How do you import a car from Japan to Hong Kong, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Hong Kong charges no customs duty on cars. The cost is the First Registration Tax on the taxable value: 46% on the first HK$150,000, 86% on the next HK$150,000, 115% on the next HK$200,000 and 132% above HK$500,000, so a car valued up to HK$300,000 pays 46–66% of its value. There is no VAT. The car must meet Hong Kong emission and noise standards, approved by EPD before shipping.
Worked example: a 2023 Toyota Prius 2.0 L hybrid costs about 277,000 to 280,000 HKD (US$35,300 to US$35,600) delivered to Hong Kong, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Hong Kong
Hong Kong drives on the left, so right-hand-drive Japanese cars suit its roads. It is a free port: vehicles of any class are not subject to customs tax on import. The main cost is the First Registration Tax (FRT), charged under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance, Cap. 330, when the car is first registered. Three departments are involved. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) approves the car against the exhaust and noise emission regulations, and the Transport Department advises getting that approval before shipping. Since 1 June 2022 there has been no exemption for petrol cars imported for personal use or for classic cars, so every car must be shown to comply. The Customs and Excise Department assesses the taxable value from the import return. The Transport Department examines the car and registers it. Because the FRT is progressive, the value of the car drives the cost. A small hatchback taxed entirely in the first band pays 46%, while a high-value MPV moves into the 86% and higher bands.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Hong Kong?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Hong Kong is a free port with NO customs import duty; the cost is the First Registration Tax (FRT). Imported used cars must generally be under 7 years old, petrol, and meet Euro V emission + noise standards (EPD Vehicle Emission approval obtained BEFORE shipping). Hong Kong drives on the LEFT — RHD Japanese stock fits; LHD is not registrable. Classic exemptions for 20/30+ year vehicles.
- Inspection
- EPD emission/noise approval before shipping; Customs & Excise valuation; Transport Department first registration.
- Permits
- Import & Export Declaration; EPD approval for used vehicles.
- Restrictions
- Left-hand-drive private cars are not registrable. Diesel and non-Euro-V used cars are refused.
- Special rules
- A previously-registered car gets a depreciation allowance (~20–25%/yr) off the taxable value; EVs have a separate FRT concession.
- Entry ports
- Hong Kong
How do you import a car from Japan to Hong Kong, step by step?
Check emission compliance
The car must comply with the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards)(Emission) Regulation and the Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation. Proof is a manufacturer document or a report from a recognised test laboratory.
Obtain EPD approval before shipping
Apply to the Environmental Protection Department with the supporting documents. The Transport Department advises getting the approval before the car is shipped.
Buy the car and ship it to Hong Kong
After purchase in Japan the registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Keep it: overseas registration in your name is the basis for any depreciation allowance.
Lodge the import declaration
An accurate import declaration must be lodged with the Customs and Excise Department within 14 days of importation. No customs tax is charged.
Submit the import return within 30 days
File the Import Return (CED336) with the Declaration Form (CED336A) within 30 days. Customs issues a Notification of Motor Vehicle Provisional Taxable Value. Missing the deadline is an offence.
Pass the vehicle examination
Book an examination at the Transport Department Vehicle Examination Centre in Tsing Yi, bringing the EPD approval letter. A car that passes receives a Certificate of Roadworthiness.
Register the car and pay the FRT
Apply for first registration with form TD22 at the Hong Kong Licensing Office. The Transport Department calculates the FRT from the provisional taxable value and collects it with the registration and licence fees.
Documents checklist
- EPD approval letter for exhaust and noise emissions
- Commercial invoice, freight and insurance papers
- Japanese export certificate (overseas registration record)
- Bill of lading
- Import and export declaration (within 14 days)
- Import Return CED336 and Declaration Form CED336A (within 30 days)
- Notification of Motor Vehicle Provisional Taxable Value
- Certificate of Roadworthiness from the vehicle examination
- First registration application (form TD22)
What import duties and taxes does Hong Kong charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| First Registration Tax — first HK$150k (46%) | 46% | CIF value |
| FRT step-up 150k–300k (+40%) | 40% above HKD 150,000 | CIF value |
| FRT step-up 300k–500k (+29%) | 29% above HKD 300,000 | CIF value |
| FRT step-up above 500k (+17%) | 17% above HKD 500,000 | CIF value |
First Registration Tax — first HK$150k (46%)
Rate: 46%. Charged on: CIF value.
FRT step-up 150k–300k (+40%)
Rate: 40% of the CIF value above HKD 150,000. Charged on: CIF value.
FRT step-up 300k–500k (+29%)
Rate: 29% of the CIF value above HKD 300,000. Charged on: CIF value.
FRT step-up above 500k (+17%)
Rate: 17% of the CIF value above HKD 500,000. Charged on: CIF value.
Hong Kong charges no customs duty or VAT on vehicles. The only import tax is the First Registration Tax, payable on the taxable value at progressive rates: 46% on the first HK$150,000, 86% on the next HK$150,000, 115% on the next HK$200,000 and 132% on the remainder. The duty table builds this as 46% on the whole value plus step-ups of 40, 29 and 17 points above HK$150,000, HK$300,000 and HK$500,000, which gives the same result. The Customs and Excise Department assesses the taxable value by adding the purchase price, insurance and freight, brokerage or agency fees and related repairs, and can substitute its own value where the declared one does not reflect the Hong Kong market. If the car was registered in the importer's name outside Hong Kong, a depreciation allowance may reduce the value. The rates took effect on 24 February 2021.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Hong Kong?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Hong Kong | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Toyota Prius 2.0 L hybrid | US$22,200 | US$22,700 | US$11,90052% of CIF | HKD 277,000 – 280,000US$35,300 – US$35,600 |
| 2022 Toyota Voxy 1.8 L hybrid | US$25,600 | US$26,100 | US$14,80057% of CIF | HKD 326,000 – 329,000US$41,600 – US$41,900 |
| 2022 Toyota Alphard 2.5 L hybrid | US$51,100 | US$51,600 | US$40,70079% of CIF | HKD 730,000 – 733,000US$93,100 – US$93,400 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Hong Kong. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | RoRo or container | 11–16 | US$450 |
Hong Kong has frequent sailings from Japanese ports, so single cars move by RoRo or in shared containers.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Hong Kong?
- Models and prices
Toyota Alphard
A large MPV widely used in Hong Kong. Its value usually reaches the 86% FRT band, so tax is a large part of the cost.
- Models and prices
Toyota Vellfire
The Alphard's twin, with the same engines and a similar FRT position.
- Models and prices
Toyota Voxy
A mid-size MPV with a 1.8-litre hybrid. A lower value keeps more of it in the 46% band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Prius
A hybrid hatchback with low fuel use. Recent models have emission data from the manufacturer, which helps the EPD application.
- Models and prices
Honda Freed
A compact six or seven-seat MPV suited to narrow streets. Its lower value keeps most of it in the 46% FRT band.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Hong Kong?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| Kowloon | Hong Kong | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| New Territories | Hong Kong | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
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
- Is there import duty on cars in Hong Kong?
- No. Vehicles of any class are not subject to customs tax on import. The cost is the First Registration Tax, paid when the car is first registered.
- How much is First Registration Tax on a private car in Hong Kong?
- 46% on the first HK$150,000 of taxable value, 86% on the next HK$150,000, 115% on the next HK$200,000 and 132% on the remainder.
- How is the taxable value of an imported car worked out?
- Customs adds the purchase price, insurance, freight, brokerage or agency fees and related repairs. It can use its own market value instead, and may allow depreciation if the car was registered in your name abroad.
- Do I need EPD approval to import a used car to Hong Kong?
- Yes. The car must comply with Hong Kong emission and noise regulations, and the Transport Department advises getting EPD approval before shipping.
- Are personal-use or classic cars exempt from emission rules in Hong Kong?
- No. The exemption for petrol cars imported for personal use and for classic cars ended on 1 June 2022. They must now be shown to comply before first registration.
- Is there an age limit for importing a car to Hong Kong?
- The Transport Department guidelines set no fixed age limit. In practice the emission and noise standards decide, and older cars rarely have the test data needed to show compliance.
- What deadlines apply after a car arrives in Hong Kong?
- An import declaration within 14 days and an Import Return (CED336) within 30 days. Failing to file the import return is an offence with a fine of up to HK$500,000.
- Where are imported cars examined in Hong Kong?
- At the Transport Department Vehicle Examination Centre in Tsing Yi. Bring the EPD approval letter; a car that passes receives a Certificate of Roadworthiness.
- Is there VAT or GST on cars in Hong Kong?
- No. Hong Kong has no VAT or GST. The First Registration Tax and registration and licence fees are the main charges.
Sources
- Transport Department — Guidelines for importation and registration of motor vehicles (FRT rates) — checked 15 October 2026
- Customs and Excise Department — Motor vehicles (import returns, taxable value) — checked 15 October 2026
- HKSAR Government — EPD ends emission exemptions for personal-use and classic vehicles (31 May 2022) — checked 15 October 2026
- HKSAR Government — Adjusted First Registration Tax rates for private cars (24 Feb 2021) — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Hong Kong
Loading calculator…
Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.