How do you import a car from Japan to Guinea, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Guinea charges 20% fiscal import duty, a ~20% vehicle surtax and 18% VAT. Right-hand-drive vehicles are banned by decree and used cars must be under 10 years old.
Car import duty calculator for Guinea
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Guinea 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.
Guinea has its own deep-water port at Conakry, which means Japanese vehicles arrive directly without a landlocked transit route — a practical advantage for buyers in the capital and nearby cities. The country is a left-hand-drive market. Indicative duty is around 20% with 18% VAT on the imported value, though precise figures require a local broker quote because Guinean customs apply their own tariff classification and valuation schedule.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Guinea?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No reliable simple age cap confirmed; duty and VAT depend on tariff classification and valuation.
- Inspection
- Customs clearance, registration
- Entry ports
- Conakry
How do you import a car from Japan to Guinea, step by step?
Check the import rules
No reliable simple age cap confirmed; duty and VAT depend on tariff classification and valuation. Guinea 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 Guinea.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Guinea: Customs clearance, registration.
Ship to Conakry
Cars from Japan arrive at Conakry. Sea transit is about 34–46 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, Vehicle surtax and VAT; 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 Guinea's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Guinea charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (DFI) | 20% | CIF value |
| Vehicle surtax | 20% | CIF value |
| VAT | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs duty (DFI)
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
Vehicle surtax
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Indicative rates for Guinea are approximately 20% import duty and 18% VAT on the CIF value. Guinean customs apply their own tariff classification and valuation schedules, so a local broker quote is required for accuracy.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Guinea?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conakry | RoRo or container | 34–46 | US$2,800 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Guinea?
- 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 Guinea?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conakry | Conakry | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Kankan | Conakry | US$360 | US$450 | 3 |
| Kindia | Conakry | US$160 | US$200 | 2 |
| Labe | Conakry | US$230 | US$290 | 2 |
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
- Does Guinea have a direct port for Japanese car imports?
- Yes. The Port of Conakry receives ocean vessels directly, so Japanese vehicles arrive without a landlocked transit leg.
- What duty and tax will I pay to import a car to Guinea?
- Indicative rates are around 20% import duty and 18% VAT on the CIF value. Guinean customs use their own tariff classification and valuation, so a broker quote is needed for precision.
- Does Guinea use left- or right-hand-drive vehicles?
- Guinea is a left-hand-drive market.
Car import duty calculator for Guinea
Loading calculator…
Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.