
- 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 Chad?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N'Djamena | douala | US$810 | US$1,010 | 7 |
| Moundou | douala | US$700 | US$880 | 7 |
| Sarh | douala | US$830 | US$1,040 | 7 |
| Abeche | douala | US$1,100 | US$1,380 | 9 |
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
- Which port handles imports to Chad from Japan?
- Chad is landlocked, so vehicles come in via the Port of Douala in Cameroon and then travel overland through Cameroon to Chad.
- Does Chad accept right-hand-drive Japanese cars?
- No — Chad drives on the right and requires left-hand-drive vehicles for registration.
- How much is import duty on a car in Chad?
- The indicative baseline is approximately 30% import duty plus 18% VAT on the CIF value, but the actual figure varies by HS code and vehicle type, and transit broker fees add further cost.
Car import duty calculator for Chad
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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.