How do you import a car from Japan to Chile, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
MAINLAND IMPORT PROHIBITED for used passenger cars (Ley 18.483 Art. 21). Hypothetical tariff if ban were lifted: 6% ad valorem duty on CIF + 19% IVA on CIF+duty. ZOFRI Iquique: used cars traded within free zone only (exempt from duty and IVA); cannot be nationalized to mainland Chile.
Car import duty calculator for Chile
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Chile 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.
Chile is widely associated with Japanese used cars — but the reality is more restricted than the reputation suggests. Under Ley 18.483 Art. 21 (1985), the import of used passenger cars, motorcycles and light trucks to mainland Chile is prohibited for ordinary buyers. The ZOFRI free zone in Iquique does receive used vehicles from Japan, but cars sold within the zone cannot be nationalised and driven on the Chilean mainland — they stay within the free zone only. A small number of exemptions exist: a returning Chilean resident who has lived abroad for more than one year may bring in one vehicle (new or used); persons with disabilities qualify under Ley 20.422; diplomats are exempt; and vehicles 30 years or older may qualify as historic collector items under a separate customs resolution. If you are a returning resident or fall within another qualifying category, AskJapanCars can source the right car from Japan's USS auctions, manage shipping to the Port of San Antonio or Iquique, and work through the homologation and IVA requirements with you. The hypothetical tariff if the ban were lifted would be 6% ad valorem duty on CIF plus 19% IVA — modest by regional standards — but eligibility, not cost, is the primary question for Chile.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Chile?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No formal maximum age limit in law, but used passenger cars cannot be imported to mainland Chile (Ley 18.483 Art. 21). Returning-resident exemption allows one vehicle (new or used) per person after 18+ months abroad. Vintage/historic vehicles (30+ years, for collection) may qualify under separate customs resolution.
- Inspection
- For eligible new-vehicle imports: mandatory compliance with Reglamento de Homologación (Ministerio de Transportes). Emissions and safety standards must be certified. Catalytic converter required for all petrol vehicles.
- Permits
- Standard customs declaration (DIN) filed electronically through SICEX. ZOFRI re-export: ZOFRI S.A. issues its own documentation for intra-zone sales.
- Restrictions
- PROHIBITED: Import of used passenger cars, motorcycles, and light trucks to mainland Chile is banned by Ley 18.483 Art. 21 (1985). Exceptions are limited to special-use vehicles (ambulances, police, fire, cranes, etc.), returning Chilean residents (one vehicle per person, 18+ months abroad), persons with disabilities (Ley 20.422), and diplomats. The ZOFRI Iquique and Punta Arenas free zones allow intra-zone used car sales but these CANNOT be nationalized to mainland Chile.
- Special rules
- ZOFRI (Zona Franca de Iquique): used cars may be bought and used within the free zone and its extension zone (Tarapacá and Arica y Parinacota regions) without customs duty or VAT, but re-export to mainland Chile is prohibited. Returning-resident franchise (Tariff Item 00.33): one vehicle per returning Chilean (18+ months abroad), new or used, with 6% duty + 19% VAT waived under the franchise terms.
- Entry ports
- Port of Iquique (ZOFRI free zone), Port of San Antonio
How do you import a car from Japan to Chile, step by step?
Check the import rules
No formal maximum age limit in law, but used passenger cars cannot be imported to mainland Chile (Ley 18.483 Art. 21). Returning-resident exemption allows one vehicle (new or used) per person after 18+ months abroad. Vintage/historic vehicles (30+ years, for collection) may qualify under separate customs resolution. Chile requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Obtain the import permit
Standard customs declaration (DIN) filed electronically through SICEX. ZOFRI re-export: ZOFRI S.A. issues its own documentation for intra-zone sales.
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 Chile.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Chile: For eligible new-vehicle imports: mandatory compliance with Reglamento de Homologación (Ministerio de Transportes). Emissions and safety standards must be certified. Catalytic converter required for all petrol vehicles.
Ship to Iquique
Cars from Japan arrive at Iquique and San Antonio. Sea transit is about 24–40 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 Customs Duty — ad valorem and IVA; 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 Chile's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Chile charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty — ad valorem (hypothetical; used cars generally banned) | 6% | CIF value |
| IVA (VAT 19% on CIF + duty) | 19% | CIF + import duty |
Customs Duty — ad valorem (hypothetical; used cars generally banned)
Rate: 6%. Charged on: CIF value.
IVA (VAT 19% on CIF + duty)
Rate: 19%. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
For mainland Chile, import of used passenger cars is prohibited by Ley 18.483 Art. 21 — a duty question does not arise for ordinary buyers because eligibility is the blocker. For returning residents or other qualifying cases, the hypothetical tariff structure is 6% ad valorem duty on the CIF value, plus 19% IVA (Chilean VAT) applied to the CIF value plus duty. The ZOFRI Iquique free zone trades used vehicles duty-free within the zone, but those cars cannot be nationalised and driven on the mainland.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Chile?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iquique | RoRo or container | 24–36 | US$1,050 |
| San Antonio | RoRo or container | 26–40 | US$950 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Chile?
- 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 Chile?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago | Iquique | US$3,010 | US$3,760 | 10 |
| Iquique | Iquique | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Valparaiso | Iquique | US$1,070 | US$1,340 | 5 |
| Concepcion | Iquique | US$1,350 | US$1,690 | 7 |
| Antofagasta | Iquique | US$390 | US$490 | 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
- Can I import a used car from Japan to mainland Chile?
- Not under the general rules. Ley 18.483 Art. 21 prohibits the import of used passenger cars to mainland Chile for ordinary buyers. Exemptions apply only to returning residents (more than one year abroad, one vehicle), persons with disabilities, diplomats, and 30-year-old historic/collector vehicles.
- What is the ZOFRI free zone and can I use it to get a Japanese car?
- ZOFRI in Iquique is a duty-free free zone where used Japanese cars are traded legally — but those vehicles can only be bought and used within the zone. They cannot be nationalised and driven on mainland Chile under the standard rules.
- I am a returning Chilean resident — can I import a car from Japan?
- Yes, if you have lived abroad for more than one year you may be entitled to bring in one vehicle under the returning-resident exemption.
- What duty applies if I am a qualifying importer?
- For eligible imports the tariff is 6% ad valorem duty on the CIF value, plus 19% IVA on CIF plus duty. This is low by South American standards — the eligibility barrier is the real constraint, not the tax rate.
- Does Chile require left-hand-drive cars?
- Yes, Chile drives on the right, so LHD is required for vehicles on the mainland. Japan's domestic stock is RHD, which means only vehicles specifically built in LHD configuration can be used on Chilean roads.
Car import duty calculator for Chile
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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.