How do you import a car from Japan to Iraq, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Iraq has no general VAT. Imported passenger cars pay a customs duty that runs roughly 8-15% of the CIF value, graduated by engine size and model year and higher for large/luxury cars (rates rose under Cabinet Decision No. 957).
Car import duty calculator for Iraq
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Iraq 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.
Iraq is one of the Middle East's largest vehicle markets by population, and Japanese cars — particularly Toyota — are deeply embedded in the country's transport culture from Baghdad to the Kurdistan Region. Iraq requires left-hand-drive vehicles, which aligns with the need to source LHD Japanese export cars rather than Japan's standard RHD domestic stock. Umm Qasr Port in Basra Governorate, often handling vessels via a feeder from Jebel Ali, is the primary entry point for imported vehicles in Iraq. Customs duties and VAT rates in Iraq vary by region and vehicle category — the indicative baseline is approximately 10% duty and 5% VAT, but regional differences and the specific customs authority involved can shift the actual figure.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Iraq?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Iraq drives on the right (LHD). Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region (KRG) apply different customs procedures, and used-passenger-car rules favour LHD Gulf/US-spec cars.
- Inspection
- Customs declaration, regional registration requirements, conformity/statistical report
- Restrictions
- RHD (right-hand-drive) Japanese domestic cars are effectively not registrable; Iraq's market is LHD Gulf/US-spec.
- Entry ports
- Umm Qasr / Jebel Ali feeder
How do you import a car from Japan to Iraq, step by step?
Check the import rules
Iraq 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 Iraq.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Iraq: Customs declaration, regional registration requirements, conformity/statistical report.
Ship to Umm Qasr / Jebel Ali feeder
Cars from Japan arrive at Umm Qasr / Jebel Ali feeder. Sea transit is about 35–55 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; 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 Iraq's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Iraq charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (engine cc) | 8%–22% by engine size | CIF value |
Customs duty (engine cc)
Rate: 8% up to 1,500 cc; 10% up to 2,000 cc; 15% up to 3,000 cc; 22% above 3,000 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
Iraq applies an import duty of approximately 10% on the imported vehicle value, plus VAT of approximately 5% — giving an indicative combined burden of around 15% of the imported value. However, these figures are a broad baseline: actual duty rates vary by region, vehicle category and the specific customs authority in the destination governorate, with some sources citing rates from 5% to 15% or more depending on the transaction. A conformity or statistical report may also be required at customs.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Iraq?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umm Qasr / Jebel Ali feeder | RoRo or container | 35–55 | US$1,400 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Iraq?
- 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 Iraq?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umm Qasr | umm-qasr | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Basra | umm-qasr | US$160 | US$200 | 2 |
| Baghdad | umm-qasr | US$420 | US$520 | 3 |
| Mosul | umm-qasr | US$610 | US$760 | 5 |
| Erbil | umm-qasr | US$580 | US$720 | 3 |
| Najaf | umm-qasr | US$360 | US$450 | 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
- Does Iraq allow right-hand-drive cars from Japan?
- Iraq requires left-hand-drive vehicles. Japan's standard domestic stock is right-hand drive and is not registrable in Iraq.
- How much is the import duty and VAT in Iraq?
- The indicative baseline is approximately 10% duty plus 5% VAT on the imported vehicle value, but actual rates vary by destination region, vehicle category and the customs authority involved — some sources cite 5% to 15%+ depending on the case.
- Which port do cars arrive at in Iraq?
- Umm Qasr Port in Basra Governorate is Iraq's primary vehicle import port. Vessels often route via a Jebel Ali feeder. From Umm Qasr, vehicles are transported by road to Basra, Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, Mosul and other destinations.
- Does import duty differ between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region?
- Yes — Iraq's regional customs variation means the duty treatment and rates can differ depending on whether your destination is in central Iraq, the south or the Kurdistan Region.
Car import duty calculator for Iraq
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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.